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The very best trade show games are interactive, memorable, and designed to spark conversation. You need ideas for trade show games that help your business stand out and get noticed at a convention, consumer show, or trade show. Some of the best marketers know how powerful trade show games can be at expos and industry events.
In a very real sense, most of us are hardwired to notice games and are excited to participate or watch–and more importantly, share our experience with others. Also, notice the keyword “excited” in that last sentence. You are attending a trade show to get people’s attention and get them excited about buying your products or services.
This is why incorporating trade show games into your booth strategy could be a fantastic way to create some buzz (other than, of course, your trade show booth). Trade show booth rentals are a great option for this reason- so that you can keep your brand image up to date without the added expense, or, for maximum impact, that is exactly to your specifications, consider a custom trade show booth.
Trade show games work because they naturally draw attention, create interaction, and encourage conversation between booth staff and attendees. When used strategically, trade show games can help exhibitors:
The most effective trade show games are simple, quick to play, and connected to your brand message.
METRO MAKES IT EASY: When Metro Exhibits creates your booth, our promotional item specialist is available to work with you to present unique promotional ideas–plus, we’ll order and ship your items with your booth. No dragging boxes from your hotel room!
Now that you understand the strategy behind using trade show games to drive booth engagement, here are a few ideas for your next event.
The prize putt is a great game that doesn’t take too much skill if you buy the right style. Ones that are more luck than skill tend to get a lot more people to play. Give it a shot, this trade show game gets a lot of booth traffic. If done right, it may just get you some leads too.
One of the more unique ideas that we’ve seen is the Matching Contest. This game works by offering stickers for visitors to wear on the front of their clothing. These stickers would be printed with a number, symbol, or the like, of which two of every variation of stickers would match. The contest requires attendees to find their match at the show and come back together to your exhibit to win a prize (this is worthy of a larger prize, like an iPad or $500 gift card).
Of course, with the stickers also showcasing your logo, it’s a huge brand visibility play. It’s an opportunity for attendees to ask, “Hey, what’s that sticker you have that everyone is wearing?”
Can people see others associating themselves with your product or service? If you get enough people to play the game, you extend the visibility of your brand to various parts of the show.
Social media channels are limitless in their use for trade show visibility and gaming.
One customer of ours used a large flat screen to show all the latest tweets with specific hashtags on X. Next, they had attendees tweet at them using that hashtag (#companyxcontest), selecting one lucky user every hour the show floor was open to collect a prize.
The company would then tweet back, notifying the attendee of the win. #Score.
As some know, all tweets that include your specified hashtag gets its own folder in X, where all of those tweets can be viewed in one place. A great way to measure your marketing efforts quantitatively.
There are a few people who may be at a conference because their boss told them to go, and they are just looking for a fun time. They might not be the best people to do business with, but they could help you attract people to your exhibit. Attendees are likely to stop to see a booth with a lot of people and action.
More social gaming consoles like Nintendo’s Wii can create a buzz for attendees walking the trade show floor.
Choose a fun game that will be universally appreciated by both genders, and keep track of the high score of that game. If someone beats the high score, offer a prize and update the score.
Again, the more social the game, the better. The more people that can play at one time, the more buzz you will generate.
Some companies integrate a prize wheel into their display area. Does this work? Yes, a prize wheel works because it is eye-catching and well known–and the lure of “free stuff” is addictive, and works across genders, generations and pocketbooks.
The prize wheel could serve as the simplest and most effective icebreakers all the event game ideas.
Making a game out of getting free stuff should incorporate some competition. If you give the opportunity to win small and big prizes, it turns into a competition. Not only are you getting something free, but you also want to try and win big.
Prospects can spin the wheel if they give you a business card. You can then give them promotional giveaways or even coupons. If you use this trade show game idea, make sure it is accessible. A friendly staff member should stand in front of it and invite people to participate.
Far more people will participate if someone asks them to spin the wheel. It’s common nature to be on the edge of wanting to participate in a game, and sometimes you just need that extra push.
Prize games are the best, as long as it’s a great prize. Rolling doubles is an easy concept and quick. People would be interested in this because it won’t waste a lot of time, but it’s a great conversation starter and you can grab their contact info in the process.
Then, you can hand them the dice as a giveaway they’ll always acquaint to you.
This is one of the more common ideas used at trade shows, although it can be very effective. Trivia gives people the opportunity to show off their knowledge in front of their colleagues.
If you first focus on giving that person a moment of glory, they usually then give you the courtesy of some attention to what you and your company provide.
Placing the trade show attendees’ interests first can always open the conversation up in a way that’s less aggressive. If they answer a tough question correctly, and then get rewarded with a prize…you may have just made their day. That is then associated with your brand.
Just give us your information, and get a prize. We’ve all seen this before. Using this idea is as simple as getting trade show attendees to drop their business cards into a fishbowl and then drawing prizes. This approach may be simple but it can also be highly effective for getting attendee information!
If the event is filled to the brim with your target audience, your goal should be to get as much attendee information as possible. This trade show game strategy could be the one for you.
Another game idea is to have a container with a certain number of objects, like candy or marbles. The person who comes closest to guessing the amount gets a prize or a discount.
Like other games, it can serve as an ice-breaker that can foster communication between your representatives and trade show attendees. It’s a great way to get their information as well, so that you can contact them if they win at the end of the show.
This is yet another example of a simple and effective way to get information from your target audience.
Ah, yes of course! Plinko is a classic game that always brings nostalgic fun to the trade show floor. Have someone fill out a contact form for a chance to win a prize. Make the prizes something fun–but useful.
Most people are very familiar with cornhole. Since it doesn’t require a large amount of talent, attendees will be willing to step up to give it a shot. Plus, branding the cornhole board is very impactful, and the process couldn’t be easier.
Not all trade show games work for every audience. When choosing a game, consider:
The best trade show games balance entertainment with marketing goals.
Using one or a combination of these ideas will help you gather information in a way that’s fun for the visitor. However, the success of the game is not all up to the game itself.
Games attract people who walk right past your booth. You cannot do this without a good first impression.
As always, make sure your booth is naturally eye-catching and has a great design to get the attention of attendees who are far away from your booth. Your game is not the first impression someone has of your brand–your display and your brand imagery are what catch their eye and attract them to your booth.
We see a lot of exhibitors believe their game choice was the problem when in reality, their booth was not a good representation of their brand, which in turn affects their booth traffic.
Remember, the most important thing you can do at a trade show is attract visitors, meet people, collect their information, and cultivate a positive relationship. Good luck with your game choice, and always remember to tailor your trade show booth’s marketing strategy to your audience. Create a goal that can be measured (eg., the number of booth visitors, number of visitors who supplied contact information, etc.) to determine your game’s success.
Whether you’re planning your first event or managing a full trade show calendar, Metro Exhibits helps you create high-impact booth experiences that drive real results. From custom booth design and fabrication to flexible rental exhibits, logistics, installation and on-site support, our team handles every detail so you can focus on connecting with prospects and closing deals.
Ready to start planning your next trade show booth? Talk to an exhibit expert today and let’s build an experience that turns heads and drives ROI.
PRO TIP: The best way to get the highest ROI is to book your space and exhibit early!
CONTACT US TODAY TO EXPLORE YOUR POSSIBILITIESWant to gain an edge? Get ideas, tips, and
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