3 MUST-ATTEND CONSTRUCTION TRADE SHOWS: HOW THEY CAN HELP GROW BUSINESS IN 2016

It isn’t too late to register for the three premiere construction industry events for 2016. Besides having a booth or other marketing presence, you can leverage conferences for lead generation, thought leadership, education, and reconnaissance of the competition.

Done well, attending conferences and events is a good investment in your business.

Arrange to speak and grow your reputation.
Collect business cards and sign-up sheets for follow-up after the event.
Learn about new technology and techniques.
Network with other contractors.
Take full advantage of what these events have to offer and build a stronger business this year. Technology continues to advance in the metal construction industry. If you are not leading the charge, you need to be keeping up.

TOP TIPS TO MAXIMIZING YOUR TRADE SHOW EXPERIENCE
Promote Your Presence: trade shows often offer email lists of registrants to vendors. Let those who matter know you will be there. Announce on your website and in other content about your role in a trade show. Put it right on the home page for maximum impact.
Attract Prospects and Customers: invest in eye-catching, attractive branded booth materials. This is no place to be modest.
Measure: get a card scanner to automatically save all pertinent lead information; keep track of mentions in social and print media, keep notes on who you spoke with. Then track those leads through the sales cycle to show your ROI on the trade show.
THREE MUST-ATTEND TRADE SHOWS
METALCON16

When: October 26-28
Where: Baltimore Convention Center - 1 W. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD
Registration Website: Metalcon16       
METALCON celebrated its 25th outing last year, so it is fair to say this conference is well-regarded and well-attended within the construction industry. If you watch the three-minute video there is one refrain you will hear throughout: this is the place to meet people.

Industry experts
Potential customers
Vendors
Colleagues
This event is the prime place for face-to-face interaction.

One other benefit cited in the video is the opportunity to look over and try out the latest equipment and technology specifically for the metal industry. Sometimes you just have to take a hands-on approach for this type of thing.

Highlights

Look for these on the show floor:

Learning Zones: Hands-on instruction on the newest technology in metal construction
MCA Roofing Challenges: Compete with the best, show off your skills, and win money
#TheDeck: Discover everything you need to do and see at the Show Management Booth
Exhibitors

There are 160 exhibitors registered for this conference. If you are a first time exhibitor, be sure to get your booth gear put together and create a strategy for getting the most out of this promotional opportunity.

Gather lead information: business card collection, sign up sheet, registration through tablet, smartphone, or laptop.
Register for workshops and other learning experiences.
Schedule time to walk the floor.
If you have exhibited at METALCON before, you know the riches it contains. If you have the budget, it might be wise to hire a professional to attend your booth while you take advantage of the rest of the event.

As noted in the video, this is the best place to show new products and technology. METALCON maintains a year-long presence through a blog and an email newsletter with fascinating stories in the industry and information on future events.

METALCON is also a generous sponsor of America’s Fund for ill or injured veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Go to the METALCON website to register, search for products or vendors, and view a photo gallery of past events.

BUILD EXPO

When and Where:
February 4-5 in Los Angeles - Los Angeles Convention Center
March 9-10 in Dallas - Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center
Registration Website: BUILDexpo
Registration Phone Number: 877-219-3976
Note: Booth Staff must be registered two weeks prior to the event.

Build Expo includes not only metal vendors but other construction niches and specialties as well. It is a premier gathering place for the building and construction industry. Benefits include:

Networking
Educational opportunities
Scoping out the competition!
A couple of statistics from the website:

It would take a team of five people who meet 15 potential customers per day two months to see the number of people you can see at this event.
83% of attendees have buying power.
72% of attendees intend to make a purchase at the show or shortly thereafter.
Architects, general contractors, commercial and home builders, state planners, military/Corp of Engineers, unions, and municipalities are just a few of the attendees you can meet.

Things to do and see

Build Expo has over 20 building and construction seminars presented by industry experts. These seminars cover everything from marketing and sales to federal contracting. A digital copy of an official show directory and buyers guide can be obtained via email prior to the event so you can make your plan of attack.

Like METALCON, former exhibitors have found this an ideal place to show new products and offer demonstrations. Videos and other content is fine and dandy but there is nothing like getting your hands on the latest gadgets or providing something of substance to potential buyers.

You can even test out new products and get immediate feedback.

One warning: only exhibitors are allowed to pass out brochures and business cards to potential customers.

Exhibitors

You are provided:

A 10X10 booth
Electronic invites to send via email
Free tickets for your current customers
Logo placement on the Build Expo website
Logo placement on a Build Expo direct mail brochure
This event is an excellent place to gather testimonials from current and past customers while building a database of new prospects. A personal meeting can also be the best way to woo past customers back into the fold.

IBS 2016

When: January 19-21
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) - 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV  89119
Registration Website: NAHB International
The International Builder’s Show® has over 1,300 manufacturers and suppliers exhibiting everything from mortgage products to door vendors and everything in between. Arguably one of the largest construction industry trade shows, it would be easy to get overwhelmed here.

Networking isn’t limited to the show floor either. Your registration fee covers open bar and late night food sprees. Enjoy opening ceremonies with Jay Leno and Rhythm Extreme.

Now, down to the good stuff.

Educational opportunities

It’s safe to say that IBS and its sponsor, the National Association of Home Builders, is all about education.

Over 120 sessions in eight tracks
Over a dozen 90 minute sessions for more in-depth learning
Sales Rally game and Housing & Economic Outlook plus tons of new content from original programming
Speakers, 40% of whom are coming to IBS for the first time
The Innovation Hub
IBS is also offering some of these educational sessions on demand as part of the ticket price.

Exhibitors

You still have time to register to exhibit. IBS will market and promote exhibitors as well as offer a spot on the LVCC Digital Network for the duration of the convention.

FINAL WORD…
Two final words, actually.


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