[Hidden-tech] Message from member about Holyoke event

Bobbi Melville bmelville.pgs at verizon.net
Mon Apr 25 20:56:57 EDT 2005


I am a marketing and graphic design member of Hidden Tech. I'd like 
to encourage any members who want more exposure and more business to 
exhibit at Hidden Tech Connect in Holyoke.

For those of you who think that you are too small, or too new, or 
your materials are not fancy enough for exhibiting - please be 
reassured that this is not the case!

I have done a lot of exhibiting at similar "fairs" for many years for 
my husband's business (summer bike trips for teens). These summer 
opportunity fairs are much like the Hidden Tech event. The "exhibits" 
are all very low key, with many summer camps just laying out a bunch 
of photocopied sheets about their camp. Others add some photos, 
sometimes displayed on those cardboard trifold display boards that 
you can buy at Staples for a few dollars. About half of the camps 
have either a video running on a VCR/TV combo, or, increasingly, a 
slide show or demo running on a laptop. Very few camps have fancier 
display boards, and none of them have huge, elaborate displays that 
you'd see at commercial trade shows. Someone from the camp, dressed 
in very casual clothes, stands behind or near the table to answer 
questions. In spite of the homegrown nature of the displays, these 
camp fairs are packed with visitors.

The people who come to these shows are interested in getting 
information. They don't care what your display looks like. Most of 
them go around from table to table and just pick up whatever 
information is on each table that remotely interests them. If your 
service or product is of interest to them, they will pick up your 
material. It doesn't matter how long you've been in business or how 
many employees you have or how slick your materials are. If you 
provide a service that they need, they will look at your material, 
whether it is a nice brochure or a photocopied sheet.

The important thing is to have a piece of paper that people can take 
with them that describes, in 15 words or less at the top of the page, 
what you do. Under that simply list your services or products, 
describing them briefly in non-technical words that your target 
audience can understand. Add contact information at the bottom so 
they can reach you, and you'll then have an effective marketing tool.

If you want to add photos, a computer demo, samples, portfolios, 
business cards, burn a CD that people can take with them, etc., that 
is fine. But not necessary. Just sign up for space and put your 
sheets out for people to take! You don't even have to get dressed up!

So even if you're the only employee and you've just started doing 
business, you DO belong at this event. It is an incredible 
opportunity to get your business seen by people who can hire you.
-- 
Bobbi Melville
Publicity & Graphic Services

Phone	413 369-8022
Cell	413 335-2141
Fax	413 369-4257
Mail	PO Box 611, Conway, MA 01341-0611, USA
FedEx, UPS address: 1356 Ashfield Road, Conway, MA 01341, USA
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