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Trinkets from a show booth are gimmees. Sending someone a hundred dollar gift in the mail afterward is a bribe. Be prepared with quality gifts you can hand out at the booth. If you're thinking pens, don't give the cheapies. Get some nice ones, in presentation boxes, that you can hand out to the big fish. You might spend $30 apiece on these. But if you gave out $30 of cheapie pens, how much business would that generate? Would Harold Homeowner give you his contact info for a nineteen cent pen?
How much is his info worth, anyway? (Nineteen cents, that's how much.) And be prepared for the whales as well. You may carry a couple platinum gimmees to several trade shows before you give one out. These might be USA Email List something you purchased ahead of time, but it's better if you get to know the whale, find out what their interests are first. If they like sports, call and get them tickets to their favorite team, or a tee time at a private club.
If they like to discuss business over food, book an exclusive dinner at their preferred restaurant. If the like watches, get them one of their favorite brands, or at least a significant discount on one. And this is the hardest part: do it with no expectation of a sale. Show them you and your company care about having them as a contact with a quality gimmee. So here's the take-away from this chapter: If you give out high quality gimmees at your show booth, you'll find yourself engaging with high quality prospects.
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