What are you doing to stand out at events & exhibitions?

Standing out at an event or exhibition requires a combination of strategic planning, creativity, and thoughtful execution.

Remember that consistency and authenticity are key. Your efforts to stand out should align with your brand identity and the expectations of your target audience. By focusing on delivering value, engagement, and memorable experiences, you can leave a positive and lasting impression on event attendees.

Unique & eye-catching booth or stand design

Your booth or stand design is often the first thing attendees notice. A creative and well-designed booth that reflects your brand’s identity can capture attention and create a positive impression. Use bold visuals, attractive lighting, and interactive elements to draw people in.

Ensure your team stands out from the crowd

Your team play a crucial role in making your business stand out. Train your staff to be friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable about your products or services.

If uniforms aren’t mandatory, have synergy between your employees by having them wear company branded lanyards & badges or name tags.

Pre-event Marketing is the way forward!

Generate buzz before the event by using social media, email marketing, and other channels to let your audience know that you’ll be participating. Offering exclusive previews or incentives for visiting your booth can encourage attendance.

One way to guarantee interest at your stand, is to offer valuable and unique giveaways that are aligned with your brand. High-quality and useful items can leave a lasting impression and encourage attendees to remember your business after the event.

Before finalizing your choices, it’s a good idea to conduct surveys or gather feedback from your intended audience to ensure your giveaway items will be well-received.

Allianz executed this perfectly at Airmic 2023. Click here to read more.

We worked with them to produce VIP Goody Bags for the event; and it was key to include locally sourced products, to support the City of Manchester and local community.

TOP TIP: If the event is location-specific, incorporating local or cultural elements into the merchandise can create a unique and memorable experience for attendees.

We’ve listed the TOP 3 trending giveaway categories for 2023…

Sustainable & eco-friendly products

There has been a growing emphasis on eco-friendly and sustainable giveaway items.

Items like reusable tote bags, bamboo products, recycled materials, and biodegradable items have become more popular as people and businesses prioritize environmental consciousness.

Technology for the everyday

With the increasing reliance on technology, items like branded power banks, phone stands, and cable organizers have been popular choices.

These items offer practicality and align well with the digital age.

Health & wellness is 1 not to be missed

Items that promote wellbeing and wellness have been trending. This includes things like reusable water bottles, stress-relief gadgets, fitness trackers, and even items related to mental well-being like mindfulness journals.

Create a connection with the people that matter & deliver a personal touch that reinforces your brand. Contact us today.
Branded Merchandise to elevate your event

With Spring just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about your upcoming events. Whether you’re hosting a University Open Day, Corporate Lunch or Event Trade Show, here are a few things to ensure it’s a success!

Giveaway Merchandise

It’s the norm, to giveaway freebies to entice people to visit your event or stand. There are a wide variety of products to choose from, but considering you’re giving merchandise away for free, you’ll want to keep costs to a minimum. Branded sweet treats are always a great idea! Or perhaps something they’ll make use of more regularly, like a Trolley Keyring.

Samples

Whether it’s a hero product or something new to your brand, people will most likely request a sample to takeaway and try for themselves. So, it’s a great idea to invest in additional stock that can be gifted to the recipient. This does of course come with information from them in exchange. A brilliant method of warm lead generation; they’ll be expecting a follow-up from you.

Business Cards

With that in mind, you may be swamped and not everyone who passes by will have the time to stop and chat. So, ensure you have plenty of Business Cards to hand. But why not go unique, let them walk away with something useful and memorable!

Professional appearance

From exhibitions and trade shows, to sporting events and summer campaigns, have your team dressed accordingly. Branded clothing is often perceived as just printed T-Shirts. However, here at Limelight Publicity we have a broad range of different promotional clothing. Including shorts and trousers, t-shirts and polo shirts, hoodies and fleeces, as well as corporate shirts and smart wear. We have a wide range of promotional clothing items suitable for any occasion.

Take note

You’re sure to get some requests, so if you’re not supplied with the latest portable technology such as iPads, then don’t be afraid to turn back to basics! A branded pen and notebook will look great and come in very handy.

