Like the first time going somewhere you’ve never been before with a new flame, the seduction doesn’t begin at the trade show. There are several ways to make your presence at a trade show a success. Woo your potential customers and leads months before by announcing you will be at the event via Twitter, email and other platforms. Then, once the show starts, follow these tips to make your presence a success.

Give Value

Use Twitter to direct users to content that will give them value first. It could be links to information from noncompeting businesses your target market would find useful. This will encourage your company to be a connector, making money for your clients and put dollar signs in their heads when they think of you.

Mobile Hotspot

Create buzz by having a mobile hotspot and announce the password on Twitter. This will bring people to your booth looking to escape slow Wi-Fi networks or cellular networks even if the event organizer is providing internet access. Allow attendees to connect at the highest speed you can afford but keep the range of the connection reasonable. There is no need for your prospective customer to be able to access your Wi-Fi connection from your competitors’ booth across the hall.

Use unique and specific twitter hashtags

Your organization should register a specific hashtag to draw attention to your presence at the event. Your hashtag should be prominently displayed along with your logo and like the rest of your booth should attract attention. Once again do everything you can before hand to make attendees aware of your hashtag before the fun starts. Once your twitter hashtag has brought people to your booth it is time for your salespeople, presenters and other attractions to shine.

Tweet about fun demos via Twitter

Have contests, prizes and demonstrations that will attract attention to your booth via Twitter. Tease your attendees about this without being too specific before the show. The sweet nothings you whisper via their Twitter account will bring visitors to your booth.

Don’t neglect your other channels

Use what you post on Twitter with other social platforms as well. Facebook, used by almost two thirds of your attendees is the largest social network and a great place to cross-post tweets and draw attendees to your Twitter. Try to post content suited for each social network. Words and graphics should tell the story on LinkedIn, photographs and videos on Tumblr, and photographs for Instagram or Flickr. Have multiple social network accounts to give your target market more ways to connect with you.

Connect with your Twitter followers

At the event, have the participants and staff place their Twitter usernames on their name tag making communication even easier. Communication during the event from attendees can be handled by a combination of your on-site staff and off- site personnel so the on-site staff do not spend all of their time tweeting and losing face time with potential and current clients. This will give prospective clients another way to connect with you and a potential edge on your competition.

Tweet about freebies

Announce freebies and contests via Twitter worth the trip across the hall. Don’t announce free pens on Twitter, people can get those from anybody. Offer Whitepapers to help them grow their business…with you. Give them a chance to win valuable prizes by providing you with their contact details and get permission to contact them again.

Follow up after the show

After the show don’t forget about your Twitter followers, keep them abreast of developments than can help them, don’t just send Twitter spam to your followers like most of your competition.

By using these tips and more you may have thought of along the way Twitter, and other tools at your disposal can lead to sweet, sweet…sales in the weeks and months to come.