Maximising International Confex 2025 as an exhibitor and an attendee: Top Tips from the Summer Party

In October we ran the panel talks at the Confex and Event Production Show’s Summer Party. The show was packed, and the takeaways were valuable.

In this blog, I want to give you the key takeaways from the discussions that were had.

4 Tips to Successfully Sell As An Exhibitor

• Register early to make sure you are maximising on the opportunity to capture leads prior to the show. Begin arranging appointments as soon as the event is bookable, so that you get the best spots in peoples diaries!

 

• Engage with Mash Media – they are your BFF! Mash Media are very forthcoming when it comes to promoting events you might be holding on your stand or promotions you might be doing. Use the relationship you have with them to maximise their database! They are there to support you and there are many ways you can get in front of your target audience. 

 

• Make sure you have a purpose as to why you are there and give yourself some targets as to what you want to achieve. Consider your stand design, collateral, how much you are spending and what ROI you want.

 

• Be conscious of the running times of the day. Know when the stand-out talks are; when people are likely to be taking lunch; and plan your appointments around them. You want to make sure you have free time to talk to passers-by when the footfall will be at it’s highest.

3 Things that Attendees Want to See from an Exhibitor

• Understand how delegates wanted to be sold to. You will achieve more from having quick qualifying conversations with delegates and then agree to continue that conversation post show, than trying to hard sell at everyone. Not everyone is going to be your target market, and you need to build a bank of solid leads, rather than scanning as many badges as possible in 2 days.

 

• Don’t just send blanket post-show follow up emails. Take the time to personalise the follow up to reflect the conversation you had. This is more likely to get a response than a basic follow up.

 

• Make sure your stand tells the attendees who you are and what you are about easily. Attendees shouldn’t have to decipher what your brand is before approaching you. Giveaways and games are good at attracting people to your stand, but make sure it speaks to your brand.

That’s it! Sounds easfy doesn’t it?! Well, if you get a strategy in place ahead of time, and have the right people on your stand, then it really can be easy.

Enjoy the show, and #seeyouatconfex!

Summer party round-up written by Kate Plowright, Selling Savvy, www.sellingsavvy.co.uk