It's impossible to make it to every trade show (there's literally one going on somewhere in the world every day), so your best bet is to attend the biggest and best. And now, thanks to the Trade Show News Network (TSNN), you can easily find the top trade shows for your industry!

Yesterday, TSNN officially released the 2012 Top 250 Trade Shows in the U.S. Let's take a look at the top five trade shows:

1. International CES

The Las Vegas, Nevada event had more than 3,000 exhibitors and 100,000+ attendees. Whoa! The trade show supports the $209 billion consumer electronics industry.

2. International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS)

This trade show takes place in Chicago, Illinois and saw almost as many attendees as CES in 2012. It's the biggest manufacturing technology show in the Western Hemisphere, and is a whopping six days long.

3. The January Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market

Retailers from every U.S. state and more than 80 countries around the world come together for the January Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market. Products featured include everything from home furnishings to fashion. The event is held in Atlanta, Georgia.

4. Pack Expo International

The packaging and processing industry is huge, so it's no surprise the Pack Expo International made TSNN's list of top 2012 trade shows. The show, which took place last October in Chicago, Illinois, had nearly 2,000 exhibitors in 2012.

5. The July Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market

Wow -- two Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Markets made the top five! That's pretty impressive.

Hit up these events and you're likely to go home with some truly great trade show giveaways.

For a look at TSNN's full list, click here.

It may be very hard to believe but I have seen trade show displays with incorrect information. Some banners had incorrect phone numbers while others mispelled simple English words.

The terror on the booth representatives' faces is always the same - the company representative mentally totals up the money that has been thrown away and the price for a replacement graphic. In comparison, the money can be the least of one's worries. An erroneous graphic or display puts your professional well-being at stake.

Motivators has plenty of replacement graphics and plenty of custom tradeshow packages that allow you to remove those old or mispelled graphics. These are great for any industry and any type of trade show event. You pick the package or the graphic, include your design, talk to our sales representatives and we take care of the rest.

When you're prepping for a trade show, the last thing on your mind is how much garbage you'll leave behind. That is, unless you're aware of just how much waste conventions can create.

Trade shows are responsible more than 600,000 tons of trash each year. And, according to the Trade Show News Network (TSNN), expos in the U.S. and Middle East alone emit nearly 200,000 tons of carbon annually. And that's just from the production of exhibition booths!

If you exhibit at or attend at least one conference a year, you contribute to these alarming statistics. And that's why it's also your duty to help reduce the waste that's created.

TSNN recommends the following tips for reducing display waste:

1. Use recycled materials

If you're printing brochures, making signs or even passing out trade show giveaways, opt for ones made from eco-friendly materials. For example, your literature can be printed on recycled paper. Also look for eco-friendly promotional products that can be passed out to attendees.

2. Print with vegetable-based ink

Did you know that traditional ink can leak volatile organic compounds once the paper has been thrown out? TSNN suggests switching to soy-based ink, instead: "Such inks have dramatically less impact on the environment, and are easily removed." What an easy way to make a difference!

3. Avoid UV coated paper

Although some printers will argue that UV-coated paper protects the environment by "sealing in" any oil-based solvents, this type of material is also difficult to recycle. Paper that features an aqueous (water-based) coating will be much easier on the earth.

Here at the Trade Shows Blog, we're always looking for cutting edge ideas and technology within the industry. Today, however, let's discuss tips specifically for beginners. If you're exhibiting for the first time or are still getting used to it, the advice below is just for you!

Exhibitor Manual

Get your hands on the exhibitor manual ASAP. Look for information that may affect your booth, including electric, shipping and carpeting.

Order Early

Whether you plan on purchasing trade show giveaways or are looking to install a memorable booth, ordering early is the key to securing a great price and top-notch products.

Don't Over-Pack

Sure, promotional products and an elaborate booth can make a big impression. But be sure not to over-pack! For example, instead of wasting money and paper with brochures and pamphlets, direct visitors to your website.

What other tips do you have for trade show newbies?

Although Hurricane Sandy ripped through the Northeast last week, the Javits Center wants people to know that it is up and running and the shows will go on.

According to the venue's website, "Events running this week (AD Tech Expo and Customer Engagement Technology World) will all move in as scheduled and will open as published." Other future events, including Boutique Design NY and The International Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Show will also run as expected.

However, getting into Manhattan may still prove difficult. While three of the four 11th Ave. west side lanes are open, experts say that the lane closest to the Javits Center will be closed for at least another month. This will not only cause traffic for those attending upcoming trade shows, but it may also lead to headaches for exhibitors who need to unload their trade show items: "Due to lane closures, hand carry and taxi drop off will not be permitted on 11th Avenue between 35th Street and 37th Street."

If you're due to exhibit at New York City's Javits Center within the next month, pay attention to hand-carry procedures and time limits as they will be strictly enforced.

Other than these minor traffic issues, it appears that all upcoming shows will go on at the Javits Center post-Hurricane Sandy!

It's no secret that social media has become an important tool for marketing and communicating. That's why I recently covered some basic tips on how to make your trade show more social. But rather than focusing on social media "dos," today let's look at some "don'ts" while on the trade show floor.

