There is more to having a successful trade show exhibit than simply setting up a booth, and learning how to work with display boards is part of that process. Display boards are a great way to showcase product information and services. Since there are many designs of board displays available, you will first need to decide which type you want to use, along with how you plan to use it. For example, you can use a tabletop trade show display board to highlight information about your product and then have pamphlets or other collateral materials spread out on the table for trade show attendees to take with them. Whatever type of trade show display board you choose, the most important thing is that it helps you have a successful trade show booth and increase interest in your business.

Here are some things to consider about working with trade show display boards:

1. Draw traffic to your booth with interesting and innovative trade show presentation boards.

2. Create tabletop display boards to hand out product samples, information and promotional giveaways.

3. Use tabletop or portable display boards for trade shows that are easy to set up as you travel from show to show.

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Use display boards made of various materials to draw traffic to your trade show booth exhibit

There are makes kinds of conference display boards available, from pop-up display boards that can be set up in as little as 10 minutes to more elaborate displays that will require more set up and take down time. Business display boards are sometimes made of fabrics or recyclable materials. Most companies offer services where you can have your company logo printed on these display boards to help trade show attendees remember your company name.

I recommend: Go to Mod Displays or AAA Display Group to buy trade show panel display boards made with a variety of materials, including recycled or green materials.

Use tabletop display boards to display informational and promotional items and giveaways

If you have product samples, informational literature to pass out or trade show promotional items to give away, using a tabletop display board is a great way to display those items while also showcasing your products. Some of these display boards come with clear plastic sleeves or pockets where you can place literature or product giveaways so that trade show attendees can take what they want.

I recommend: Buy tabletop display boards at Siegel Display Products and Affordable Exhibit Displays.

Purchase portable display boards for easy set up and travel

Using portable display boards is a great way to make traveling from trade show to trade show easy for you. Many also come with a convenient carrying case to make traveling even easier.

I recommend: Visit Additions Exhibit Systems to find affordable and portable display boards. Buy portable conference displays at TradeShowDisplayDepot.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Since your aim at a trade show is to promote your products and services, think of your display boards in terms of marketing: Display boards can truly represent your business if you use them to their fullest.

Seeing is believing. Visual aids, such as presentation and display boards, add impact to your message. Whether you use presentation boards as a silent sales tool or to complement a verbal pitch, they reinforce your communication efforts. Small businesses can use presentation and display boards in a number of ways:

1. Tabletop or booth display at tradeshows
2. Visual aid in a sales presentation
3. Tool for in-house meetings
4. Silent salesperson in your company showroom or office

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Keep the design simple

Whether you're using your presentation board in a sales meeting or setting up a display board at a tradeshow, the same design rules apply. The overall design should be clean and simple — think big, bold images and big titles that read like headlines.

I recommend: For design dos and don'ts, check out the "Deadly Sins of Visual Presentation" and "10 Tips for Designing Effective Presentation Visuals".

Choose tradeshow display boards

Having a display board containing product or service information at your tradeshow booth is one of the most effective ways to communicate your message. Attendees can browse the information on the display board while the booth host demonstrates or discusses the product. Choose from one of many varieties of tabletop display boards.

I recommend: Portable foldable displays are one the most convenient for tradeshows that require air travel. Wave boards made from flexible plastic roll up and slide into a tube for easy transporting. Fabric pop-up displays are also easy to install by attaching them to a lightweight aluminum frame.

Print your own sales presentations

It isn't always cost-effective to have presentation boards professionally printed for sales calls. Presentation boards can look professional and neat if you do them yourself. By having a stock of blank display boards on hand, you can affix posters and artwork to them.

I recommend: Find a variety of tri-fold sized blank display boards at FoamBoardSource.com. To create a great display or storyboard, head to your nearest FedExKinko's store for four-color large format prints that can be pasted to the storyboard. Avery Sign Kits lets you print display boards using your desktop printer.

Use presentation boards for meetings

For in-house meetings or brainstorming sessions, use blank display boards and jot down ideas as they come up.

I recommend: Dry-erase boards and chalkboards are available at ErgoInDemand.com. If you have a lot of notes or prefer to save brainstorming notes, try easel pads available at Staples.com.

Find additional uses for tradeshow displays

Put your tradeshow display boards to use even when you aren't at a tradeshow. Large stand-alone tradeshow booth panels do double duty as a visual communication tool when displayed in your office lobby or showroom.

I recommend: Pop-up tradeshow booths are available from Displays2Go.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To quickly make storyboards for a client presentation, use spray adhesive on visuals and affix them to blank foam-core display boards.
• •  To convey your message, limit text to essential information that gets the message across and support it with visuals such as photos, graphs or charts. Too much text will make the viewer lose interest.
• •  When giving a verbal presentation with visual backup, make sure to put only brief titles or subject headings on the display board with the supporting photos or charts. Putting too much information on the display board can make people lose track of what you're saying because they're too distracted by reading your visual presentation.

