The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund Chosen as ASDA’s Winning Charity

Charlie Ramsey Research Fund ASDA

Charlie Ramsey Research Fund ASDA

The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund has received £500 from ASDA for being the winning charity of their Green Token Scheme.

The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund is raising awareness of Complex Congenital Heart Defects, Organ Donation, and AEDs (automated external defibrillators), along with continually supporting the purchase of Defibrillators in local schools and community initiatives.

They have been chosen as one of the charities for ASDA’s Green Token Scheme, which allows shoppers to vote for one of three different charities after completing their shopping. Over 8 weeks, from early October, The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund received the most votes in the Queslett store and were rewarded with £500. This kind donation will play a vital part in supporting the purchase of Defibrillators for local schools and community initiatives.

The Marketing People have had the pleasure of working with and supporting the charity with the design and production of three promotional roller banners, which will help them raise awareness of Complex Congenital Heart Defects and Organ Donation at any future events. We helped them from concept, to messaging, through to creating relevant copy and an effective design. Once the charity signed off the roller banners, we produced them and delivered them in time for their next event.

Charlie Ramsey Research Fund The Marketing People

We look forward to further supporting The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund as a charity close to our hearts. We hope that you will consider doing the same.

Please visit our Just Giving page here, where you can help support the charity. No matter how small, your donation will make a difference to those born with half a heart. Thank you for your generosity. 

Black Country Women’s Aid: Christmas Appeal Success

The Marketing People Black Country Women's Aid

The Marketing People Black Country Women's Aid

Client Account Manager Emma Kempson has kindly donated, collected and wrapped over 200 Christmas gifts for Black Country Women’s Aid (BCWA), to give to the women, children and men who are victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse and benefit from their services.

On Monday 16th December, Emma and her mother, Julie, visited one of BCWA’s refuges to meet Deborah Slater, BCWA Fundraising Officer, to see first-hand the amazing and selfless work the charity does on a daily basis, and to wrap all of the gifts.

Emma says, “It was an extremely eye-opening and rewarding day we had. The facilities are beautifully kept, every single member of staff is absolutely wonderful, and the services they provide are essential to support these victims and help them look towards a safe future. To hear stories of what the women, children and men have endured, through no fault of their own, is utterly heartbreaking, so it felt nice to know that we can help make Christmas a happier time for them.”

The Marketing People BCWA
Just some of the gifts wrapped and ready to be delivered

The Marketing People first became aware of BCWA and their services in October through an e-mail via the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. We knew immediately that we wanted to support this worthwhile cause, so we held our Wear Purple Day on Wednesday 9th October, where we all wore purple and entertained clients with tea and cake in exchange for donations.

The £225 we raised on that day has paid for counselling for children who have suffered sexual abuse and we hope it helps them in their recovery.

TMP Charity
TMP team on our Wear Purple Day

Wanting to do more to help, Emma set up a Christmas appeal. Buying gifts herself to begin with, Emma’s family, friends and neighbours soon got involved. The Marketing People also kindly donated a variety of presents, and Morrisons in Aldridge gave Emma their entire toy collection that shoppers had contributed to for the past few months.

Emma tells us, “We were so overwhelmed by peoples’ kindness and generosity. We were hoping to buy and collect a variety of gifts; never did we think we would have three shopping trollies’ full!”

The Marketing People BCWA

TMP BCWA
The car bursting with kind donations

For most people, Christmas is a time spent with loved ones, in a safe home, with lots of food, drinks and presents. For victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, child sexual exploitation and modern slavery, their reality is a far cry from this. Thanks to the gift collection, these women, children and men will now have special gifts to open on Christmas day and we hope this will make the festive period a happy time for them all.

TMP BCWA

A huge thank you to all involved in helping those less fortunate, and please know your kindness has really made a difference. Moving forward, The Marketing People will continue to support Black Country Women’s Aid in any way we can.

A Charitable Cause: Thank You

TMP Charity

TMP Charity

The Marketing People have proudly raised money for Black Country Women’s Aid, by organising a Wear Purple Day. Thank you so much to everyone who supported us and helped us raise a fantastic amount of money to help the deserving charity.

On 9th October we held our Wear Purple Day at The Marketing People’s offices in aid of Black Country Women’s Aid (BCWA). We all wore purple and welcomed clients and friends with tea and cake in exchange for a small donation.

