If you're getting ready to exhibit at a trade show, you're most likely trying to determine how to stand out among other companies and organizations.  Some do so by decorating their booths, and others hope to get noticed by handing out fun and fresh giveaways.

One great way to amp up your trade show presence is to hand out bundled promos.  However, the high price of attention-grabbing packaging is often more than what you're willing to pay.  But one unique way to pack products together for less is to utilize wristbands!

As you can see, bracelets can hold together your trade show items easily.  Best of all, the wristbands are extremely affordable; you won't have to spend all of your hard-earned cash on fancy boxes and bags!

How can you differentiate your brand from all the others at the upcoming trade show?  Choose to arrange your handouts together using a promotional wristband.  There's no way your booth will go unnoticed!

It's officially trade show season, and exhibitors are understandably excited about showing off their new products and services.  But be careful; lots of companies overspend in preparation for the conventions and attend unnecessary shows with no gain.  Let's go over some common traps that companies fall into during trade show season:

1.  Too much space

According to CBS News, one of the most common mistakes exhibitors make is going too big.  Just because the booth next door to you is impressive in size, doesn't mean that yours is too small. "Money spent to make that booth look as elegant and professional as possible is generally better than money spent for more real estate and all of the additional expenses that come with it," says trade show veteran Michael Hess.  Therefore, instead of renting out extra space, make sure your trade show tent looks presentable and appealing.

2.  Too many representatives

You may be tempted to send multiple representatives from your company to exhibit at the upcoming trade show.  But remember:  The more people you send away from the office, the less work will get done at home.  Plus, expenses due to airfare, meals, entertainment, hotels, and transportation really add up.  Figure out how many people you can afford to send away, and stick to it.

3.  Too many last-minute changes

A big event rarely goes off without a hitch; there's always going to be something someone forgot to do, bring, or say.  But with proper planning, you can avoid making last-minute (and potentially costly) changes.

4.  Too many shows

Of course you want to show off your product or service to as many people as possible, but more shows doesn't always mean more sales.  According to Hess, "You should always question a show that will mainly put you in front of people you see in the normal course of business."  If your reps regularly see the dealers you'd see at a particular show, you might want to spend your money elsewhere.

5.  Too much inaction

Simply sitting at your booth is not the same as "having a presence."  You've got to engage attendees.  How you draw people in is your choice -- perhaps you want to include a sign-up sheet, or maybe you'd prefer to hand out trade show giveaways.  Do whatever you think will get attendees to act.

Before deciding when and where to exhibit, consider the reasons, the expenses, and whether or not you can afford to miss the show.  If attending is absolutely necessary, constantly keep an eye out for ways to cut waste.

If you've ever stayed at a bed and breakfast, you know that innkeepers wear several hats throughout a guest's stay.  They've got to do everything -- from housekeeping to online marketing -- to bring in guests and keep their clients happy.  It should come as no surprise then that the upcoming InnSpire Conference and Trade Show will offer such a diverse array of seminars for attendees.

"Keeping up with all of the skills required to run a bed and breakfast can be overwhelming--especially as it relates to technology--but it's critical to the innkeepers' success with so many travel decisions made online," says CABBI Program Coordinator Jenn Wheaton. "The InnSpire conference helps to bridge the gap and provide in-depth information that innkeepers can put to use."

On the agenda are educational sessions on Internet marketing strategies, ADA compliancy, social media networking, identity theft, and more.  So if you're looking to pick up pointers on everything from hotel guest amenities to marketing, this is the trade show for you!

According to a press release, the InnSpire Conference and Trade Show will be held in Sacramento, California January 22 - January 24.  The 2012 event will hosted by the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers (CABBI).

The Bass & Saltwater Fishing Expo in Raleigh, Denver's Fly Fishing Show and the Nashville Fishing and Boat Expo -- what do they all have in common? For one, they all take place in the first few weeks of January.  But more importantly, these trade fairs have a common theme:  fishing and marine life.  Therefore, exhibitors could all benefit from Touch Tanks for Kids, an organization that brings open tanks of marine life for use in schools.

Yes, I realize that schools are a bit different from trade shows.  But hear me out!  In a piece by Forbes, Tom Groenfeldt said he spoke with Touch Tanks for Kids' founders "about using the tanks at trade shows."  Recently, the company's executive director, Mike Martin, told Groenfeldt that he's got new lightweight tanks that could definitely work well at trade shows.

