3 Ways to Make Your Trade Show Booth
Not Suck
It’s Tradeshow Season!
That magical time when booths pop up like spring flowers, swag flies through the air, and networking happens over tiny cups of coffee.
Let’s be honest—trade shows can be awesome… or awkward. If your booth looks like a nap trap and your team is counting ceiling tiles, no one’s stopping to chat. But if you show up with a plan, a poppin’ display, and a little personality? You just might crush it.
Trade shows aren’t dead. (Ignore the rumors.) But lazy trade show booths? Oh yeah, very dead. Here are 3 ways to make your booth actually work for you—and maybe even kinda fun.
🧭 1. Find the Right Show
Not every event is your event.
Think Goldilocks here—it’s gotta be just right. Too big? You’ll get lost. Too small? Waste of time. Wrong crowd? Yikes.
Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to zig when others zag. One time, Kyle’s agency got a booth at an HR show (we know—not the usual crowd). But guess what? We were the only marketing firm there. HR reps loved it. We stood out and walked away with new biz.
Moral of the story: Think like a marketer, not a robot. Go where your people are—or where no one expects you.
📋 2. Have. A. Plan.
If your plan is “sit and scroll TikTok all day,” just stay home.
This is marketing, people—not recess.
Do this instead:
- Set goals for how many convos to have
- Visit other booths (some of them might be clients or referral partners!)
- Schedule meetups with local prospects
- Prep your elevator pitch
- Collect emails like candy
- And please… smile 😄
Bottom line: A bored booth = a broke booth.
🎨 3. Make It Look Amazing
You knew this was coming. We’re a print shop, after all.
But for real—if your booth looks like it time-traveled from 2003, don’t expect people to stop.
Here’s how to glow up your booth:
✅ Big, bold graphics
✅ A screen with movement (video is 👀 magic)
✅ Strong, consistent brand colors
✅ Real-world elements that connect to your biz
✅ CLEAR messaging: who you are + what you do
It’s like a billboard—you’ve got seconds to grab attention. Make them count.
✨ Bonus Tip: Make it Interactive
Wanna level up? Add a little fun.
- Raffle or giveaway 🎁
- Selfie station 📸
- Spin-the-wheel game 🎯
- Mini snack bar 🍪 (everyone loves a cookie)
- Social contest with a hashtag
It makes your booth memorable and gets people talking and sharing online. Win-win.
At Zipp Printing, we’ve seen clients totally rock their trade shows—and we’ve seen some… uh, less inspiring setups. We know these 3 tips (and that bonus idea!) will give you a better shot at success this Trade Show Season.
Need help with your booth materials? We got you. From banners and backdrops to promo items, brochures, and branded tees—we print it all.
Let’s make your next booth the one everyone’s talking about. 💥