Client Account Manager Emma Kempson collecting the money raised

BCWA supported over 8000 women, children and men last year who were victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Many of these fled home with nothing but the clothes on their back, and scars from their trauma.

The charity offers refuge accommodation and counselling, plus love and support to help the victims look towards a safer future.

With over 24 calls an hour to BCWA’s helpline and their 6 refuges almost full, we knew we needed to do something to help, and we encourage you to do the same.

How the money raised is used by the charity

Thank you so much to everyone who supported our Wear Purple Day and, with your kind donations, we have raised an astonishing £255 for Black Country Women’s Aid. We know this money will make a huge different to the lives of those less fortunate than us.

Thank you from the children who have benefited from BCWA

 

MD David Mitchell Elected as Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce Vice President

David Mitchell TMP Vice President Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce
David Mitchell TMP Vice President Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce
Vice President David Mitchell & President Martyn Jupp

The Marketing People are proud to announce that MD David Mitchell FCIM has been elected as Vice President of the Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce for a two-year tenure.

Following David’s experience on the Chamber’s council, this role will see him step up to celebrate the achievements of the businesses who are at the heart of the Cannock Chase area. He will also support Chamber members during the exciting development of the McArthurGlen West Midlands Designer Outlet, located in Cannock.

As proud members of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, The Marketing People regularly attend Chamber networking events and exhibitions and always support the fantastic work that the Chamber does. David’s Vice President role will enable us to encourage local businesses to get the most out of their membership, which includes networking opportunities and business support.

In attendance at Cannock Chase Chamber AGM supporting David's election L-R Amanda Mitchell & Emma Kempson from The Marketing People and Nicole Jupp
In attendance at Cannock Chase Chamber AGM supporting David’s election L-R Amanda Mitchell & Emma Kempson from The Marketing People and Nicole Jupp

David’s appointment comes after the Chase Chamber of Commerce unveiled its new name as Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce, to give it a stronger geographical standing. David has campaigned for this change during his time on the council, and believes it is essential to have a central location to clarify the business community this Chamber represents. Their new offices were also revealed on Queen Street in Cannock town centre.

Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce new offices
Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce new offices

Following his election, David says, “Now we have our own identity and touchpoint in Cannock, it’s great to know these things are in place as I start my tenure as Vice President. I’m looking forward to helping as many people as possible, in the right way, in the local area.

David’s new role was revealed at the Chamber’s AGM, held at the Roman Way Hotel on Friday 8th November, by Chris Plant, Director of the Chamber. David will work alongside the Chamber’s President Martyn Jupp, who confirmed he will be extending his tenure for another two years, and fellow Vice Presidents Gill Durkin from Performance Through People and Chris Wheeler from Auditel.

The Marketing People look forward to working with Council members and, as always, we will continue to support the Chambers of Commerce and its regional business members in every way we can.

Case Chamber of Commerce

To read the Chamber article click here.

 

The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund: Help Us Help Them

Here at The Marketing People, we recently met with The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund to see if we could help. Did you know? This very worthwhile local charity raises money for research for complex congenital heart defects, donates defibrillators to schools in the West Midlands and promotes vital organ donation.

Our SEO Manager John Hoey has worked with the charity for 5 years and our Videographer Kerry Hatfield’s brother was born with a congential heart condition, so the work The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund does is very close to our hearts.

2nd November – Meeting with The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund

On 2nd November The Marketing People had the pleasure of meeting with The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund and we are now committed to helping the charity, and raising awareness of the fantastic work they do.

The charity was set up to raise money for research into congenital heart disease in the hope that one day a cure can be found for all babies and children living with this terrible condition.

They also donate defibrillators to schools in the West Midlands, as this vital piece of equipment increases the individual’s chance of survival following the onset of a cardiac arrest.

Another objective of the charity is to promote organ donation; this amazingly generous act saves thousands of lives in the UK every year. To check if you are already on the organ donor list, or to register, click here.

Thank you to all the volunteers who selflessly give up their time to help those less fortunate.

We look forward to supporting The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund and hope that you will consider doing the same for this fantastic charity.

We Are Now an Award-Winning Marketing Agency

The Marketing People BWCA Best Website

The Marketing People’s trip to Berlin for the Watercoolers Europe Conference & Trade Fair 2019 was a huge success, with a coveted award under our belts and our MD David Mitchell presenting a well-received workshop to attendees.

