Think about giving away USB cards for trade shows? Here are the things you need to know about this type of flash drive so you can utilize its best features in your promotional strategy.
RELATED: 9 Ways To Boost Trade Show Traffic
In this article:
- Businesses Are Finding It Difficult to Stand Out at Trade Shows
- Most Promotional Materials Handed Out During Trade Shows are Discarded Within Minutes
- Why Are Promotional Products Important in Trade Shows?
- What Are USB Cards for Trade Shows?
- Why You Need USB Cards for Trade Shows
- View What the USB Cards for Trade Shows Will Look Like with Your Branding
- Ways to Avoid Trade Show Fails
How to Use USB Cards For Trade Shows and Avoid Trade Show Fails
Businesses Are Finding It Difficult to Stand Out at Trade Shows
It’s getting increasingly difficult to stand out at trade shows and be remembered by attendees or prospects after the event.
At some point, the mindset of exhibitors at trade shows becomes too much about competing against each other on who has the best promotional product. When this happens, they might forget about the real purpose for these items, which is to create brand awareness and build customer satisfaction during the event.
Another difficulty business face in trade shows is how to pick unique promotional items among the sea of brochures, branded pens, and other generic items that everyone hands out in these types of events.
Most Promotional Materials Handed Out During Trade Shows are Discarded Within Minutes
Another challenge that businesses face is how to get the recipients to keep their promotional item, a lot of which just end up being left behind at the venue or thrown away.
There’s only one major reason for this: the promo items are not engaging enough and customers lose interest in them.
When several businesses give away a certain promo item that’s really common, the recipients would most likely only keep one. If the item isn’t relevant or useful to them, they’d end up not keeping any of them at all.
Why Are Promotional Products Important in Trade Shows?
Although it has been a tradition to provide promotional gifts to prospects and customers at trade shows, there is more to that. Promo items can help you make up to what your trade show lacks in terms of brand marketing.
Here are the following benefits of giving away promotional items at trade shows:
1. Promotional Items Can Draw Attendees to Your Booth
Promotional items can help you get noticed in trade shows. One important thing to consider is to make them visually attractive so you capture people’s attention immediately.
Although the presentation of your promo items matters, it’s also essential to give attention to how your booth looks. This will also help increase foot traffic and attention to your booth.
2. They Help Enhance Your Business Image
On top of building a brand image at trade shows, promotional materials can aid in improving your image even more. People will certainly take notice of the great brand giving away awesome items that are worth their while.
As much as possible, don’t use old promo items in your next trade show. Keep it fresh and updated so you can create a positive impression for your brand among the attendees.
3. Promo Items Help People Remember Your Brand Long-Term
Catching people’s attention during a trade show is just half the battle. You also have to think of ways to get them to remember your brand even after the event has ended.
Make sure your giveaways will be useful and relevant to your audience. The more they use it, the more likely they’ll remember your brand.
How does this help your business? When it comes to making a purchasing decision, you’ll already have an advantage and the positive impression and awareness you’ve created in the customer’s mind may mean the difference between the sale going to you or your competitor.
RELATED: 9 Best Trade Show Booth Ideas
What Are USB Cards for Trade Shows?
USB Cards are a good promotional item to consider giving away during trade shows, but what are they exactly?
Wallet USB cards are basically USB flash drives in the form of cards. You can easily slide its micro-chip storage up and down whenever you use it.
What’s good about using USB cards for trade shows is you can effortlessly place them in your wallet like your other types of cards. This makes them handy and easy to keep, so you can use them whenever you need them, anytime and anywhere.
They also come in different storage capacities to cater to every user’s needs.
Why You Need USB Cards for Trade Shows
Here are the benefits of using promotional USB cards at trade shows:
- You will get noticed; attendees are more receptive to receiving a cool-looking card as opposed to flyers and brochures.
- Since the promo material is loaded on the USB drive, attendees are more likely to view it.
- Even if promotional material is discarded, the USB card itself, which has your branding, will not be discarded (since it can be used). This will serve as reinforced advertising.
- It helps increase brand recognition as your clients can use them on a daily basis, seeing your brand printed on the card.
- Your clients can also understand that you value their important data because of the electronic storage, increasing your clients’ appreciation for your brand.
View What the USB Cards for Trade Shows Will Look Like with Your Branding
If you email us the front and back images you would like to customize your promotional drives card with, we will send you a digital 3D rendering what the card will look like with your branding.
You are under no obligation to purchase the design you submit because this is a free service. All you have to do is email the personalized images to info@promotionaldrives.com, and we will send you a digital rendering.
With the understanding about trade show fails, the importance of promotional products in marketing your brand, and why you need USB cards for trade shows, you can be fully ready to display what you have at trade shows. Just remember to make the most out of your promotional USB cards to effectively catch your market’s attention, increase your traffic, and convert them into good returns.
Ways to Avoid Trade Show Fails
1. Try Hiring Marketing Professionals to Help You Market Your Brand at Trade Shows
If you’re just starting out, reaching out to a PR firm can help you better achieve your goals during the trade show. You’ve taken the time, effort, and resources for the show so you have to ensure your efforts will lead to an ROI.
It may eat through some of your budget, but at least you can rest assured you’re on the right track to achieving your business goals for the trade show.
2. Select Qualified Leads
Out of everyone who approaches your booth and inquires about your offerings, who would you actually spend precious time and energy on? Weeding out those who probably aren’t good leads for your business is a great way to become more efficient during the trade show.
Engage with attendees and assess who has the most potential of doing business with you. Make sure everyone on the team is on the same page with this so you’ll leave the show with a good list of prospects.
3. Create the Right Message and Content About Your Brand
If you’re using gimmicks at the trade show, make sure they’re related to your business and will ultimately put you on people’s minds long after the show has ended. Whatever game, raffle, or gimmick you’ve planned, make sure people leave feeling good about your brand.
4. Plan Right
Plan ahead and think of every possible scenario so you’re prepared for whatever the trade show brings. Also, ahead of the show, it’s best to create a buzz about your business by having gimmicks, like games and countdowns.
In this way, you can start increasing the likelihood of people visiting your booth even before the trade show has started. If the trade show has a social media page, try asking the organizers for permission to post about your efforts to increase awareness and hype for your brand to the best possible audience — the event attendees.
5. Do a Follow-Up on Your Leads
One thing a lot of companies fail to do after trade shows is performing a follow-up on their leads. It’s not enough that you’ve gotten their contact information during the show — you have to keep the heat going and reach out to them even after the show.
A follow-up is necessary to increase the chances of getting ROI from your participation in the trade show.
Have you tried using USBs as your promotional product? How was your experience? Tell us in the comments section below!
Up Next:
- Trade Show Giveaway Ideas For Every Industry
- How To Pick The Perfect Trade Show Giveaways To Promote Your Brand
- Why USBs Are Best For Information Dissemination: Data Loading, Data Locking and Autorun
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on July 31, 2013, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
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