1. Don't ignore spelling and grammar

Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, but when you're promoting your trade show booth via social media, be sure to find and fix any spelling errors, grammatical mistakes and broken links. If you're utilizing a QR code on your company literature/or trade show giveaways, make sure it directs users to the correct page.

2. Don't procrastinate

If you wait until the last minute to begin promoting your trade show, you're not likely to have a great turn out. Use social media before the show to advertise where your booth will be located and why people should stop by.

3. Don't forget to follow up

Whether you're exhibiting at or simply attending the next trade show, it's important to follow up. Social media makes it easier than ever to connect with the people and companies you meet. In fact, now that almost every brand is on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., you have no excuse not to get in touch.

What other social media don'ts can you name?

People usually visit trade shows to check out exhibitors' products, services, fresh ideas, etc. But have you ever attended one in hopes of finding a job?

It might be a great idea for you. Almost any industry you can think of holds an annual trade show. Why not take that the opportunity to network with other industry professionals? After all, often times it's not what you know, but who you know.

Here are a few tips for job searching at conventions:

1. Start with local trade shows in order to begin building your network. This will also give you the opportunity to get used to the trade show experience before jumping into larger, nationwide shows.

2. Meet people. In fact, meet as many people as you can. Make it your goal to collect and give out as many business cards as possible.

3. Prepare quality questions beforehand so that exhibitors see your value. Engage in conversations about industry issues and expertise.

4. Follow up within 48 hours of the event. Do this more easily by importing new contact information into your database and touching base via email.

5. Keep in touch, but don't overwhelm. Remind your new contacts that you're still interested by sending a quick message on at least a quarterly basis.

As you can see, making connections at trade shows is easier than you thought! Who knows? Your new friends may just help you land the job of your dreams. Please share any other tips you may have!

As nice as it would be to attend every tradeshow listed on The Trade Shows Blog, one would need to redeem their frequent flier miles just to visit some of these trade shows.

But then I came across a group of trade shows that thinks globally by acting locally: The Bosco Wedding Expos.

Between October 22, 2012 and March 3, 2013, the Bosco Wedding Expo will be making its rounds to various locations in New York State and Connecticut. The Wedding Expo promises the best in every aspect of your special day - virtually everything from gowns to limousines to even honeymoon accomodations. What may be the best news is advanced ticket sales include a custom imprinted tote bag and a coupon for $100 toward any vendor. 

Not sure where to start? Visit Bosco Wedding Expo's website for a ticket link and a list of vendors by category/date. And scroll below to see a list of dates and locations.

October 22, 2012
Danbury, CT
Ethan Allen Hotel

November 7, 2012
Bronx, NY
Villa Barone Manor

January 9, 2013
Mahopac, NY
Villa Barone Hilltop Manor

January 19, 2013
Stamford, CT
Sheraton - Stamford

January 23, 2013
New Rochelle, NY
The Fountainhead

February 3, 2013
Smithtown, NY
Sheraton - Smithtown

February 23, 2013
Danbury, CT
Ethan Allen Hotel

March 3, 2013
Tarrytown, NY
DoubleTree - Tarrytown 

In today's "bigger is better" world, you might feel like your small exhibit might not stand out at that upcoming trade show. But fear not! There are ways to shine, even if your booth isn't humungous.

Let's go over some tips from Exhibitor Online:

Bring lighting

Did you know that you can rent portable lights to brighten up your trade show space? Industry research reveeals that proper lighting can improve booth visibility by up to 50 percent!

Avoid clutter

You might be tempted to display as many products as possible. But heed caution: Showing off too many items can come across as crowded and messy. Instead, choose a few favorites that are more likely to draw people in.

Be bold

Using colors that catch the eye from a distance is imperative at a trade show. Be sure to decorate with colors that pop against the background.

Use quality trade show displays 

Graphics at your trade show booth should be large enough to see from in front of your booth. Avoid using small text that cannot be read by visitors.

As social media continues to grow in importance and popularity, more and more industries are trying to get in the game. There are many reasons trade show exhibitors might want to take advantage of social networks like Twitter and Facebook. Let's take a look at a few ways you can make your trade show booth more social.

1. Promote your booth via Twitter
   
   According to the Trade Show News Network (TSNN), Tweeting about your booth's "specials, giveaways, contests, new products, special offers, and the like" will help draw in more visitors. It's advised to begin Tweeting as early as two months in advance to help create hype.
   
   
2. Ask attendees to engage on Facebook
   
   Socialnomics suggests running trade show polls and contests through your company or organization's Facebook page. Booth reps can even encourage attendees to visit your Facebook to get involved. Incentivize participation with high-end trade show giveaways.
   
   
3. Blog about presentations and education seminars
   
   Chances are there are people who couldn't make it to the big trade show. Keep them in the loop by live blogging about interesting presentations and education sessions. But remember, the key to a successful trade show live blog, according to Social Media B2B, is to "publish before you walk out of the room." That's when your content will be most relevant!

Looking for more interesting ways to get more social at the next trade show? Check out Gallo Display's "How to Integrate Social Media and Trade Show Marketing" infographic here. And don't forget to comment with your ideas!