Key Takeaway
Discover three proven trade show gimmicks that turn casual booth visits into real opportunities for business growth.
How do you stand out on a crowded trade show floor? While great exhibit design, professional staff, and best-in-class marketing are essential, sometimes it’s the strategic use of crowd-drawing elements that creates lasting impact.
Among the many attention-grabbing tactics seen at trade shows, three proven winners consistently deliver results: headshots, massage chairs, and photo booths.
Here’s why these specific engagement tools outperform the rest.
1. Offering Professional Headshots
Professional headshots have proven to be a powerful trade show attraction. At recent industry events, trade show exhibits offering this service consistently draw lines stretching into walkways–and for good reason.
While hiring a professional photographer is an investment, the payoff in booth traffic and engagement proves substantial. The setup creates multiple engagement opportunities: as attendees wait their turn, booth staff have natural openings to connect with potential clients. And the visual impact of the lighting (think impactful, white photography umbrellas), the backdrop, the subject posing…who can turn away?
Meanwhile, displaying the photos in real-time on large screens attracts additional foot traffic. This creates a self-sustaining cycle of engagement that keeps booth spaces bustling throughout events.
If size or budget does not allow an elaborate set-up, consider a smaller, do-it-yourself situation, using headshot technology that produces professional portraits and gathers your attendees’ contact information.
2. Hiring a Photobooth
Photo booths or just a simple open step-and-repeat backwall create memorable moments that naturally connect your brand to positive experiences. When attendees share their photos with colleagues, friends, and family, they’ll associate those fun, nostalgic memories with your brand, strengthening recall and organic word-of-mouth marketing.
Not only does this gimmick draw attendees to your booth, put them in a positive mind set and warm them up for your trade show staff, but the byproduct then serves as a highly personalized promotional item.
Combining a unique experience with a branded keepsake is a great way to stay top of mind come purchasing time.
3. Providing Massage Chairs
Massage chairs are also a crowd-pleaser at trade shows, offering welcome relief to weary attendees. However, the key challenge is maximizing this attraction’s business value rather than simply providing free relaxation to all passersby.
Pro tip: Pre-arrange massage sessions with qualified prospects, current clients, and key vendors. This transforms a popular amenity into targeted networking opportunities while ensuring your massage chairs both attract attention and facilitate meaningful business conversations.
Need Help Attracting Attendees? Hire Metro Exhibits
Want to enhance your trade show presence with attention-grabbing elements that drive meaningful engagement? Metro Exhibits brings creative expertise and practical know-how to every expo booth design.
Our team has mastered the art of balancing innovation with functionality, ensuring your space not only draws crowds but converts interest into valuable business relationships. Let’s craft your next show-stopping exhibit together.
Contact Metro Exhibits today to improve your trade show booth ROI.
FAQs About Increasing Trade Show Booth Traffic
What’s the best way to measure ROI from trade show attractions?
Track multiple metrics, including foot traffic counts, lead capture numbers, and post-show conversion rates. Most importantly, implement a system to tag leads generated specifically through these attractions to measure their direct impact on sales.
How can smaller companies compete with larger exhibitors’ entertainment budgets?
Focus on quality over quantity. Rather than trying to match larger competitors’ elaborate setups, invest in one high-impact attraction that aligns with your brand and target audience.
When should I start planning booth attractions for my next trade show?
Begin planning at least 3-4 months before the event. Popular attractions like professional photographers and quality massage chairs often require advance booking. This lead time also allows for proper promotion through pre-show marketing, helping you schedule meetings and maximize the attraction’s business value.