Sterling Networks Bristol Expo Exhibitor Information
Sterling Networks Expo plus BIG Breakfast & BIG Brunch
Friday 14th October
Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol
SET UP OF STANDS – FROM 06:00am TO 06.45am
BIG Breakfast: 06:45am to 08:45am
BIG Brunch: 10:15am to 12:00pm
Exhibition: 09:00am to 01:00pm
It is not long now until you are joining us at the Sterling Bristol Expo plus BIG Breakfast & BIG Brunch on Friday 14th October 2022.
It is shaping up to be another successful Sterling show with all stands sold out and bookings coming in for our BIG Breakfast & BIG Brunch.
There will be several promotional emails sent out to our database and to the local press to promote this event and help drive people to the exhibition to visit you and your stand.
However, we would still appreciate your help in promoting this event. There is a great quote from Winnie the Pooh who says – “It is always easier with two”
On this page you will find:
- Social Media Links
- Content for email invite to your visitors
- Top Tips for a Successful Exhibition
- Your Exhibition Essentials
- Social Media Graphics
Hello!
Thank you for booking to attend our Bristol Expo. At Sterling we like to do everything we can to ensure that you have a successful exhibition, and we hope that the information on this page will help you achieve that.
One of our key tips is that you as exhibitors make sure you invite your clients and prospects to come and visit you at the show. It’s a great way to catch up and let them know about any new products and services you might want to offer. If we all pull together to invite our network to the event it means that there are more people for us all to meet and connect with.
To help you with this here are our top 3 ways to invite visitors:
- Send an email to your contact list – both current clients and your potential clients
- Invite your top 10 clients to the show to meet up with you
- Send a message to your LinkedIn contacts to let them know you are exhibiting
Along with the above we will also have a social media campaign with details and please do ensure that we have your logo and details on file so that we can tag you and share information.
If there is anything else, we can do to help then please just give us a call.
Kind Regards
Fiona and the Sterling Team
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Please see below for links that will help you:
LINKEDIN & FB EVENTS:
Here are the events that are on our platforms. You can share this link or invite people to attend. Make sure you have confirmed you are attending and shared the post!
DELEGATE BOOKINGS:
It is free for delegates to attend any Sterling Expo event so please share this link to invite them along to meet you.
BIG BREAKFAST & BIG BRUNCH
There may still be opportunities to book in for the BIG Breakfast or BIG Brunch for any of your contacts. Here is the link to share where they can book on to reserve a seat.
Bristol Expo plus BIG Breakfast & BIG Brunch | Sterling Expo
EMAIL INVITE TO YOUR VISITORS
Here is an idea of some content that you might want to send out:
Would love to catch up and meet you!
Dear “Name”
I just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know that I am exhibiting at the Sterling Bristol Expo plus BIG Breakfast & BIG Brunch at Ashton Gate Stadium (Bristol) on the 14th October 2022. This is a free event to attend as a delegate and it would be great if you could come along and say hi to us at the show.
There will be a great number of other local businesses who are exhibiting, and the day also starts with a BIG Breakfast networking event along with a BIG Brunch later in the morning. The Sterling BIG events bring business together to start a conversation. The established format for the day ensures that you make as many connections as possible on the day.
During the show we will be presenting our latest updates and the range of products and services that we offer, and it would be great to have the opportunity to discuss if there is anything we can help you with.
Here are the links for the details of the show and how to register:
https://www.sterlingexpo.co.uk/bristol-14th-october/
Look forward to catching up with you.
Kind Regards
TOP TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITION
Running a stand at a trade show or exhibition is hard work. Booking the stand is the easy part. There is a lot of planning and preparation that must take place in the run up to the event to ensure you get the greatest value out of the investment you’ve made in exhibiting.
On average, 75% of visitors to an exhibition are there to buy or plan to buy in the future – so make sure your impression is a memorable one! Here are our top tips to ensure you should be easily on your way to exhibiting success!
Sterling have been running and organising successful exhibitions for the last 10 years. Here are our top tips for exhibition success:
Set Measurable Goals
Before you go, you need to know exactly why you want to exhibit and what you want to achieve from it. Set a couple of specific and measurable targets to work towards, such as number of potential contacts, leads or new partners, and plan how you’ll achieve them.
