One of the hardest parts of event marketing and participating in craft fairs/pop ups? Event interactions – actually engaging with attendees. If you feel like you’ve mastered your table display and picking the right events, but you still feel like you’re not making the sales you COULD be making at these events: you could be engaging with attendees in a way that is turning them off to you and your small business. Let’s go through some do’s and don’ts when it comes to engaging with event attendees.
DON’T: SIT BEHIND YOUR TABLE
We completely understand that you are tired. You’ve been up and about all day long, and just want to sit down and let your display and products sell themselves. Unfortunately, this will end up costing you sales. When you sit behind a table you are closing yourself off to those around you. This makes event attendees feel like you’re unapproachable, and will likely make them feel uncomfortable with your booth. Also, they are less likely to ask you questions about your products if they feel closed off from you.
INSTEAD…
Stand in front of your display table, and create small talk with those who walk by. By expressing your interest in others and not using the table as a barrier, you are creating a warm and inviting event interactions that will lure people in.
DON’T FOCUS ON SALES
This sounds counterintuitive – but can really create an impact on your success at events. If your focus when talking with others is to make a sale or preach about your small business – you are bound to make them uncomfortable. This causes the conversation to feel stale and fake, and can easily turn people off to your small business.
INSTEAD…
Focus on learning about the potential customer. Having a genuine interest in their lives and in the conversation will make them feel more comfortable (and more willing to look at your products). A genuine conversation and event interactions may also help you be able to clearly demonstrate how your product or service can make an impact in their lives.
Pro tip: If you find out that the person has no need for your products – do NOT just dismiss them! They might know someone who would love your product or service. If you simply cut off the conversation, you might lose out on a great potential relationship. Maybe you create a relationship with them and while they do not buy something from you, in the future they will send potential customers your way.
If you are looking for more information and advice on event marketing, event interactions, and participating in craft fairs and pop ups – check out our YouTube channels. We have multiple videos on participating in events for small business owners.
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Feel free to share your thoughts with me, I can be reached at vivian@theseasonedmarketer.com!
Looking for more free marketing tips and content specifically for small business owners? Check out our podcast, S.O.B. Marketing Podcast. Every Wednesday we discuss a new topic to help small business owners take on marketing on their own. Listen to our episode of the S.O.B. Marketing podcast wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube! Have a topic you want us to discuss? Email us at Help@TheSeasonedMarketer.com!
Interested in elevating your event marketing game? Check out our FREE mini training course! Learn 3 mistakes you could possibly be making that are impacting your participation in events, craft fairs, and pop-ups. Not only is this training course FREE, but you will get a special discount at the end for our new course, ROCK YOUR FAIR! Click here to check it out.
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