Marketing Booth At Community Events

14 replies
We have a number of festivals and community stuff with lots of business owners. Pay for a single booth with a 2' x 10' banner include all kind of social media stuff plastered on it and hand out my 10 Tips local city marketing book plus qualify business owners for my mailing list with the chance of winning a free Facebook Fan page.

Worth a try don't you think?

TR
#booth #community #events #marketing
  • Profile picture of the author James Foster
    Well most community festivals are for, just that, the community.

    The average person eating funnel cakes and cheese curds aren't exactly your target market...

    The people who run those booths, on the other had, very well could be.

    I'd say skip your own booth, and just walk into other people's booths, start talking and give them your business card.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2774259].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author enterpryzman
      Originally Posted by James Foster View Post

      Well most community festivals are for, just that, the community.

      The average person eating funnel cakes and cheese curds aren't exactly your target market...

      The people who run those booths, on the other had, very well could be.

      I'd say skip your own booth, and just walk into other people's booths, start talking and give them your business card.



      I have to agree only in part with your objections....I am a local business owner and I ( like many-many locals ) attend all the local festivals in order to show support to others in my area. It gives us a chance to network and just relax BUT....I am always looking for ways to increase my market share, even at a festival.

      Enterpryzman
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2775112].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author redlegrich
        I've been to hundreds of shows over 30 years of all types and sizes and I've never heard of such a thing as show management frowning upon soliciting vendors in their booths. And frankly I would not care anyway ;-) There are also the inevitable slow times during the day when booth owners would be happy for some conversation. If you have a crowd of prospects you're nuts not to take advantage of it. But, be sure to respect their need to conduct their business first!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2775257].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Digital Traffic
    Love the idea

    Shows are a great way to talk to many people from all walks of life, and plant plenty of seeds in the process.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2774393].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author redlegrich
      I think James is right on this. I'd also take it one step further. Before the event find out who the exhibitors are. Do some research on the ones that look juicy. I suspect most need some sort of help. Be prepared when you get there with a list of the opportunities available for you to help each one. If you know their Google Places position, organic search position, what their competitors are up to you will look a lot better than just asking what help they might need.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2774403].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author AussieT
        Originally Posted by redlegrich View Post

        I think James is right on this. I'd also take it one step further. Before the event find out who the exhibitors are. Do some research on the ones that look juicy. I suspect most need some sort of help. Be prepared when you get there with a list of the opportunities available for you to help each one. If you know their Google Places position, organic search position, what their competitors are up to you will look a lot better than just asking what help they might need.
        Or take a laptop with wireless broadband connection with you and show them live while they are not busy. While they might be doing well say in Google Places there is usually several poor areas where you can show them they are missing out on traffic/customers. E.g. rankings for 'other" good buying keywords, lead capture form etc
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2774547].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Bronwyn and Keith
          Hey Tom

          Great idea.

          Very pro-active and makes good sense.

          Regards

          Bronwyn and Keith
          Originally Posted by AussieT View Post

          Or take a laptop with wireless broadband connection with you and show them live while they are not busy. While they might be doing well say in Google Places there is usually several poor areas where you can show them they are missing out on traffic/customers. E.g. rankings for 'other" good buying keywords, lead capture form etc
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2774565].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Digital Traffic
    Soliciting the vendors at shows is usually frowned upon by not only the show management, but also by the vendors themselves who are there to promote and sell their wares.

    They are there to meet and greet as many potential clients as they can, why would you want to interrupt a potential client while they are busy selling their products?

    That's like walking into a restaurant during lunch time and asking to see the manager, or trying to make a delivery.

    If you are doing the show yourself, not only will you have access to the vendor list, you will also have access to the vendors in a more personal non-confrontational manner.

    Having access to the general public that walks through the show, is just the icing on the cake.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2774512].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Steve Solem
    Originally Posted by T.R. McCarroll View Post

    We have a number of festivals and community stuff with lots of business owners. Pay for a single booth with a 2' x 10' banner include all kind of social media stuff plastered on it and hand out my 10 Tips local city marketing book plus qualify business owners for my mailing list with the chance of winning a free Facebook Fan page.

    Worth a try don't you think?

    TR
    Hey TR - In marketing I think just about anything is worth trying to see what kind of results it brings you, but I always like to try to stack the odds in my favor and I think I'd agree with James here.