Make a checklist before you go
Make a checklist of the items you need to take to your exhibition. Create an exhibition box and make sure you include items like business cards, pens, stapler, folders, and spare stationary
Know What Not to Do
It may seem like common sense, but we are going to say it anyway. Don’t spend all your time talking on the phone, eating in full view, sitting behind a desk, or having your back to people… oh and don’t make a mess or have cheap giveaways
Keep a note of who you speak to!
You will be seeing a lot of people when you exhibit so you will need to find an easy system of classifying the people you meet. The easiest way would be leads, potential leads and general contacts (who could refer you to leads). Tip: Write on the back of the cards your collect or have a recording sheet, you won’t remember what people were interested in after the event.
Design Your Stand to Showcase Your Objectives
Your stand is the first thing people will see so it needs to stand out and attract people to you. The design of your stand needs to reflect your objectives, whilst also being smart, attractive and on brand. Make sure your message is short and targeted.
Dress comfortably and for the occasion
You know your audience and what is appropriate for the event you are going to, but remember exhibitions are long days and you will be on your feet most of the time. Dress comfortably and prepare for different temperatures
Attract People to Your Stand to Start the Conversation
One of the most effective ways to get people on your stand is to elicit curiosity. It allows you to start a conversation and draw a crowd. Try a game for a prize draw. We have seen some amazing eye catching offers that work! However, remember whatever you do it needs to be credible and related to your brand so that it is memorable and not tacky.
Follow Up
One of the most important steps of exhibiting is following up on the people you met there! If you don’t, then why did you waste all your time and money on the exhibition in the first place? Plan your follow up strategy in advance of the event and make sure you follow up as quickly as possible after the exhibition.
Advertise and Promote as Much as Possible
Let people know you are attending an exhibition and if you can invite people, do! Your competition will! Nothing looks better than a full stand, so use social media, newsletters, and your website to get the message out.
Know What to Do
80% of a stand’s success is you and your staff, so you need to look smart and fresh, make eye contact and smile at people as much as possible. Your aim is to speak to as many potential clients as possible, so keep conversations short and concise, whilst listening more than you talk. Make sure your phone is off, focus on visitors and if you listen to their needs, sell the benefits of your product or service rather than its features.
Write notes for your visitors
Exhibition visitors are bombarded with information from everyone and will take home a raft of information at the end of the day. Make sure that when you hand out your literature you write a few key words that will remind them of what you discussed. Why not print slightly bigger cards with a space to write on? It is useful to hand out with your literature.
Review Your Success – how was it?
Was the exhibition worth it? Did you reach your goals? Or did you come out with other benefits such as other opportunities and referrals? The results might surprise you so make sure you sit down and reflect on the experience. You may even learn something new about your target audience that you could feed into your marketing strategy. There’s always room for improvement so would you go to another one? What would you do better next time?
YOUR EXHBITION ESSENTIALS
You’ve decided to exhibit at a show and the stand is booked. Planning means that you’ll get the most out of exhibiting so here is our Essential Checklist to make sure that nothing is forgotten.
Your Stand
Decide what is needed on your stand. How much space do you have? Have you packed an extension lead? Remember to leave room for visitors to your stand
- Posters
- Pull Up Banners
- Literature Racks
- Lighting/Electrics
- Exension Leads
- Audio Visual Equipment
- Stand Staff
Your Literature
Do you have enough literature for the event? What about branded stationary?
- Brochures
- Flyers
- Postcards
- Leaflets
- Enquiry Forms
- Pens
- Business Cards
Prize Draw?
Entry forms (postcard format works well and can be put on the stand)
Marketing Activity
You need to let people know where you are going to be and to come along to meet you!
- Add show to your website
- Promote via social media
- Carry out an online promotion of a prize draw
- Use PR to promote the event & your special show offers
- Set up meetings in advance with key clients, potential customers etc
- Send emails/direct mail to your database to highlight your presence at the show.
Pack an Exhibition Essential box with:
- Extension Lead
- Marker Pens
- Sticky Tape
- Double Sided Tape
- Post-it Notes
- Elastic Bands
- Stapler
- Paper Clips
- Highlighters
- Scissors
- Paracetamol/Ibuprofen
- First Aid Kit
- Mints
- Bottled Water
- Energy bar
- Tissues
Show Time
Book travel to the show and how you are transporting your stand literature and displays
SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS
