When participating in an outdoor marketing event, it’s important to maintain a high profile and ensure your customers know you’re a part of the occasion.  It may be especially challenging to draw their attention when outdoors, so some well-thought-out planning should occur several months ahead of time.  Fortunately, there are lots of different outdoor displays to choose from, and each can beautifully send a meaningful message to your customers.  With some careful planning and attentive design, your exhibit may be the talk of the outdoor tradeshow.  It may attract more people than you had thought, and may also land you some lucrative sales.  Impress your customers with eye catching outdoor displays.

Outdoor competition

An outdoor marketing event can be vastly different from an indoor one.  Indoors vendors share the same brick and mortar, and while the location of some booths may be better than others, generally neighboring vendors are the only competition.  Also, indoor shows tend to be more formal and structured.  Outdoors, on the other hand, the shows are generally more casual and customers can easily be distracted by happenings around them.  Not only will you compete with other vendors at an outdoor event, you will also compete with the fact that customers are outside.  Distractions like scenery and events not related to the tradeshow can interfere with the attention they may be willing to give you.  It’s important to make sure you’re display can stand up to the competition.

Plan the display

It can take time to design and build the display you want, so it’s crucial to your success at the marketing event to plan well ahead of time.  Plan every detail.  Make a backup plan of your plan.  A design conjured up by one person for one hour would likely be unsuccessful when made into fruition.  The display may not send the correct message, it may not be the proper dimensions, and it may not be as effective as it could have been.  How unfortunate, indeed, to spend the money building a display that incorrectly portrays the company.  Graphic design, including logos and company color palates are one of the first things customers associate with a business.  Protecting these elements and using them properly is paramount when designing a display.  Consider these items and plan accordingly:

• The formality of the venue
• The size of your space
• The anticipated number of guests and vendors
• The message you want to express
• The hours of operation
• The materials and type of display desired
• The graphic elements to incorporate
• The company slogans or jingles to include
• The marketing budget

Select the type of display

During the planning phase you will determine the type of display you will need.  There are a lot to choose from, and each has its benefits and drawbacks.  It’s important to choose the one that would work best in your space, adequately convey your message, and fit into your marketing budget.  Keep in mind that the size of the display may not be of consequence if it is done well.  They may include the following:

• Tent
• Outdoor flagpole
• Outdoor retractor banner stand
• Outdoor 3D stand
• Teardrop banner stand
• Feather banner stand
• Feather banner double-sided
• Curvette mounts
• Cobra stands

Gain visibility outdoors

Competing with neighboring vendors can be a challenge at an indoor tradeshow, but moving the event outdoors brings on a new set of challenges.  It’s not impossible to draw individuals to you outdoors, but you may have to work a little harder.  A well planned display can help.  It can make your presence known to the customers you wish to influence.