There are three key reasons you should consider taking a stand at an event like the South Wales Business Growth Expo in October:

Meet new customers and reward your existing clientele– Taking a stand at a business exhibition gives you access to hundreds of visitors, some of whom won’t be existing customers. Others will.

Every exhibition will have the potential to give you hundreds of warmed-up leads if you do things in the right way.

You’ll need to ensure you have all the promotional products you need – banners, promotional gifts, flyers, and brochures. Have you thought about having a screen with a promotional video on it?

Stage a competition or a giveaway at your stall to attract visitors. Ensure those who enter have to give you details like their email address and that will help you build your email database. A healthy database means more leads from future email campaigns.

For existing customers, this is your chance to reward them. Invite them to your stall for lunch or a drink.

Get people involved on your social media channels. Use the event’s hashtag to get the widest possible audience, upload images, and create a live video event on Facebook or Periscope.

Build your brand – It’s all about your business’ visibility. Make your business the first people think of in your field by being present at exhibitions.

Ensure your logo is highly visible and extend that brand onto your social media posts.

Try to ensure your stand is near those of ‘blue chip’ companies – that kudos will rub off on your business on the day.

This will pay dividends in the long term. It’s part of the know, like, and trust journey customers take before they purchase.

Network with other businesses – You could meet good referral partners, excellent businesses for your supply chain, or simply keep an eye on your competition. If you’re a B2B business, this is an excellent opportunity for you. Most exhibitions run networking sessions alongside these days. If not, simply go around and introduce yourself and encourage other stand-holders to come and visit your stand.

Make sure you follow up on any leads you make after the show – that will allow you to get the most out of the event and the best return on your investment.

The Business Growth Expo South Wales at the Holiday Inn, Cardiff North, on October 6 is supported by thebestof South Wales and Zokit.

Its theme is ’50 Ways To Grow Your Business’ – it will feature 50 businesses who will give you tips on how to grow.

The day will also feature networking opportunities and seminars.

There will be 65 business stands costing from £199 plus VAT.

There’s only one business per category, and stands are selling fast. So book now to avoid being locked out by your competition.

Find out more details here.