Incentives

Aside from great giveaway merchandise, it may take a little more to get people wanting to know more. Incentives are a great way around this. From discounts off their first order or signing up to a membership, to Referral Programmes or bonus’s, get creative! Perhaps you could present your incentive in a branded Gift Pack or Hamper?

While there are many other logistics to consider, we can help you to elevate your brand with branded merchandise. So, why not get in touch and let our experienced team get the ball rolling!

Top tips for planning virtual events

Here are our top tips for planning your virtual events…

 

1. Shout about it!

Good marketing is crucial for any event, including virtual ones. For optimum audience participation, make sure you promote your virtual event successfully. Use social media platforms (create a hashtag), blog posts, email and even direct marketing (we can show you how).

Be sure to make use of your online platforms before, during and after the event to get optimum engagement and feedback.

Send your attendees something tangible in the post prior to the event to make your event really stand out and grab their attention – a great way to get registrations too!

 

2. Consider your audience and their surroundings

Virtual events will be taking place in the home, and this brings with it a host of distractions. Children, naughty pets and even the doorbell will be competing for your delegates attention.

Be aware of mental fatigue also. For a virtual event, delivering 8 hours of live streaming will not provide a great user experience. Consider the different messages you want to get across, and how these can be delivered in a way that is digestible and appealing to your audience. Think bite sized chunks.

Having a strong awareness of your audience’s needs and expectations is key when planning any virtual event. Explain your goal without making the event an intense sales pitch. This will create a human connection for an audience that may be isolated in their homes.

 

3. Content is key

 It is crucial to remember that the biggest difference between a live event and a virtual event is that the audience can simply log out of the event at any time, so you need to provide reasons for the attendees to stay engaged and participate throughout the course of the event.

Think about how your audience likes to consume content and plan how you deliver in a way that is fresh and engaging to them. It’s important to make your content stand out and resonate with your audience. Have a clear understanding of what the delegate wants to get from the content and ensure that it is included.

Don’t forget, virtual events need a host just like any other event. You could hire a professional speaker or use a member of your own team and remember that you may need more than one host depending on the format of your event.

 

4. Encourage and enable audience participation

 Whether or not your audience plays a large or small role during your virtual event will all depend on the event goal and the platform/format you use.

Events that are consistently engaging, clear and easy to understand tend to have attendees that interact effectively and stay logged in during the entire event. Comprehensive event planning will ensure effective audience participation and engagement.

Providing delegates with the opportunity to network and interact with others is a key part of any event and virtual events should be no different. Think of clever ways to achieve this, such as gamification and live Q&A sessions.

 

5. Testing, Testing, Testing

For a truly engaging and enjoyable virtual event, testing is imperative. Arrange for tests of all equipment that will be used for the virtual event before it starts. Carry out sound and lighting checks as well as testing of all technical equipment. Make sure that you have at least one full rehearsal before the virtual event – just as you would a live event.

Be mindful of your timings as virtual events are typically shorter than live events.

 

7. And finally, get feedback

The best way to find out if your event was successful, is to ask those who attended.

Send a simple survey to attendees to ask questions, track how many people attended and to find out what your attendees thought about the content, delivery and results. Audience feedback can give you valuable insight into their experience on the day and what they think could be improved for your next event.

It’s also a great way to follow up on potential leads. Step this up a bit and follow up with a branded thankyou gift so that they have something tangible to remind them of you and your event.

 

Exhibition Preparation 1

In preparation for Marketing Week Live, we thought we would share with you our top tips on preparing for an exhibition.

At Limelight Publicity we know the importance of good organisation and planning when it comes to exhibitions and trade shows. It’s important to start planning well in advance, so that when the week leading up to your event comes, there is no blind panic or “where’s this?” and “where’s that?”. So help you try to combat this we have put together a few top tips. We hope these tips will make the process a little easier and less stressful.

