6 Reasons Attendees Don’t Trust Your Booth Staff

Posted by Cat Virca in Planning, Tips, Trends

Making a good first impression is critical to the success of your trade show. For customers, visiting your exhibit at the trade show is often the only way to connect face to face with your brand. Your booth staff is “the face” of your brand at every trade show. It is important that your booth staff receives proper training prior to the trade show to ensure you maximize the business opportunities at your event.

Mike Thimmesch of Trade Show News Network provides a list of mistakes for your booth staff to avoid in his article, “6 Reasons Attendees Don’t Trust Your Booth Staff.”

1. Ignoring Attendees. You should have enough booth staff on hand to greet every visitor. Ignored attendees are lost business opportunities. No one likes to be ignored.
2. Poor Eye Contact. The key to positive rapport is through good eye contact. Eye contact shows visitors you are interested in what they have to say. Remind team members to give attendees their full attention.
3. Speaking without Listening. Attendees can tell when booth staffers have memorized talking points. Make sure your staff is listening and tailoring answers to specific questions instead of generalizing their answers. Remember that each interaction should be a conversation not a presentation.
4. Uninformed. There is nothing worse than leaving visitors with unanswered questions. Before the show, offer team member training through role playing opportunities to ensure your booth staff is properly trained to interact with potential customers..
5. Booth Babes instead of Brand Ambassadors. Hiring “booth babes” can intimidate guests and be offensive. Your staff should be approachable and friendly at all times. Having actual employees at your trade show booth is the best way to ensure your products are presented properly.
6. Shabby Trade Show Display. The appearance of your exhibit is just as important as booth staff etiquette. Your booth should match your branding guidelines. Remember that inconsistencies can confuse consumers.

Read the full article.