Austin Small Business Expo - 2021

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Haitna, the award-winning marketing agency that helps many national and international companies grow their business, is all set to take part in the Austin Small Business Expo - 2021. We are really pumped up and can't wait to collaborate with many more businesses.
Haitna is looking forward to shaking hands with like-minded small business owners and entrepreneurs in this free expo. The expo is full of networking sessions, industry leaders' presentations, and business-building workshops. We invite all small businesses to take part in the expo to make meaningful connections.
Don't worry if the whole expo thing is all Greek to you. Haitna will give you some fantastic tips to make the most out of this expo in this article.

6 Useful Tips to Get Ready for the Austin Small Business Expo

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1. Book Early

This tip may seem like a no-brainer. But many miss this chance and completely miss the boat. Being an early bird has its perks. First, you may get a special early-bird price if you want to exhibit your products.
Secondly, you can choose the spot you want. Keep in mind that an expo is a conglomeration of local businesses. Your chances of getting lost in the crowd are inevitable.
You need the right spot (preferably at corners, near refreshment areas, and close to the entrance) to make your booth stand out from the rest.

2. Opt for a Gold Badge Registration

Though the Austin Small Business Expo - 2021 is free to visit for small business owners, we strongly advise you to consider opting for the Gold Badge Registration.
The first perk you get with a Gold Badge is the Priority Line Access at the Networking Center, wherein you can network with the contacts you made with a drink.
You also get a Priority Line Access at Speed Networking. The last perk you get is access to the Lead Scanner App. The app will help you collect the attendees' and exhibitors' contact details by scanning their badges. You need not collect everyone's business cards and pile them up on your booth desk.

3. Arrange Refreshments in Your Booth

One of the mistakes exhibitors make is being too pushy with visitors. Consider the expo as a place to make connections but not just sales. If your demo and promotional materials are too sales-oriented, attendees may try to give a skip to you.
An excellent way to make your booth appear friendly and inviting is to have a small refreshment area within it. Invite serious attendees for a cup of coffee and discuss business as you do in your poolside.
The little things you do for the attendees will tell them how serious and professional you are about the business.

4. Perform a Dry Run

No matter how big you are in your domain, an expo is still uncharted territory for you.
Keep fumbling’s, technical malfunctions, and awkward silences at bay by having a dry run.
Decide what you want out of the expo and devise your plan accordingly. Be specific with your goals. If lead generation is what you wish to do, channel your manpower and resources towards serious business talks.
Experiment with the positions of your promotional materials such as standees, portable display plinths, and television sets. The rehearsal will ensure that your business gets as many eyeballs as possible.

5. Competitor Research

Remember that you are not the only business in your domain to set up a booth at the Austin expo. Small Business Expo is one of America's biggest business networking events.
Knowing what your competitors are up to and what strategies they will follow will help you devise yours.
While booking the booth, check with the organizers where your competitors are in the expo. Set up your booth location strategically.
Visiting early to the expo and having a quick look at your competitors will not cost you anything but give you valuable insights. If you want to go that extra mile, research what your successful competitors have done in the past.

6. Set Goals

Having clearly defined goals will help you how you should promote your business at the expo.
Be specific with your goals. If you want brand awareness, plan accordingly and use resources for promotional materials and gifts.
Design your booth as an experience center. Allow attendees to experience your brand and products. Let them interact with your products and make them smile.
If you are eyeing leads, invest your energy in identifying serious clients and gently give up on tire-kickers.

6 Common Mistakes Businesses do in a Small Business Expo

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1. Paying Least Attention to Promotional Materials

Have you ever seen an attendee coming out of an expo? He will most likely carry a bagful of promotional materials. If you want to leave an impression among your potential clients at an expo, your promotional material should stand out from the rest.
Consider giving out something like Walletninja as promotional material. The best thing about going for promotional materials such as pens, custom coffee cups, and multitool business cards is that attendees will not discard them.
The items will get a place in their wallet or table after the Austin expo. This gives you an edge as your brand or business will become memorable for them.

2. Skipping Product Demonstrations

Unless yours is purely a service business, you should always go for a product demonstration at an expo.
A product demo is a great head turner. People are curious in general. We love to know how things work. There is a reason why Explainer Videos do wonder.
Human beings are naturally interested in learning about things. As an exhibitor, you need not give an oration sugarcoated with sales language.
Putting your products on display and showing how they work in real life speak volumes. If yours is a quirky product such as a shirt-folding board, attendees are going to swarm your booth for sure.

3. Not Exhibiting Track Records

An exhibition is where you showcase your track record. Do not try to be humble. After all, you are not claiming anything out of thin air but showing your ability.
Showing who you are and what you have done in your domain will instill trust in the attendees and complementary businesses.
Tell the attendees who your clients are and what you have done for their business. Do not shy away from telling the attendees how your clients have climbed up the success ladder with your collaboration.
Use videos and testimonials to your advantage at the expo. Install television sets and flex your muscles.

4. Skipping Follow-up

Let's accept the fact. An attendee is less likely to remember your business name post the expo unless you have forged a relationship with him.
An average attendee would have been bombarded with a truckload of promotional materials and sales pitches before he exits the arena.
Arguably, he is not going to remember every business he encountered. This is where follow-up comes in. Follow-up is a nice little gesture to show the attendees that you indeed remember them.
It is advisable to ask the attendees at what time they want to get reminded. Always personalize your follow-up messages as it signals the attendees that you are serious.

5. Not using a CRM Software

This mistake goes hand in hand with the previous one. For an effective follow-up, you need to have all the details concerning the attendees at your fingertips.
Collecting business cards is ok. But it is a cumbersome process to categorize them for follow-ups. If you have CRM software at the expo in the first place, collecting business details will be a breeze. Many Financial firms, PR firms, SEO firms were using a variety of CRM to collect leads.
A CRM software will also allow you to add other particulars concerning your clients, their business details, expectations, etc.
It is natural for you to forget each potential client's requirements a couple of days after the expo. Hence, it is wise to note down their needs while inputting their info in the software.

6. Eyeing on Sales at the Expo

This is a classic mistake many exhibitors make. They try to close sales at an expo.
Firstly, understand a small business expo from an attendee's point of view. An average attendee, or let's say a vendor, is on a product/business discovery mode while entering an expo.
He needs to visit as many booths as possible to make up his mind. This is why you need to educate your potential clients and network with them.
Please get rid of your sales language and genuinely discuss how your business can help a client scale up theirs.

Austin Small Business Expo - 2021: Location & Date

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Admission: Free
Venue: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX, 78704
Timing: 10 am - 5 pm
NOTE: For exhibitor booth rates, call (212) 404-2345

Key Takeaways for Exhibitors

• Be an early bird to the expo. Rehearse. Prepare yourself for the big day.
• Never use sales language. Instead, converse and forge relationships.
• Take advantage of product demonstrations at the expo to grab more eyeballs.
• Use unique promotional materials to make a long-lasting impression on your potential clients.
• Research how your competitors have used the expo and devise your strategy.