Our Top Tips for Exhibition Preparation:

    1. Get started early: Your exhibition may be months off. However, it is super important to get started well in advance to avoid any mishaps. We recommend laying out a detailed plan of everything that needs doing and when it should be done by. If you have all prep tasks spread out over the weeks leading up to your event, it will feel less stressful in the penultimate week.
    2. Stand design: Probably one of the earliest tasks to be dealt with. If you are using a company to design and build your stand make sure everything is in order in advance. Make sure the design and build company have all your stand requirements and all the exhibition details. If you are taking care of your stand yourself, make sure you have ordered everything you need well in advance.

      Here are a few things to remember to source:

      Roller banners
      – Table cloth
      – Flyers/Marketing Paraphilia
      – Business cards
      – A method of recording leads (be it an iPad or a clipboard and paper form)
      Promotional giveaways to promote your brand
      Name badges and lanyards
      Exhibition Preparation 2

  1. Recording leads: The main reason we attend exhibition is of course, to obtain more leads. Therefore, it is vital that you have a solid method of recording lead details. Whether you decided to go for the old tried and tested method of a paper form and clipboard, or an iPad with lead recording software. It is a must to make sure your lead recording method is decided and organised in advance.
  2. Schedule: Organise your team and decide who is attending the event. Produce a timetable of which members are attending and the time slots they will be working. At Limelight we like to split our timetable into morning and afternoon sessions. This means no one is on the stand all day. It is very tiring attending exhibitions so we feel a new afternoon team brings the energy back.
  3. Freebies & Giveaways: It is important the visitors to your stand leave with something to remember you by. Exhibitions are the perfect place to expand your brand awareness. Make sure you have relevant and enticing giveaways. You want attendees to be talking about your stand to increase footfall. With effective promotional freebies, this becomes a lot easier! Check out our full range of promotional exhibition products for some inspiration.

Using these Exhibition Preparation tips as a rough guide, you should be off to a good start getting prepared for your upcoming event. To find out more about how Limelight can help your brand shine, get in touch with one of our friendly team today.

Limelight Marketing Week Live

Limelight Publicity are super excited to be exhibiting at Marketing Week Live for the 5th year in a row. This year we have got heaps of fantastic promotional products to showcase. So come and visit us at our stand to find out more about how we can help illuminate your brand!

Show details:

Wednesday 6th March – Thursday 7th March
Olympia London

Limelight Publicity Stand:

Come and visit us at Stand MB15

This year we will be showcasing some of the most innovative and effective products we’ve ever seen. From new technologies to eco-friendly products, we guarantee you will be impressed and inspired by our new range.

Our huge range of promotional products are perfect for getting your brand to hand. Any of the products we are showcasing at Marketing Week Live can be printed with your company logo and even branded in your company’s branding guidelines. For example we will be displaying products ranging from wireless chargers to eco-friendly bamboo cups. Above all our products are sure to make your brand shine.

Our friendly team will be on hand to talk about your upcoming branding campaigns and projects. Furthermore, we are a super creative bunch and are sure to come up with some interesting ideas on how we can help your brand get the attention it deserves. However, don’t let a lack of branding hold you back, we have a highly creative team of expert designers who can assist you in creating the perfect brand image.

Marketing Week Live Agenda:

Bringing marketing to life – Marketing Week Live is going to be packed full of industry experts! No matter what you are looking for, Marketing Week Live will have the answers!  Offering an interactive exhibition floor, carefully curated,  incredibly engaging keynote speakers and a huge variety of networking opportunities. From the Head of Digital at Dominos to the Head of Global Business at Facebook, this event has a number of fantastic keynote speakers definitely worth visiting. In other words, you’d be foolish to miss out on this event!

To view the full Marketing Week Live agenda please click here.

Limelight Publicity cannot wait to see you at Marketing Week Live 2019! Don’t forget to drop by Stand MB15 to see what we have on offer and maybe even leave with one of our packed-full goody bags!

If Marketing Week Live sounds like the kind of event you need to attend to boost your branding efforts, register to attend Marketing Week Live now:

Register Now!