Planning on attending an upcoming trade show? Not sure where to begin? We’ve come up with a eight-step checklist ensuring you are fully prepared before attending your next trade show.

The trade show has withstood the test of time as an effective marketing tactic. Attending a trade show can help marketers increase brand awareness, generate leads, build stronger customer relationships, and generate sales. The numbers are telling:

• The top two preferred methods for creating high-quality brand awareness are: small events tailored to executives and trade shows (InsideSales).
• 72% of sales and marketing leaders say a trade show is an effective method to generate quality leads (InsideSales).
• 80% of marketers believe live events are critical to their company’s success (Bizzabo).
• Conferences and trade shows account for one-fifth or more of planned meeting activity in North America and Europe (AMEX).