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Guide to Trade-Show Giveaways

Find those freebies that will get your brand noticed on the show floor
By Traci Purdum

Everyone loves free stuff. And the best way to grab the attention of potential customers at a trade show is to offer freebies. To find the best giveaways for your company, make these moves:

1. Choose a target audience and aim your giveaways at these customers
2. Decide whether your main goal is to introduce a new product or remind customers whom to call
3. Set a budget and stick with it

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

You can't beat a bag or a pen Let's start with the basics. Everyone at a show has to write and tote their other handouts.

I recommend:  Try Branders for bags and PensRUs for pens.

Get more choice online Mints, badge-holders, fans: Online marketplaces give you lots of choices and good prices

I recommend:  Try 4imprint, Empire Promotional Products, Silver Star Promotions, Superior Promos Inc.

Get advice from the pros If the wealth of options confuses you, turn to trade-show gurus for suggestions on promo products that will make your company stand out from the crowd.

I recommend:  Try ePromos, FrugalMarketing.com, ExhibitorOnline.com, Trade Show Marketing Mistakes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Prior to a trade show, send out tickets to key customers or suppliers and request that they visit your booth for a special gift. You can keep costs down by buying big-ticket items for a select few, who will then walk around the trade show with your message. For other booth attendees, you can give away more cost-effective items.
• Engage attendees. If you don't have a large budget for giveaways, only give away items to folks who actually do something at your booth. For example, participate in a demonstration or presentation.
• Have fun. Nothing draws a crowd like a crowd. Why not go the way of the carnival barker and ask attendees to try their luck by spinning a wheel for prizes? Or start a beach-ball war with the booth across from you? If you look like you're having fun, people will be drawn to you.