The Marketing People WE Conference 2019

Running from 16th – 18th October at the Meliá Hotel in Berlin, the WE Conference & Trade Fair 2019 was a must for all those involved in the European Watercooler industry, whether a distributor, bottler or manufacturer/supplier.

There was a wide range of topical speakers and interactive workshops, plus the largest European Fair dedicated to the watercooler industry, where delegates could preview the latest innovations and developments, plus network with other industry professionals. Berlin offered the perfect backdrop to the event, and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the beautiful city.

The Marketing People have worked with and for clients in the watercooler industry for more than a decade, so it was a privilege to be invited to the flagship event. It was great to catch up with clients, and to meet so many new friendly faces.

David’s workshop, ‘B2B or B2C Marketing: One or the other, or are they converging?’ was a pinnacle talking point, so thank you to all attendees for being so engaged and for your participation.

The Gala Dinner & Aqua Awards was a spectacular evening as always. Our client, British Water Cooler Association (BWCA) was up for an award for Best Website, for the Public, Members and Conference websites that The Marketing People designed and developed.

Here is our presentation for the award:

We are so pleased to announce that BWCA scooped an impressive second place, with the international company Blupura taking first place. Huge congratulations to all shortlisted, and a very proud moment for our client and ourselves.

The Marketing People BCWA Best Website

Thank you to everyone who made our trip so special, and we are extremely excited to announce we are an award-winning, integrated marketing agency.

This is the night we have all been waiting for: Burntwood Rugby Club Summer Ball 2019

summer ball - BRC 2019

Article first published 5th July 2019. Article updated 10th July 2019.

The Marketing People Burntwood Rugby Club Summer Ball 2019

Burntwood Rugby Club’s Summer Ball 2019 is finally upon us. Tomorrow, 6th July at 7pm, Burntwood Rugby Club opens its doors for Staffordshire’s premier black-tie event.

We will be there

The Marketing People have proudly reserved a table at Burntwood Rugby Club’s Summer Ball 2019 and we can’t wait to celebrate with all of you.

We look forward to catching up with friends and clients, and we also love meeting new people, so please come and say hello.

The evening

Those of you lucky enough to get hold of a ticket to the Summer Ball 2019 are set for a fabulous evening.

  • Black-tie event

Dress to impress in black tie for the gentlemen and ball gowns for the ladies

  • Drinks reception

Whet your appetite for the evening with a complimentary glass of fizz on arrival

  • Three course dinner

Indulge in a delicious three course dinner courtesy of Perry’s Fine Foods

  • Table service

Place your drinks order with dedicated waiting staff throughout the evening

  • Fully stocked bar

Choose from an extensive list of white wines, red wines and rosé wines, plus a large selection of gins, beers, lagers, ciders, spirits and soft drinks

  • Live entertainment

Dance the night away with live music from Suzi and the Backbeats and DJ Rainbow Sounds

  • Raffle

Buy a raffle ticket and be in with a chance to win some fantastic prizes

How it’s looking – Events at Burntwood Rugby Club

The Marketing People have worked with Burntwood Rugby Club from conception, creating the Events at Burntwood Rugby Club brand to align with the improvements made at the Club.

The Marketing People then applied the professional Events at Burntwood Rugby Club brand across all marketing collateral, from stationery such as business cards, letterheads and compliment slips, to promotional materials like banners, flyers, menus, and the new Events website.

How it’s looking – Summer Ball 2019

Naturally, The Marketing People have been responsible for marketing the Summer Ball 2019.

Firstly, we worked on the strategy of how to promote the event, identifying the key messages to be used and writing relevant, targeted copy.

The Marketing People have managed the entire process of all printed material, from initial consultations, through to design, production and delivery.

We are responsible for the promotional marketing items, including posters and the eye-catching roadside banner, positioned on The Sportsway outside Burntwood Rugby Club.

Following this, The Marketing People designed and printed the Summer Ball tickets to align with the agreed artwork style.

We also worked on the Summer Ball 2019 welcome board, table plan, table numbers, menus and wine lists and even the fridge header vinyl graphics as a final nod to the professional presentation of the Events team, Burntwood Rugby Club and the Summer Ball itself. Despite several changes to the table plan, due to unexpected circumstances of the guests, we managed to get it completed in budget and on time.