    I could see getting a booth at a business expo maybe, but I think a business booth at a community festival - when you're selling B2B - is probably not the best match.

    I'd agree though that if you don't go as a booth holder and you want to talk to businesses there you should certainly be sensitive to the fact that they probably not keen on being "pitched" by anyone else - but if you had a valuable report to hand out and you're not holding up anyone in line, I don't see anything terribly wrong with that.

    Steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2774610].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author T.R. McCarroll
      Thanks guy for the perspectives ...

      going for the vendor list was on my checklist but this is such a small community with just about everybody running some kind of business ... pressing the flesh real important as well ...

      I guess you have to be a politician in campaign mode ... next thing I'll do is get the neighbor kid to stand on the side of the road with one of those arrow signs and start a BBQ + Marketing Advise Stand (some of you older guys remember "Law Dogs" in LA .. hotdogs and legal advise .. guy made a killing)

      TR
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2775068].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Chad Heffelfinger
    I think marketing at the event is a good idea, it just depends on what kind it is exactly and how busy it is. If it's a busy event the vendors won't have much spare time and it could be hard to really talk to them. What you could do is casually talk to them about what they do as people are much more open and friendly at these types of events, then tell them you could help them grow their business and get them to agree to a future meeting when you can talk when they are not so busy.

    I have been on both sides of these events and I feel it is easier to get people talking and build the Know, Like, and Trust factor early on, verses trying to go talk to them at their normal place of business. I also think it's not the place to make a full presentation and pitch them, it's more a place to get to know them and introduce yourself and schedule a time for a "real" meeting.

    I recently pitched someone at one of these local events(nothing marketing related) selling them some merchandise I had and it went well, but it was full of delays and required some patience as I pithced the wife, then had to wait on the husbands approval at the very end after he had a break from selling at the front. In the end they were happy I approached them and made the deal, but not all vendors will have multiple people to pitch while they are busy.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2775272].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sonomacats
    You're missing the obvious!

    Now, the basic idea here is primarily for people doing the video thing for offline businesses. But I'm sure you can come up with other variations.

    I've done a ton of shows and the comments about selling during the show is right on. It's not a good idea because most of the vendors are there to sell their stuff. They're not going to want to be bothered. When they do have a break, they want to grab a bite to eat or run to the washroom.

    HOWEVER, sign up for a show as a vendor.

    Then contact the organizer and get the names of the vendors and tell them you're going to do a video on each of the vendors for marketing purposes (unless there are 300 of them, then you'd have to make a selection).

    Then interview with as many vendors as you can and make short videos (1-2 minutes) of the vendors and what they're selling. Show them in action. Make them fun.

    Put the videos on YouTube and on your site as subdomains with links to the shows. And give the vendors a copy for their sites and to share.

    When you do the videos, give the vendors some other online marketing suggestions (on your letterhead) and a price list.

    Then on the day of the show, just enjoy the day and schmooze. It's best if you can get a knowledgeable assistant or sales person to run your booth while you walk around and talk to the people you did the videos for. Just to say hi and how's the show going.

    You get to show off your business and make some great connections. And if you live in a small town, it's a great way to become a part of the community. Who knows where that will lead!
    Signature

    Writing as Kieran McKendrick
    You can find the first prequel to my Purgatory series (How Blended are Dust and Fire) on Amazon and Smashwords.

    Whether you think you can or think you cannot, you are right. -- Henry Ford

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2818788].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TK1
    The fact that you have your own book seems to be a nice one and should help a lot.

    I wouldn't even ask if it's worth a try.

    I always say:

    If something doesn't cost you money to try out but could make you money why not try, even if it's the most stupid thing in the world?

    That's the reason why I had some dumb ass ideas in my mind and tried them out and they've made me many thousands when other people didn't do it.

    Just go ahead, I like the idea!

    TK
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2819749].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author T.R. McCarroll
      Thanks for all the comments and suggestions..that is why it is great to
      toss topics out there.. multiple heads are better than one.

      I figure the more these same vendors/community leaders see my name and what I can offer
      I become the go-to-guy.

      Money to be made and some barter action as well (event organizers always need PR, right)
      in lieu of a booth charge.

      Will keep you all posted.

      T.R.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2820240].message }}

Trending Topics