Imagine the scene: you set yourself up at an exhibition, and find yourself crowded by other stalls, all vying for the attention of the visitors. How do you make yourself stand out from the crowd? Well, one of the best ways to do so is by making your exhibit interactive and therefore entertaining the visitors, while also getting your sales message across at the same time. There are various ways to do this, so for some interactive inspiration, keep on reading…
Games Create a Buzz
Perhaps the best way to get a gathering around your exhibit is to run some kind of game, which people can join in with and win a variety of different prizes at the end. These games can come in many different forms, from simple prize wheels through to full on hosted mock game shows – quite simply, your imagination is the only thing limiting you. Just make sure they are short though, so that as many people as possible can have a go, and ensure that people know that there are prizes on offer (they won’t waste their time if there isn’t a reason).
The other thing to remember about games is that the contestants aren’t the most important people. You are using the games to create a spectacle, something that will draw people from around the exhibition to come and watch, therefore it is actually the associated crowd who are the most important people in this situation. Make sure you have staff members talking to the onlookers at all times, taking down contact details and giving out business cards.
Use All the Senses
If people can’t see your exhibit that well, resort to other senses to get them to come over. Sound is great for this – especially if you pick music that really fits with your image – and can be implemented cheaply, with just a CD player and a couple of CDs. Smell is also very good. There are many people who will pipe out pleasurable smells to create a perfect atmosphere and draw people in. And don’t forget touch – people want to be able to have a go with your product testers and see if they are the right fit for their own personal needs.
Anything is Possible with a Computer
It doesn’t matter what you are trying to sell, as there is always a way to get the information across using a specially designed piece of software. You can set monitors and keyboards up throughout your exhibit and allow visitors to explore products themselves – you might even ask them to input their email address before they are able to access certain features of the software. If you are really busy, having computers do your work for you will allow you to personally target just the people with the most potential.
In addition to the traditional computer and keyboard setup there are more and more interactive options such as iPad displays and full touch screen displays like the Windows Surface table.
Of course, you have to weigh up the costs of various interactive exhibits against the benefits they will bring, but only you will be able to work this out. Whatever you do, don’t spend out on these at the expense of making other parts of the exhibit look worse though, as even the most advanced interactive elements won’t make up for shabby or unprofessional stands.