The Marketing People Summer Ball 2019 Table Plan BRC_Summer Ball 2019 Reception Board BRC_Summer Ball 2019 Menu BRC_Summer Ball 2019 Wine List

The Marketing People published all online marketing campaigns for the Summer Ball, including blog posts and social media management, to raise awareness of the event, to showcase what to expect from the evening, and to promote ticket sales.

Unlike many other marketing agencies, we have been involved in the strategy and organisation of the Summer Ball 2019 from start to finish, even down to mapping out where toilet signs need to be displayed to ensure the event runs smoothly.

Thanks must go to Burntwood Rugby Club for continually entrusting The Marketing People to successfully promote their Club and their busy schedule of events.

Let’s have a ball

The hard work is now over and it’s time to reap the rewards of everyone’s efforts.

We hope you all have a brilliant evening at Burntwood Rugby Club’s Summer Ball 2019.

The Marketing People will be on Table Five, then we will be making the most of the live entertainment on the dance floor.

See you there.

9th July 2019

The Marketing People Burntwood Rugby Club Summer Ball 2019
Amanda Mitchell & Emma Kempson from The Marketing People
The Marketing People Burntwood Rugby Club Summer Ball 2019
John Dundon & The Marketing People’s David Mitchell

On Saturday 6th July Burntwood Rugby Club’s Summer Ball 2019 exceeded all expectations, as the event was executed perfectly all evening, and a great time was had by all. Here at The Marketing People, we had a fantastic evening and we are proud to have been involved in the whole organisation and promotion of the premier black-tie Summer Ball.

The Marketing People had a ball

It was lovely to spend time with friends and our clients. The Marketing People feel so lucky to be able to help so many businesses to reach their goals, and to form long-standing friendships along the way. Our team also enjoyed spending some quality time together outside of work. Thank you to everyone for making our evening so much fun.

Our hard work was worth it

The Marketing People received many congratulations throughout the evening for the successful marketing of the Summer Ball 2019, from the strategy to ensure the evening ran like a military operation, through to the beautiful printed collateral.

Our meetings with the team at Burntwood Rugby Club to discuss the organisation of the Summer Ball 2019 were invaluable, as every aspect of the evening was seamless, from the orderliness of members of staff, to the faultless table service.

The branded workwear, till digital display, notepads and fridge headers were received extremely well by the guests and staff, and cemented the Summer Ball as Burntwood’s premier black-tie event.

The welcome board, table plan, table numbers, menus and wine lists were a beautiful little touch to highlight the professional development of Events at Burntwood Rugby Club.

Need help promoting your event? Call our friendly team on 01543 495752 to ensure you are the talk of the town, for all the right reasons.

Let’s Do Business Expo 2019: The Power of Networking

The Marketing People Let's Do Business Expo 2019

The Marketing People Let's Do Business Expo 2019

Let’s Do Business Expo 2019, organised by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, took place yesterday at Uttoxeter Racecourse and it was networking at its best. Leading the way for Staffordshire businesses, The Marketing People proudly exhibited at stand B60 and what a fantastic day it was for all.

The Marketing People Let's Do Business Expo 2019

Thank you

A huge thank you to the Chambers of Commerce for organising such a brilliant event. The expo ran seamlessly, with lots of support on hand and a whole host of useful keynote speakers and business growth seminars throughout the day.

Thanks must also go to everyone in attendance, both delegates and exhibitors. It was a brilliant turnout and the hugely popular event secured its place as the annual centrepiece of the local business scene for another year.

Speed networking

The Marketing People started off the flagship event the right way, speaking with over 50 organisations in under an hour.

Making so many new contacts in such a short space of time really got our juices flowing and we were raring to go once we got to our stand.

The Marketing People Let's Do Business Expo 2019

Exhibitors

The expo hosted over one hundred exhibitors, creating a platform for us all to promote our businesses in a thriving and inspirational environment. It was great for The Marketing People to network with fellow exhibitors in the local business community.

We had some really positive conversations with other exhibitors around their company’s marketing, and came away with lots of qualified leads and potential partnership working.

Delegates

As always, the exhibition attracted hundreds of delegates from a broad range of business sectors. The Marketing People made lots of new connections on the day and took the opportunity to do business with motivated, liked-minded individuals.

