Trade shows can be intensely competitive, since each exhibitor is vying for attention and foot traffic. Whether you're working with a tiny 10x10 or a prime corner spot, it's important to set yourself apart from surrounding businesses. A beautiful, branded space can help you can bring in the crowds and keep your booth buzzing from open to close.

Use Wall Space

Since trade show booths are often small, your walls are your best branding real estate. Check with the show officials to see what the venue provides. You may have an enclosed area, an open-frame booth or a completely blank space. Consider turning existing walls into an eye-catching spectacle by covering them with enormous branded trade show banners. Another option can be to display your best portfolio items on the walls. If you run a photography business, consider hanging large prints of your best work. If you do engineering design, add brilliant colors to your most beautiful 3-D models, and print them on banners to help draw visitors to your booth for a closer look.

Match Your Vibe

Your trade show booth should match your branding vibe. If your website has a country-chic look and you sell rustic home decor, you might construct a display from weathered wood planks and cover your tables in picnic-style gingham tablecloths. For businesses with a classic corporate aesthetic, branded trade show table covers can help create a sleek, pulled-together appearance that matches your signage. Even small items such as brochure holders can help make a big impact. You can add to the atmosphere of your booth by using baskets, sleek steel holders or brightly colored plastic holders. This strategy can help reinforce the connections between your booth and other marketing materials to boost brand recognition for potential customers.

Draw Customers In

Whether you're exhibiting products or marketing services, your booth exterior is just as important as the interior. As you plan your trade show booth design for an upcoming event, consider the most likely traffic pattern, and place a vertical banner slightly outside your booth's entrance, angled toward the main thoroughfare. This display may include your company logo, custom colors and an attention-grabbing graphic that connects visually to the interior trade show displays. Your goal should be to try and catch the interest of a passersby. To keep their attention and draw them in further, consider placing an interesting branded rack of products or a stunning visual display in full view.

Choose Branded Giveaways

You can keep customers thinking about your company long after the trade show ends with branded promotional giveaways. Consider printing your company logo on coffee mugs so potential customers notice your branding every day in the break room. If you're looking to stand out from the crowd, choose an unusual giveaway, such as branded sweets and treats. To boost visibility, you can put your branding on useful tech accessories, such as Bluetooth speakers or virtual reality headsets.

Brand Your Staff

Many trade show exhibitors miss a big branding opportunity: their staff members. Branded apparel can turn your employees into walking advertisements when they're out eating lunch or exploring the exhibits. This apparel also helps create early exposure to your company; later, when people pass your booth, they're more likely to take a closer look. Set a business-casual tone with branded polo shirts. If your business is more relaxed, you can go all-out with brightly colored T-shirts featuring unexpected sayings or images.

Unified branding can help transform your trade show booth into a memorable experience for potential customers. By investing in matching branded items, you can help create a powerful aesthetic that builds long-term brand recognition.