As the new year approaches, are industry events and trade shows part of your marketing plan? Before you go, make sure you’re set up for success by considering the importance of booth etiquette.

Here are four tips to think about the next time you’re on the show floor:

1. Be aware of your body language.

Remember you’re acting as host of your booth. Maintain a friendly demeanor with a welcoming stance as booth visitors approach your space. Keep your arms naturally at your sides or fold them behind your back. Avoid crossing your arms as it can be perceived as defensive and might cause people to walk past you.

2. Make sure to have an ice breaker on your signage.

Your signage is usually the first thing an attendee sees. Why not pull them into your booth with a statement about your value proposition or a differentiator from your competition?

In the picture below, we use our “freemium” model to our advantage by mentioning it on our backdrop. The “Free Email & Social Media For Your Business” statement stimulates a lot of conversations. It peaks people’s interest and allows the booth host to tell them exactly what it is and why it’s something to try.

3. Pre-populate your browser with specific pages you want to show from your website.

Many trade shows and events have less than ideal internet service. Whether it’s the free wifi provided by the venue or the portable hot spot you brought along, be prepared for slow loading pages. One way to combat this is to open individual tabs on your browser. This way when showing booth visitors your website, you can easily transition from page to page without dealing with slow load times.

4. Emphasize the benefits of your product or service in an easy-to-digest package.

It’s time-consuming, if not impossible for attendees to hear pitches from every booth. Condense your message to a short overview that leaves visitors wanting to follow up and find out more.

Give them a takeaway like the example below. Anticipate questions visitors might have and provide the answers.

Conclusion:  Think about your ideal customer. What kind of experience do you want to create for him or her? Then apply these four tips to make the most of your trade shows and events in 2016.

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