Although the beginning of the Fall semester isn't for a few months, there are high school students that are starting to research and visit colleges. This step in life is a big one to take and can often overwhelm the students and the parents. There are many college fairs across the country that can help aid the process. The National Association for College Admission Counseling has announced the 2012 locations and dates for their various college fairs. These towns include Austin, Hartford, Memphis, Boston and Detroit just to name a few. The locations and dates vary with each city but with a large amount of events planned for the year, there is always an opportunity to find the best school for you or your loved one.

For colleges planning on attending any of these college fairs, you're sure to drive in patrons to your booth with promotional pens and promotional stress relievers.

"The tradeshow is over. Now what?"

A very simple and important question. As I've mentioned before on this blog, registering for a tradeshow can be expensive, especially when factoring the travel/accommodation expenses, man-power and time away from the office. And with all the money you're spending, you want the benefit of the tradeshow to at least last into the workweek. Here's what you can do to keep the spirit of the tradeshow alive:

1. Take photos.
Show those who couldn't attend the tradeshow what they missed. Take photos of the sights and sounds of the tradeshow, including your exhibit and satisfied attendees holding up your promotional products. With enough of these photos, your booth will look like the center of attention at the tradeshow and with enough photos of attendees holding up promotional pens and promotional mouse pads, you'll be able to use that as a way to further extend your logo on the Internet.

2. Testimonials.
People like to give their opinions. And whether good, bad or informative, these opinions will certainly benefit your company in some way, shape and form. And this will certainly benefit your company as well. While at the tradeshow, approach attendees and ask them for an honest opinion of your products, your custom imprinted tradeshow displays and even your promotional products. For those who have pleasant and noteworthy testimonials, ask them for their information and permission to use it. These testimonials can be just quoted on paper, in audio or even recorded as a video. However you choose to use them, these will be applied to your company's name and products for as long as you choose to use them.

3. Start planning.
What did you do right? What did you do wrong? Was the custom imprinted tradeshow banner too small? Did people enjoy the promotional tote bags? Did the promotional pens not work? Whatever might have happened that made your tradeshow experience good or bad, take note of it. And start finding your next destination in the meantime. This keeps the excitement of the tradeshow alive in the office, tells your competitors you mean business and introduces/reintroduces your name to another region. 

"We missed the registration deadline. I guess we can't go to the tradeshow."

False.

If you're like me, you sometimes come across some really great events and promotions too late. I do it all the time with online clearance sales and concert ticket purchases but for a company, missing out on an industry-wide tradeshow is slightly more detrimental. Missing out on vital tradeshows can result in missed opportunities to network and missed chances to reach an audience who is actively seeking your product and services. 

But just because you missed the registration deadline for a tradeshow doesn't mean you can not go. There are many ways to make your company known just by being an attendee. 

As an attendee, you can scout what is new in the industry from the point-of-view of the consumer. Think of the questions your consumers would ask you about your products and services and see how your competitors and other adversaries answer or react. You might get some vital information that can put your company at the cutting edge of technology and help you prepare for your next tradeshow.

But attending a tradeshow can also get you closer to your consumers. You'll be walking among your consumers so striking up conversations and surveying the crowd will take little effort. Based on this feedback, you'll be able to tweak your services to better customer service and might learn a thing or two about what consumers are really looking for in products.

Promotional products can certainly help you out here too, despite not having the promotional tradeshow display. Handing out promotional pens or promotional notebooks is a good way to have an item with your logo and your name on an item they will be using all day at the tradeshow. Or for something more unique, consider handing out custom imprinted stress ball key chains. They are a fun and covert way to advertise your name at a tradeshow. Disclaimer: See tradeshow's policy on advertising and promotional giveaways before distributing promotional products. (we want you to be a success and not escorted out of the tradeshow) Promotional products are also perfect for networking with other companies in the hopes to collaborate on future endeavors.

Planning is key for any tradeshow and is necessary for networking and scouting at tradeshows.

 

How are you drawing people to your product?

It's a very simple question but the answer to this question can either make or break your company at a tradeshow. Because all too often, companies spend thousands of dollars for prime display space, travel and man-hours and employees spend their time behind the counter, twiddling thumbs and barely saying a word. I've seen it far too often and unless you have a product that is more innovative than the automobile or sliced bread, your tent is just another obstruction in an already crowded room.

Companies at tradeshows are successful if they have incentives, attention grabbers, promotional products and even people of the right attitude. While we at Motivators can't help your employees with their "please's" and "thank you's" Motivators products can certainly help out with getting everyone from new customers to tradeshow veterans checking out your display.

With over 50,000 SKUs for products available over the phone, online and in catalogs, Motivators has a promotional product for every budget and style. All you need is a logo and an idea and you'll have a promotional product incentive that will have people scrambling to get their hands on. And the more one-of-a-kind an item is, the more likely it'll stand out at a trade show. In the same way that two people might wear the same shirt or dress, nothing is more embarrassing than when two companies utilize the same promotional products at the same trade show. But don't be afraid to use the basics, such as promotional pens and promotional water bottles. While quite common at tradeshows, these items do work effectively. Another good idea might be choosing a promotional item that might turn heads as opposed to being directly correlated. In my days of working with a music magazine, I attended a tradeshow and handed out - of all things - promotional yo-yo's. Why? Because I knew that young people (and even those in their 50's and 60's) would play with the yo-yo. And if you didn't play with a yo-yo, you would still have a harder time throwing out something like a yo-yo over a promotional pen or promotional keychain.

Having a difficult time deciding what everyone might like? Motivators also sells some wild promotional download cards - cards that include complimentary music downloads, DVDs or even phone skins. As a company, all you have to do is purchase these cards and print your logo on the card. These cards stay in the wallet or purse until being redeemed and the joy of a new song, new cell phone cover or movie is forever associated with your name and brand. And with very few companies handing these out at tradeshows, it's almost guaranteed to be a hit.

And if that isn't enough for you, put on a show! There are even a few promotional products that can be used by your employees (or interns) to grab peoples' attention. For example, item #27978 is an item called Sonic Rocks. In addition to being incredibly strong magnets with an imprinted logo on the casing, the rocks make an electrifying sound when thrown in the air and join together. Or to visually entice, consider juggling promotional balls or promotional Frisbees. People are drawn by the unique and exciting - and nothing is more exciting than free promotional products and entertainment.

No matter how you choose to use them, promotional products put you ahead of the curve and will have people buzzing about your brand throughout the tradeshow.