Trade shows are one of the best ways to get the attention of a large number of customers and prospects in a short amount of time. Not only do trade shows give you the opportunity to display your products and demonstrate their usefulness, they also allow you to meet individuals face-to-face and form a connection with them.

And tradeshow exhibitors aren’t the only ones who are convinced of the importance of tradeshows. According to a recent market research study, more than 90 percent of respondents ranked trade shows as an extremely useful source for product purchasing information, beating out even on-site visits from sales reps. Finally, more than 50 percent of respondents say they have purchased products or services as a direct result of a trade show.

Agricultural trade shows are especially effective since farmers like to meet the people they are considering partnering with and they also want to see for themselves how a product or service will work. What follows are some tips to get the most out of your agricultural trade show booth.

1. A month or two before the trade show, be sure and reach out to farmers, retailers or media who you want to connect with at your booth. Don’t passively wait for them to show up.
2. Make sure that your signage at the trade show is attention-grabbing and is placed in high-traffic areas so no one misses your booth. You also may want to consider having staff throughout the tradeshow handing out information and directing people to your booth.
3. Promote your presence at a trade show on your social media channels before and during the event. Facebook Live segments are a great way to engage people who will be attending the trade show as well as those who cannot make it.
4. Develop a tradeshow app that keeps people up-to-date with what is going on at your booth. You can include a schedule of events and conduct contests or promotions through this app.
5. Involve your teammates in the office to make your tradeshow as successful as possible. You may not have time to add content or other information to your social media accounts, for example, so you need the support of your colleagues back home.

Trade shows take a lot of time and resources but are always worth the effort. That’s because it the leads and relationships you develop at these events are some of the most promising when it comes to converting sales.