The Marketing People Let's Do Business Expo 2019

Get involved

The Chambers of Commerce promised a day of ‘connections, inspiration and enterprise’ at the Let’s Do Business Expo, and that it certainly was.

The County wide exhibition is just one of many excellent networking opportunities for you and your business, so why come along to future events?

We hope that everyone benefited from the expo- delegates and exhibitors alike- and we look forward to building relationships with the connections that we made yesterday.

The Marketing People Let's Do Business Expo 2019

For more information about Let’s Do Business Expo 2019 visit www.letsdobusinessexpo.co.uk.

If you would like to exhibit at future Chambers of Commerce events and need any help with your pull up banners, on-screen presentations or stationery for your stand we can help you. Ensure your website is SEO optimised and bringing real benefits to your business ahead of the event, to reap the rewards of your exhibition. Contact us now on 01543 495752 to see how we could work together.

Roller Banners – D&A Education

d&a roller banner design

D & A Education wanted to take advantage of our full expertise. They asked The Marketing People to design and produce two roller banners for them, so they could showcase their business in a professional manner at exhibitions and at their training events.

As a full in-house marketing agency, we can manage the whole strategy, design, print and fulfilment process of any of our projects, taking the hassle out of marketing for all our clients.

The benefits of roller banners

Do you have a roller banner for your business? If you haven’t, why not?

Pop-up banners are effective in promoting your brand, whatever the occasion. They are large enough to be noticeable from quite a distance and a high resolution, quality design attracts attention. Their size enables you to deliver most, if not all, your key messages in one place, providing enough information that customers need to make a decision about your product or service. Assembly is quick and simple, plus it doesn’t require much storage space, making it easy to transport to any event.

How to create an effective roller banner

 Now you realise the benefits of having a roller banner or two and have decided to invest, you need to ensure that the copy and design of the banner work hand-in-hand to bring benefit to your business.

Plenty of companies can offer you cheap graphic design, but pretty pictures alone won’t generate leads and sales. You want a return on your investment, so you need to consider your brand position before anything else and decide what message it is that you need to get across, and to what type of people.

And so the project begins…

Concept

Firstly, we scoped and developed D & A Education’s brand position. Thinking about who, why and when people would use D & A, we pinpointed their unique selling proposition: they are experienced at managerial level in related industries, compliant with UK legislation and CQC standards, plus they deliver hands-on, engaging and memorable training.

Messaging

Next up, we created suitable messaging in line with the brand ID, considering how their unique selling proposition would benefit potential customers i.e. empowering caring and responsible employers, delivering bespoke training programmes, satisfaction to have staff with great knowledge and skills to help their company and clients, and working together with management to be cost-effective.

Copy

Once we knew what was required to present D & A Education effectively, we could begin the creative process to deliver against the objectives.

We wrote relevant copy to highlight the expertise and experience that they have to offer, and targeted the content towards the people who need to engage with their services. We split the information into two to enhance readability: what D & A do, and why you should choose D & A.

Design         

Now it was time to create the visuals.

We have worked with D & A Education from the very beginning, so we had previously developed their brand ID including logo and strapline. We wanted the roller banners to complement the existing stationery and website that we had already designed and produced, so their brand is consistent across all collateral.

The artwork was professional in layout and design to present the business successfully, and clear, concise and eye-catching to demand attention at exhibitions or training events.

Production

Our thorough knowledge of the printing process, stock and material means that we can save our clients time, money and the hassle of having to manage it themselves.

The roller banners were produced in vinyl for its tough and durable quality. This material also makes it easy to pop them up and down, meaning they require very little space to store.

Delivery

After a fast print turnaround, we delivered the roller banners to D & A Education and they were extremely happy with the finished products. They now proudly display them at all exhibitions and when delivering training sessions, further instilling their professionalism and expertise to attendees.

Get your roller banner now

Is your stationery promoting you effectively?

Whether you want to gain more customers, increase revenue, generate more leads and sales, or increase brand awareness to stand out in your sector, your stationery can help with this, as long as it is executed correctly.

To ensure your pop-up banner is a success, pop in to see us for an informal chat and a cup of tea. Call us on 01543 495752 to arrange a day that is convenient for you.

What is the best marketing strategy for an exhibition?

