Trade Show Pointers for Your Home Business

A Home Business Article Contributed by Jenni Mckinney

Why do a Trade Show for Your Home Business?

If you have recently started a business working from home, you probably have experienced the frustration of having a good product or service to offer but not having enough customers to take advantage of it. This is an advertising or marketing problem, and many small businesses have this issue because their profits are too low to work a great advertising campaign into your home business budget. However, one of the best ways to market your product or service is by taking part in a trade show.

If your target market consists of businesses or consumers in your local area, you will want to participate in a local level trade show. Typically, local level trade shows are sponsored by your nearby Chamber of Commerce or by a local home based business association. On the other hand, if your target market is nationwide, you will want to increase the stakes and join a nationwide trade show. Nationwide trade shows are typically sponsored by organizations within a particular industry.

Trade Show Pre-Visits for Your Home Business

Before you actually register your home business for the trade show, it is a good idea to visit the location where the trade show will be held in order to decide which spots inside the building will be most advantageous to you. Try to determine where the entrances and exits will be, and pick a booth that will get the most foot traffic possible, preferably closest to the entrance.

Then, once you register and secure your location, you will need to go back to the trade show area before the actual even begins in order to set up the booth for your home business. This pre-visit is a good time to scope out the competition, since they will also be there early to set up.

Trade Show Booth Set-up for Your Home Business

One of the best things you can do beforehand is to set up a mock booth inside your own home or garage. Have it completely set up so that you will encounter the various issues and problems inherent in setting up booths. Also, have your friends and neighbors come by and role play, giving you some positive as well as negative criticism. By the time the real trade show arrives, you will have the advantage of knowing a little bit about the routine you'll need to take to set up a most booth that will be most beneficial for your home business advertising.

Remember to have plenty of flyers, business cards, brochures, and samples available for people to take home. Try to have useful things, like magnets, pens, or writing pads, with your logo on them. Include a way to get the names and addresses of interested parties, perhaps by offering a prize drawing or setting up a guest book. Don't have too many things on your table, because you will only have a few seconds worth of people's attention -- you want your advertising to be simple and meaningful.

Finally, when the trade show is over, evaluate your success and determine if this is the type of advertising you should keep repeating year after year.