In order to have a successful trade show exhibit, it's important that you learn how to make the most out of trade show display boards. There are many different kinds of trade show display boards available, from tabletop units to those that easily pop up or are portable. You can choose to purchase a ready-made display board or have one custom made to fit the particular needs of your products and services. Whatever you choose, making the most of trade show display boards is sure to help you have a successful show.

Here are some things to consider about using trade show display boards for your next trade show exhibit:

1. Use trade show presentation boards as visual aids to draw attention to your trade show booth.

2. Showcase your products with custom-made trade show display boards.

3. Buy tabletop or portable display boards that set up quickly and easily.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Draw attention to your exhibit with trade show conference displays

You can draw traffic to your trade show booth by using display boards that make an impact on the overall look of your booth. There are many kinds available, so choose trade show display boards that will best showcase your company and its services as well as give your both an aesthetically appealing look.

I recommend: Go to Impact Displays to find a selection of panel and marketing display boards to use for your next trade show exhibit. There are many designs to choose from that can make your trade show booth visually appealing. Visit Displayit to find whatever kind of trade show display board you need. It has everything from trifold and tabletop units to specialty displays.

Use custom-made trade show display boards to showcase your products

Customized display boards are a great way to market your business to trade show attendees. This is especially true if you're introducing a new product or service at your trade show exhibit and want to ensure that those who come to your booth can easily learn more about it.

I recommend: Hire SGB Studios to create a custom-made display board for your trade show exhibit booth. This company can also create customized portable trade show displays as well. Smart Exhibits specializes in only creating customized trade show display boards. They create everything from tabletop trade show panel display boards to full-size wall units.

Use portable display boards that you can easily set up and take down

Since many trade show exhibitors go to more than one show a year, using portable display boards for trade shows is a great idea. Most of these units come with carrying cases so that transporting them from show to show is easy. Then, once you arrive, you can quickly set up your business display boards to use for your trade show exhibit.

I recommend: Purchase portable tabletop display boards from Displays2Go for your next trade show presentation. Go to North Sculpture to find portable conference display boards and panels, along with carrying cases for your trade show board display items and supplies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use dynamic lighting as well as bright colors to draw attention to your trade show presentation boards. There are also many display board designs that are visually stimulating and just might help bring even more traffic to your trade show exhibit.

With all of the options available, it can be difficult choosing the best trade show display boards to fit your needs. Taking some time to learn more about trade show display board key terms can help you choose the board best suited to showcase your marketing and promotional collateral.

Display size can play a major role in your ability to draw guests to your booth, while portability can be a critical factor in your ability to effectively set up your booth. You can choose from portable, tabletop and pop-up booths, modular systems, panel display and truss systems.

Action Steps
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Portable display

Portable displays are made of lightweight materials and can be easily transported. Tabletop and pop-up displays are two types of popular portable trade show displays.

I recommend: Exhibe Portable offers a wealth of information about portable trade show displays.

Tabletop display

Tabletop displays are used for smaller shows or ones where your space is limited. They are usually available in a variety of styles including fabric and graphic panels and sizes to accommodate display tables. Tabletop displays are known for their portability, easy set-up, value and convenience.

I recommend: Learn more about tabletop displays at TradeShowJoe.com.

Pop-up booths

Pop-up trade show display boards are popular options to cover a typical 10x10 trade show space. Pop-up displays can be used in combination with a variety of other trade show accessories such as shelving and collateral displays. Because pop-up booths are made to reuse, you should inquire about durability, ease of setup, fabric colors and warranties when selecting a pop-up display.

I recommend: Find out more about pop-up booths at Smash Hit Displays.

Modular systems

Modular systems are more high-end display boards that provide a custom look. Modular systems are typically shipped in molded plastic cases. These systems use a range of high-end materials including composites and laminates, aluminum frames and various other unique designs. These systems can hold a large amount of weight and can be ideal for plasma screen or LCD panel displays.

I recommend: Read more about modular systems at Impact Displays.

Panel display

Panel trade show display boards can typically withstand more weight than pop-up displays. This factor can, in some cases, help to create a more high-end display. Panel displays can work well for those looking to display computer monitors or a large quantity of other heavy products.

I recommend: TradeShowDisplayDepot.com offers details about panel trade show display boards.

Truss Systems

Truss systems can be used to showcase products, projected images and graphics. These systems are typically used for structural and decorative trade show elements.

I recommend: Find out more about truss systems at TradeShowShop.com.