Tip #1 Contact Early.

Ok, we know that AMTS 2011 is still a few months away, but it’s time to start letting people you’ll be at the show. Why?

“Companies that don’t introduce themselves to prospects attending a show before the event can miss making valuable contacts,” explains a 12/25/09 Dayton Business Journal article.

Think of a snowball rolling downhill. It starts slowly, growing and building momentum over time. That analogy is the same for driving traffic to this show, your booth, and ultimately, your business. You don’t need to make a huge splash yet… just begin with ripples that continually and consistently spread out over time. Connect with your core customers and qualified prospects, using what most call a “drip campaign”.

It’s easy to start – we’re not talking about complicated marketing materials or promotions here. Simply get the message out in ways you already talk to your customers and prospects every day....

INVOICES

Place a statement stuffer within your invoices that highlights the show, or add the show logo (found on your Exhibitor Marketing Kit CD) with “Visit us at Booth #” directly on your invoices – subtle but effective.

EMAIL SIGNATURE

Add the show logo, your booth number, and “Be Sure To Come See Us” to everyone’s email signatures throughout your company. You’ll be amazed at the notice an email signature gets, especially when it is changed after looking the same for months.

YOUR WEBSITE

It’s one of the most effective marketing tools, so just add the show logo and your booth number to your home page. Have your webmaster make it clickable, linking to the show’s site at daytonamts.com in order to see dates, times, and even pre-register to attend. Want to bring more life to your home page? Your Marketing Kit also comes with a video file ready to upload, which not only promotes the show, but makes a great visual for your site.

GO SOCIAL

If you or your business already has a Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter presence, take two minutes to promote your booth number to your friends, network, and followers on these sites throughout the coming months.

Sample Posts

 Just signed up to Exhibit at AMTS 2011! See us at Booth # on October 19 & 20. Over 3000 customers and prospects come each year.

Come see (insert new product or equipment) at our Booth # at the AMTS 2011 on 10/19-10/20.

 Customer Appreciation Gift (or other special offer) if you come see us at the AMTS 2011 at Booth #.  Admission and parking are free!

 Can’t make it to AMTS 2011? Please repost (share/retweet) this – so others who’d be interested can find out more at daytonamts.com.

You also help spread the word FOR FREE by going to daytonamts.com and clicking on the links to “friend”, “RSVP” and “follow” the show’s social pages. Be a leader among your competitors! Show them you’re out there and you mean business! And make sure you forward to everyone in your social media networks. Talk about a snowball…

USE WHAT YOU’RE GIVEN

Pull out your pre-printed Pocket-Sized Info Flyers and Show Passes included in your Marketing Kit. Put the Flyers out in your office for drop-ins, or hand them out in business meetings or other events you attend. Those Show Passes give you and your sales force a great reason to stop by and see customers you haven’t touched in a while and hot prospects that you’re courting. Give them out freely – you can always print out more from your Marketing Kit’s CD. Encourage them to Pre-Register at daytonamts.com to avoid the lines the day of the show.

The secret here is consistency of messaging. Start now to build consistency and momentum over the coming months. Get that snowball rolling.

Check out Tip #2 for more tangible ways to staying in front of your customers with REPETITION. REPETITION.