Imagine how many people would flock to your booth at a marine-themed trade show if you had an open tank filled with lobsters!  Aside from custom fishing lures and bobbers, I imagine the touch tanks would be the best way to garner attention for your product or service.  What a great idea!

Often times, it's difficult to track the return on investment (ROI) from a trade show or series of trade shows. Whether it's due to a lack of communication with your salespeople, a flawed database, or simply a lack of time, not measuring it can be detrimental to your company or organization.  Let's go over some easy steps toward understanding your trade fair ROI:

1.  List your Leads

According to the Trade Show News Network, a good first step in measuring your trade show ROI is to compile a list of leads from each trade show you attend.  Import the list into Excel; "you'll need the spreadsheet for extra columns and calculations."

2.  Obtain a List of your Customers

Your sales department probably has a list of customers and everything they've bought. Not all organizations keep this information in the same spot -- some keep an organized database while others rely on accounting software -- but it's definitely there somewhere.

3.  Compare Those Lists

Did the leads from your trade show exhibit turn into customers? If so, mark it in your Excel file. Additionally, insert a column that indicates how much each lead spent. 

4.  Calculate

Add up the sales that can be attributed to your presence at the trade show, then compare that to the amount it cost to have a booth at the show. The Trade Show Network reports that "if your sales were $100,000 and your costs were $10,000, then you've got an ROI of $100,000/$10,000 = 10 to 1."  It's a great way to see which shows are worth attending.

While it may be time consuming, the work you put into measuring your ROI will completely be worth it.  You will no longer have to waste your time at trade shows that do not generate leads!  Good luck!

Trade shows are hosted at a variety of different venues.  From large outdoor gardens to high school gymnasiums, plenty of unusual locations have been transformed into trade fair arenas.  But have you ever attended a virtual trade show?

BtoB magazine is hosting its third annual Digital Edge virtual trade show on Thursday, December 8. So if you haven't yet made it to an online expo, now's your chance!  According to BtoB, the event will feature "a full schedule of educational sessions and a digital expo hall filled with b2b marketing vendors" available as promotional digital downloads.

The virtual trade show will be made up of a full schedule of webinar events.  Attendees will learn about emerging trends in marketing operations, E-mail marketing, social media, and more.  For a complete look at the agenda, click here.

There will also be two keynote addresses:  The opening video keynote will be delivered by David Meerman Scott who authored The New Rules of Marketing & PR; the closing keynote features Scott Anderson, VP of customer communications at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Business.

If you're exhibiting at Digital Edge or a similar online trade show, you can still incorporate trade show giveaways.  Entice people to attend by offering redeemable promotions that can be utilized online.  Attendees will surely appreciate your modern handouts!

Sometimes, the idea of attending a trade show can be a little overwhelming.  How will I make a good impression?  How much literature should I hand out?  These are all questions that may be running through your head.  But if you follow these tips, you'll find that your trade show booth will be a success:

1.  Be inviting

At a lot of the trade shows I've attended, the most successful exhibitors are ones that invite attendees in.  Here's what I mean:  instead of standing behind a table, effectively cutting yourself off from the rest of the trade show, try eliminating the boundaries that a table creates.  You are the representative for your company or product, and you know it up and down.  Make yourself available; hop around to the front of the table and show everyone what you've got.  The trade show is meant to encourage interaction, not create limitations.

2.  Don't count on your brochure

It's a great idea to have some literature that will help reiterate your company, brand or product's message.  But many people count on their brochures to do all the talking.  Your literature should serve as supplemental information, not the only information.  Again, you know the details about your organization or item, so prove it.  Hand out literature only after an attendee has expressed interest.  You want to facilitate communication and a two-way information flow.

3.  Utilize giveaways

Making use of trade show giveaways is a fantastic way to bring the crowds over to your booth.  But make sure you're using them the right way; otherwise, potential clients may simply take your gift and run.  Handing out promotional keychains, for example, will certainly garner attention for your company or product.  But don't forget to imprint with your corporate name, logo, and contact information.  This way, your giveaway won't just serve as a freebie; it will also act as a business card!

Following these tips is a surefire way to ensure your booth at the next trade show is a success.  As you can see, there's no reason to feel anxious or stressed!  Just be yourself, be personable, and make connections.  Have fun!