Trade shows serve as valuable platforms for businesses to showcase their products and services, connect with potential clients, and stay in tune with new industry trends. For exhibitors, selecting the right exhibit space is crucial for maximizing their presence and achieving their goals. In this blog, we'll explore the importance of exhibit space selection to an exhibitor’s trade show journey and how trade show management teams can enhance their show’s overall impact using the exciting new updates to Map Your Show's event management tool, Builder. 

Content Written by Madison Frye, Marketing Associate at Map Your Show.

Table of Contents:

1. Understanding the Significance of Exhibit Space Selection to Exhibitors
   1. Three Key Considerations for Exhibitors when Selecting Booth Space at a Trade Show:
      1. Proximity to Popular Attractions
      2. Analyzing the Competition
      3. Onsite Sponsorship Opportunities and Lead Gen
2. How Map Your Show Enhances Exhibit Space Requests for Show Management Teams
   1. Interactive Show Floor Plans:
      
      1. NEW: Select Partners and Competitors in Booth Space Application
      2. Real-Time Updates and Availability
      3. NEW: Customized Views and Additional Filtering Capabilities
3. Conclusion

Understanding the Significance of Exhibit Space Selection to Exhibitors. 

The location of a booth within a trade show venue can significantly impact an exhibitor's overall experience. Factors such as foot traffic, visibility, and proximity to key attractions are crucial in attracting potential leads. As exhibitors seek to stand out in a competitive environment, trade show managers (when selling by booth space) can help their exhibitors strategically select their exhibit space. 

Three Key Considerations for Exhibitors When Selecting Booth Space at a Trade Show: 

1. Proximity to Popular Attractions. 

Exhibitors aim to secure a booth space with high visibility near entrances, stages, or other popular booths to attract more foot traffic and potential leads.  

By being close to these high-traffic areas, exhibitors can increase their chances of success, generate potential leads, and maximize their return on investment (ROI). They also know that strategic placement is key to standing out from the competition and capturing the attention of attendees. Trade show organizers face the difficulty of ensuring that each booth offers some sort of competitive edge for the many exhibitors at the show. 

2. Analyzing the Competition.

When participating in a trade show, analyzing the placement of your competitors can provide valuable insights. Some exhibitors prefer to be close to their competitors to leverage the shared interests of attendees and draw from the same target audience. This way, they can create a buzz and build brand awareness by showcasing their products or services side by side with their competitors. On the other hand, others may opt for a more distinct location to differentiate themselves from their competitors and avoid direct competition. They may also choose to request a booth next to their industry partners to collaborate while on-site. Ultimately, requesting the right location can be a strategic decision that can impact the success of an exhibitor’s trade show participation and ROI. 

3. Onsite Sponsorship Opportunities and Lead Gen.

In today's fast-paced business world, trade shows and other events are an essential way for companies to showcase their products, services, and innovations to a wider audience. However, with so many exhibitors competing for attention, standing out from the crowd can be a challenge. That's where sponsorship opportunities come in. By partnering with event organizers, companies can secure prime placement, premium advertising spots, and other exclusive benefits that help them connect with their target audience. These sponsorships not only increase brand visibility but also provide access to high-quality leads and potential customers. By investing in these opportunities, exhibitors can gain a competitive edge, maximize their ROI, and increase overall lead generation. 

How Map Your Show Enhances Exhibit Space Requests for Show Management Teams. 

Trade shows provide numerous opportunities for businesses. However, organizing a successful trade show requires a well-coordinated effort from the management team, who must ensure that exhibitors have everything they need to make the most of their onsite opportunity. Map Your Show's event management technology, Builder, is designed to make this process easier and more efficient. With its range of features, show management teams can easily navigate exhibitor booth requests, identify the most appropriate booth location, and offer additional options for exhibitors to customize their exhibit space to showcase their brand effectively. This technology helps trade show management teams deliver a seamless and engaging experience for exhibitors, leading to a more successful event for all involved. 

Interactive Show Floor Plans: 

Map Your Show provides an interactive floor plan to help visualize the venue and booth layout. As a show manager, this includes additional views to make more informed decisions based on exhibitor preferences and goals. With the help of the "Max Fit" layout in Builder, show management teams can create their own unique floor plans. This feature also allows show teams to customize their exhibit floor's layout to best suit their exhibitors' needs. 

1. NEW: Select Partners and Competitors in Booth Space Application.

When it comes to showcasing products and services at a trade show, exhibitors need to be mindful of their competition and potential partnerships. To facilitate this process, trade show management teams can now allow exhibitors to list out their competitors and partners during the initial booth space application. These listed competitors are later viewed by the show management team for final selection when selling by space. Depending on the show's configuration, exhibitors may be able to select competitors from all prospects or limit their choices to the show’s previous exhibitors. This feature not only helps exhibitors prepare for potential competition but also fosters collaboration and networking opportunities with industry partners. Exhibitors can also better tailor their marketing strategies to make the most out of their trade show experience 

2. Real-Time Updates and Availability.

Having access to real-time updates on available booth spaces is vital. It ensures that show managers have the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, allowing them to make timely decisions and secure the best possible location for each exhibitor’s needs.   

This is especially important for events that offer more than one sales office, off-site booth selection, or for any time that the sale of a booth may be happening more than one application at a time. This can help minimize confusion, reduce the risk of double bookings, and create a more seamless and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. 

3. NEW: Customized Views and Additional Filtering Capabilities.

Map Your Show’s platform provides show management teams with an exceptional level of customization for their viewing experience of the floor plan. One of the most exciting features of this platform is the ability to highlight the floor plan based on pre-selected preferences. This includes highlighting the floor plan according to an exhibitor’s requested booths, competitors chosen by the user, exhibitors who have selected the user as a competitor, partners selected by the user, exhibitors who have chosen the user as a partner, and available booths. This level of customization provides show management teams with an efficient way to navigate the floor plan and find exactly what they are looking for. The platform has been designed to provide an easy-to-use interface and to enhance the user's comprehensive experience.  

With this new ability to sort the list of customers by company name, space requests, or status, managers can easily assign spaces to booths based on priority points or first come first serve. This feature provides a convenient way to manage booth assignments and ensure that everything is running smoothly. 

Conclusion 

Trade show success is a collaborative effort between exhibitors and trade show management teams. By understanding the importance of exhibit space selection and leveraging tools like Map Your Show's event management technology, trade show managers can give exhibitors the power to enhance their presence, attract more leads, and ensure a positive return on investment. As the industry evolves, staying ahead with innovative solutions becomes essential for creating a win-win scenario for both exhibitors and event organizers. 

To learn more about Map Your Show and how it can make your event continue to succeed, contact our team today!