Trade shows are an invaluable tool for a small business to utilize. It is at a trade show where you will have the opportunity to make an impression on hundreds or thousands of potential customers. You will also have access to investors, suppliers, and distributors. There is so much potential for interaction that you want to make sure you stand out. Because even though you will have plenty of opportunities all in one space, so will your competitors.

So, how do you stand out? What are some of the best ways to get the most out of your trade show experience? Here, we’ll list three things that will help you stand out among the crowd so you can start building a road to success.

1. Make it fun

Yes, you could simply display your product with all the relevant information, but who is going to remember that? For example, let’s say your product is crystal trophies. You could host a competition at your booth with the award being a miniature version of the trophies you sell. This boosts engagement and will give prospective buyers something to remember you by when they go home.

2. Plan ahead

You want to generate some buzz about your booth before the convention even starts. If people already have your name in their heads, they are more likely to seek you out when they come to the trade show. That is a huge step in the right direction, as most people tend to walk around trade shows without direction. However, if you can put yourself on a potential buyer’s “must-see” list, you’re already ahead of the game. You can do this through social media or traditional marketing.

3. Be confident

Nothing will turn someone off at a trade show more than pestering them to come see your product. Instead, be confident in your product and the planning you put in before the trade show. If you can be confident in your display, presentation, and product, people will naturally come to you. This is a skill that comes easier for some than it does for others, but with a little bit of planning and practice, you can have a confident presentation that draws people in.

4. Get information

You have created a fun, engaging booth at the trade show but need to create leads out of it. Getting names and email addresses is the best way to follow up with the people that visited your booth. So don’t forget to include a way for your guests to give you that information. Then send out offers and promotions for your product and service, and you are more than likely to take them as an interested party and make them into a buying customer.

5. Network with other booths

While you are not there to purchase another product, getting to know the booths around you can help. Building business relationships is a great way to grow. Doing this can spread a good image of your business as friendly and approachable. This can manifest into a business recommending your booth if their company doesn’t quite fit the needs of a particular visitor. Then you can reciprocate and build a relationship with your surrounding booths. You never know if this friendship could build into a partnership.

So be sure to walk around before the event starts, shake hands, make friends and gather business cards. You never know what can be built from networking at a trade show.

By following these five simple steps, you can improve your engagement, expand your customer base, impress investors, and maybe even have a little bit of fun while you’re at it.