TMP Exhibition stand

Exhibiting at a trade show or event isn’t just about the day itself; there is a lot of preparation and follow-up work needed to make your exhibition as successful as possible.

So, how can you make the expense of exhibiting worth it for your business? Here are eight steps to running a smart exhibition campaign in a digital age.

1.Hatch the plan

So, you’ve seen an exhibition that looks like it may be fruitful, and decided to take the plunge. You book your space and you’re off.

Now what? You need to create a marketing strategy that goes further than just your objectives for that day, and this will determine how you go through the next seven steps.

Consider why you are taking on this exhibition: what do you hope to achieve, and who do you hope to meet? How will people interact with you, and what will attract them to the stand and then convince them to convert? Lay out all your plans, so that throughout the next steps, you have something to revert back to.

Begin to plan your stand and what is it going to look like. Consider the likes of pop up banners, display stands, and perhaps even lighting and flooring, depending on what space your package includes. These things can take a little while to design, produce and be delivered or installed, so it may be worth getting these in motion early, so they are ready in time for your exhibition (and it leaves plenty of time for any issues that may crop up to be dealt with.)

By setting up the goals and pipeline now, you have something solid to keep referring back to so, though your plans on how to achieve it may change, your goals won’t.

2. Lay the groundwork

Now you have your plan, you can begin to lay out the very beginnings of the groundwork. Think about following the event on social media, and posting that you will be attending.

Start to mention it to your clients in conversation, as well as if you are out networking, that you will be attending the event.

Start to assess your social media and website to ensure they are all updated, as you will hopefully be experiencing more traffic over the next few weeks. Do you have the best images on your social and the correct contact information? Does your website have up to date branding, messages and products? Take the time to sort the foundation out before you begin to look at adding offers and such on to the website and social networks.

3. Build the suspense

Now people know that you are attending this event, build on it. Perhaps post a blog to show your team preparing goody bags for the show, or a little bit of what your stand will look like. Now would be a good time to announce any on-stand offers you will be running too, to give people motivation to go. You could also include links to where people can book tickets, and find out more about the event.

You can then share this blog across your social media, with the announcement of your offers, and where people can buy tickets, as well as beginning to connect with other exhibitors who will be there on the day.

4. Edge your bets

Our very own David Mitchell & Pushpa Alexander from Headz Up Business

You will have picked this show no doubt because of the attendees you will have visit your stand, and it is true that nothing attracts people to your stand more than a crowd. Which is why inviting your current customers to come and visit you on the stand is always a good idea.

This could be through an email, or a direct mail campaign to your clients, detailing where you are exhibiting and when. This can be as an all-guns-blazing marketing email showcasing all of the on-stand offers you have available, or it could be a simple email to say you are attending so may not be able to respond to email that day, but they could come and join you for a day of fun instead.

Some of your customers or clients you may have never actually met face-to-face before, so this could be a great time to put a face to a name. If you have enough people on your stand, and you are at an event near some of your clients, it may be a good idea to arrange a meeting at the event and utilise the time you are there.

5. Prepare your troops

David & Amanda Mitchell having fun at the Expo

Depending on the size of your company, you could have your whole team attending the expo, or perhaps a dedicated handful of exhibiting experts, but whatever the size or experience of your troops, you need to ensure a number of things before you set off for the event.

Is there a sufficient brief?

Does your team know what you want to achieve from the day, and how you expect them to do this? Everyone needs to be on the same page, and have a clear picture of what you are all working towards.

Have specific roles been set out?

Do you have people who are better at grabbing the attention of passers-by, who have the knowledge to know the difference between a lead and a ‘just browsing’? Do you have experts who can take over these quality leads? Do you have a representative who will be arranging follow-up appointments? Do you have someone who is going to be managing your social on the day, and gaining images for future marketing purposes? Who is managing your team, and ensuring people take breaks etc?  

Do you have offers in place?

If you have offers in place, make sure your team knows them inside out. There is nothing more frustrating for attendees (or embarrassing for your team) than staff members having to ask each other the details of an offer.

6. Ride the wave

All set up and ready to go

It’s finally here, and its exhibition time, so what do you do? Enjoy it! With your objectives in mind, talk to as many people as possible, collect as much information as possible, whilst making use of all the tools you have available to you.

