Maritime trade show marketing is critical to maximizing your company's trade show experience. When planning your marketing campaign, take into account pressing issues that face the industry to draw crowds, such as hard hitting maritime law, rules and regulations, as well as green initiatives, which have impacted all aspects of the business.

There are many ways to increase maritime trade show traffic to your company's exhibit via maritime trade shows advertising opportunities both large and small. Consider the following before spending your marketing budget:

1. Announce your maritime trade show promotions in maritime trade websites and publications.

2. Look for chances to capitalize on show-specific maritime trade show marketing opportunities.

3. Consult with maritime industry marketing experts to get their advice on translating your trade show exposure into sales.

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

Announce your maritime trade show promotions on maritime trade websites and publications

Announce your company's maritime tradeshow promotions and maritime tradeshow giveaways via a press release sent to industry websites and publications. This is a great way to draw traffic to the tradeshow, and more importantly, to your booth.

I recommend: Maritime Trade Shows offers "visibility packages" which allow you to advertise a press release, your company's name, as well as your website and much more. Click on the "advertising rates and info" link to get details on both Maritime Activity Reports publications -- Maritime Reporter and Engineering News, and Marine News.

Look for opportunities to capitalize on show-specific maritime tradeshows advertising

Like other industry tradeshows, maritime tradeshows rely heavily on corporate sponsorship for funding. Becoming a corporate sponsor is a great way to increase your company's exposure, since sponsors generally get star billing in tradeshow event guides and get to see their names in lights throughout the event. If sponsorship is too pricey, consider taking an ad in a maritime show guide, or be on the lookout for other unique marketing opportunities that may be offered on a show-by-show basis.

I recommend: The International Workboat Show has partnered with MaritimeTV to offer a select group of companies the chance to be featured in a webcast that will be broadcast to several TV networks that attract industry viewers. The Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) conference offers many opportunities for corporate sponsorship. Sponsors are featured on CMA's tradeshow website, which provides readers access to sponsor websites along with an ad in the program event guide.

Consult with maritime trade show marketing and advertising experts

Maritime trade show marketing and advertising consultants are experts in their field. They are in perhaps the best position to help your company target where its marketing dollars will be best spent to promote your presence at a tradeshow and make attendees want to visit your booth.

I recommend: The Conference Maritime Association is a consultant group specializing in marketing your company via various maritime trade shows' advertising. TM Marketing group specializes in maritime marketing that builds brand recognition via "targeted public relations, advertising and marketing."

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider conducting maritime tradeshow follow-up to enhance your company's visibility after the show. Suggestions for follow-up include large scale gestures like taking an ad out in maritime tradeshows advertising publications to thank show attendees, or smaller scale attempts such as personally contacting those that stopped by your booth. Both suggestions at the very least will help to keep your company's name in attendees heads after everyone is back home, and may even generate some new sales leads.

This is meant to provide some of the most important information to help get you started planning for a trade show. Outlined are informational tips on how to help you get the utmost benefit from your trade show appearances.

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

Choose the trade show that will best increase your company proceeds!

Carefully select the venue that best suits your target audience! Scrutinize the show's worthiness.

I recommend: Be positive that the attendees of this show will be your organization's most likely clientele.

Obtain a copy of the show manual and more importantly - read it!

It will outline everything you need to know about the show. Registration information, forms, floor plans, exhibit specifications, a schedule and all other pertinent details.

I recommend: Create a check list to ensure accurate and timely completion of all tasks and deadlines.

Plan early!

Attending a trade show requires extensive advance preparation. Reserve booth space in advance and keep in mind costs differ depending on size and location in the exhibit hall.

I recommend: Start planning and coordinating your ideas at least a few months in advance.

Identify your goals!

Specific goals are imperative.

I recommend: Make sure you are focused and clearly distinguish what it is you aspire to achieve as a result of participating in the show.

Create a strategy - write a show plan and stick to it!

Outline a comprehensive timeline including booth schedules and a list of preparation activities. Assign responsibility to individuals for each task.

I recommend: Make sure the show plan clearly outlines the objectives and everyone is working toward the same goal.

Implement a key message for your exhibit and create an open, inviting area.

An open and welcoming design, one that is free of clutter will produce a more inviting atmosphere. It will also allow more prospective clients to walk through easily.

I recommend: Create a comfortable more relaxed and inviting space so potential customers feel welcome and want to spend time learning more about what you have to offer.

Train your exhibit staff before the show!

It is very important that each and every staff member knows exactly what is expected of him or her. Be sure they practice their presentations. Presenters need to be rehearsed, well informed and up to date on all new programs and initiatives.

I recommend: Make your booth representatives easily identifiable and add a sense of professionalism to your exhibit by deciding on appropriate attire for your staff.

Supplies, marketing materials/informational brochures.

Make sure all of your printed marketing material and other collateral is accurate and up to date.

I recommend: Don't risk not having your most current information available to hand out! More importantly make absolutely certain it does not contain any errors or omissions.

Evaluation - What Worked and What Didn't

After each show, assess what went well and more importantly what didn't. Evaluate every facet of the show.

I recommend: Encourage and be open to all feedback and comments from staff members and outside sources. Analyze opinions pertaining to how well you were perceived by prospective customers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to have a considerable presence at an innovative or influential show be sure to plan and design a booth layout that is visitor/customer friendly.
• •  An organized exhibition area will attract more dynamic prospects into your booth.
• •  Be sure to advertise your show participation indicating the dates of the show and always be sure to include your booth number.
• •  Make sure your logo is unobstructed and prominently displayed.
• •  Create short/easy and to the point forms to capture potential prospect information.
• •  When preparing for your next trade show be sure to review prior show evaluations to help improve your overall performance.
• •  Consider giveaways to generate attention and a sense of fun! They don't have to be expensive! Promotional items are useful links to better promote your company. Always attempt to find the one that'll make you the talk of the show! There is no limit to the level of success imprinted promotional products can help you achieve! Work with a good, reliable and responsive promotional company to help you decide on just the right custom product for you, your budget and your audience! They will be able to help you figure out which items will bring you the best return of investment. Choosing the right promotional gift or tradeshow giveaway can be a very difficult task. The item(s) you choose could end up being the difference between success and failure. The promotional company will help develop a program to organize your branding and merchandising efforts and revolutionize your promotional giveaways to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.