Use your social channels to send out a few blasts on your day- how people can find you, why people should pop over to your stand, and if people aren’t there, what they are missing out on.

There are plenty of live streaming options available now which could be done straight from your phone, such as Periscope or Facebook Live. This works especially well if you are running a competition on your stand, and broadens your exhibition audience to those who aren’t at the exhibition.

7. The next step

In no way is the exhibition the last step, and this is where most people fall down.

You have done this exhibition for a reason, and we can bet that the majority of your objectives relate to gaining leads or increasing brand awareness. Yes, some of this is done at the exhibition, but the bulk of the work is done when you get back to the office, and you have to close those leads, or take advantage of any awareness you’ve gained.

So, let’s break this down on how you can fully capitalise on the opportunities you now have at your fingertips.

First and foremost, schedule your time efficiently

If you are out of the office for a day or two, you are most likely going to head back to a pile of paperwork, and a bulging inbox. Add this on to all the extra exhibition work you wouldn’t normally be completing, and you can end up in a mess rather quickly.

Manage your time, and work with your managers and your team to prioritise the tasks on your to-do list. It is easy to panic and flap, and never call back anyone who left their details with you, but by managing your time when you return (or even planning it before you go) you can complete your own work, plus make the most of these extra opportunities.

Follow up your leads

This is a bit of a no-brainer, but if people have genuinely shown interest in your products or services, then talk to them. Whatever your method of sale, go for it: you have qualified leads you have met face-to-face who have said they are interested. You are not going to get a better time than that to approach people.

Social media

You may have spoken to several people at the exhibition who have not shown immediate interest in your product, but may do in the future, or you may have just had a good chat, and it’s worth staying connected. This is where social media is great, as you can connect but there is no sales pressure. You can still see what their company is up to, and when might be a good time to approach them in the future. It is also great exposure for you as well if the event has had some buzz, and you can join in on the conversation.

Blog

What happened at the exhibition? Tell people about it. If you decide to do this all again next year, why should people come and seek you out? Show them what great fun it was, and post your blog on social media. This may get shared by other people who attended, and drive more traffic back to your website.

Email

All that hard work you’ve put into the blog? Re-use that content and send an email out to your marketing list. Tell them how great the expo was and if they can still take advantage of any exhibition offers.

Website

If you did have on-stand offers that were advertised on your website, then make sure they are taken back down. Now would be the time to add any valuable knowledge you gained at the expo on to your website. Perhaps several people asked you the exact same question. Is this worth adding a new page for? Writing a blog about it? Or even just adding a quick note to your FAQs? If you are driving more people back to your website through social media, blog and emails, then make sure it really provides all the information a customer needs to make their decision.

Feedback to all

Speak to your team, and to anyone involved, and let them know the outcome. What did they achieve? Did you complete your objectives? What will you be doing differently next year? By not feeding back, any motivation for the next event will be depleted, and general atmosphere can drop if people feel the really hard work of the last few days has gone un-noticed and un-appreciated.

8. Want to get really smart?

If you have a little spare time, and spare budget, it may be worth considering a 360 video ready for virtual reality. Reach more people than just your exhibition audience, by showcasing your stand in all its glory. Or perhaps create a more immersive experience for those who visit your stand by letting them experience your product in virtual reality, or let people tour your whole showroom without ever leaving your stand.

How we can help

Let us help you with your marketing materials

Are you exhibiting this year? We can help you from the initial planning of your stand, to the creation of your stand, and the follow up afterwards.

If you require any stationery for your stand, we can help to design and produce leaflets, business cards, feedback forms or any other printed media. Pull up banners can be really effective if designed properly, so speak to us to make sure they are eye-catching and impactful.

We can create on-screen presentations so that people visiting your stand can find out a little more about your products or services in a succinct and persuasive manner.

As mentioned in the blog, it is important that your website and social pages are up to date before you exhibit, as you will certainly be getting more traffic to your site following the event. We can take the hassle out of this for you and update and improve your website before and after the big day.

To ensure you are getting seen online, take advantage of our free SEO initial audit. We add real value to any SEO contract we provide by offering monthly reports and meetings to monitor and manage your ranking, making changes to the copy writing or anything else needed to boost your listing.

Get your marketing strategy right and reap the rewards of exhibiting. If you’d like to have a friendly chat on how we could work together, call us today on 01543 495752.