Venue: The first important requirement for a successful trade show. It has to be a central or prominent location, which the intended participants will have no hesitation in coming to. For example, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Seattle and other major cities across the US, are popular destinations for conventions and trade shows. What makes these venues popular is the fact that they are well connected with the rest of the country, are well-known tourist centers and usually have a pleasant climate. In addition, accommodation for a large contingent of visitors is available easily in these places, given the large number of hotels, motels, inns, etc, to suit every pocket; plus, bulk booking rates are very attractive!

Participants and visitors: A successful trade show should have a central, underlying theme, based on a product or service or consumer requirement. Once your theme is decided upon, choosing the profile and number of participants for the trade show becomes much simpler. Here, it is important to note that this planning will need to be done several months in advance. Contact the list of potential exhibitors or participants and provide them with the relevant information, solicit opinions and suggestions from them on what they would like to have included, to make the trade show a success and profitable for them.

Media and PR: If no one knows that you are organizing a trade show, then you are guaranteed a definite failure! Hence, a comprehensive marketing and PR campaign, making use of the different kinds of media available – print, radio, television, the Internet – will ensure that your trade show is well publicized and the crowds flock to it.

Endorsements: Getting trade associations, chambers of commerce, guilds or other similar collective entities to endorse your trade show, will give that extra boost to your publicity campaign. If you’ve conducted a trade show before, get testimonials from satisfied participants and visitors; word-of-mouth advertising is a very effective means of promoting your upcoming show!

Logistics and preparation: For exhibitors and visitors to rave about your trade show and to get a repeat audience, it is critical that the logistics of holding the trade show or convention are well thought out and prepared in advance. This will include preparing the venue, arranging a layout, which is not only easy to access, but also attractive to participants and visitors, alike. Other points to work on: (i) transport facilities to and from the venue, covering routes to the airport, hotels, any special outings, etc; (ii) communications – telephones, fax, Internet facilities at the venue; (iii) customer services – conveniently located helpdesks or service points, spread around the venue, personnel to guide visitors or help them out in any way; (iv) ample security in and around the venue and places where participants and/or visitors are put up, and (v) miscellaneous and ancillary services such as first-aid, lighting, emergency procedures, etc.

These are just some of the most important factors, which you need to pay attention to, in great detail. Have a blueprint drawn well before the event, incorporating all these requirements and you are well on your way to organizing and holding a successful trade show.

About The Author

Tiffany Provost writes about marketing and other business tips for HowToDoThings.com.

Let’s take a look at what an expert really is. It is not some mythical stature, achieved by a select few. The Oxford Dictionary defines an expert as “a person who is very knowledgeable about or skillful in a particular area.” Nowhere does it state that you have to be the absolute best at what they do. Take Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, for example. Is he an expert hitter? You bet. Is he the best hitter to ever play the game? No, but that doesn’t make him any less an expert. Is Dr. Arun Singh at Rhode Island Hospital an expert cardiothoracic surgeon? Definitely. Is he the best in the world? Most likely not, but he is one of the very best in the New England region.

How to be recognized as an expert

First and foremost, you have to decide that you are, or will be, an expert. If you need additional knowledge, skill, or experience, get it. Read, take courses, give free services … do whatever it takes to overcome what it is that keeps you from being an expert. Perhaps all you have to overcome is your fear of sounding pretentious. Don’t give this a second thought. By using the word judiciously, this isn’t a problem.

Although considering yourself to be an expert is the first step, being considered an expert by your target audience requires consistent demonstration of your expertise. Following are some of the ways you can accomplish this.

Here’s one caution. Do not try to become an expert at everything. I often here people say, “I specialize in all aspect of my profession.” I highly doubt that’s true. Even if it is, does it benefit them? Would you want to have brain surgery done by a doctor who told you he is a neurosurgeon, cardiologist, otolaryngologist, and proctologist? Probably not.

Speaking

Speaking is an excellent way to showcase your knowledge, accomplishments, and abilities. The opportunities are almost endless. They include being a keynote or breakout speaker at conferences. You can produce your own seminars or do so with the help of your local Chamber of Commerce or other organization. The same is true for workshops. You can serve on a panel at your industry’s meetings — local, regional, or national.

Because there are so many opportunities, you might not know where to begin. My suggestion is that you look at your industry or a related field. If there are monthly meetings, do they have speakers? Are there special events where speakers are featured? Do chambers in other areas of the country invite people in your profession to speak, and if so, on what topics? Once you begin investigating, you’ll be surprised at the number of possibilities that exist.

Writing

When I mention writing, people think of newspapers, magazines, and books and that their chances of getting published are slim. Even if that were true, there are many more avenues available to those who want to write about subjects they know well.

Let’s discuss writing articles. To begin, you don’t have to look any further than the Chambers of Commerce. They are often looking for well-written articles that they can use in their newspapers. You can also provide articles to your local newspaper and industry journals. Of course you can publish your own newsletter or write for someone else’s. The correct option is the one that works for you.

Above are some of the outlets for articles on paper. Online vehicles offer you a completely new set of tactics. Just like the paper versions, you can write for your own newsletter (often referred to as an ezine) or for someone else who already has a list of subscribers or recipients. Another venue for articles is online article depositories and distributors. These are places where you submit your articles for review. If accepted, the articles are included in the databases. From there, people can either read them or actually use them in their online publications. This is done at no charge. How does this help? The people who use the articles agree to include your resource box. This is where you let readers know how they can benefit from your services or obtain additional information — much like my resource box at the end of this article.

Writing a book or books is an extremely powerful way to demonstrate that you are an expert. Whether published by publishers or yourself, a book has long been the epitome of writing. Even accomplished news columnists are compelled to write books. And it’s not as difficult as you may think. Let’s say you have written a number of articles. Then you have the basis for several chapters in your book. And a book does not have to be lengthy. It can be as short or long as necessary to get its point across. You can also write an e-book, which is a short book that is made available for downloading online.

Other ideas

The list could go on, but I will conclude with just a few more ideas. People who are interviewed by the press are looked at as experts. By prudently sending out press releases and becoming known to the press, you better your chances of being one of the people they turn to. Speaking of interviews, you may also make yourself available to other experts who are writing their own books or articles and need opinions and personal viewpoints.

Tips sheets and special reports make wonderful products that you can give to your prospects and clients or use as add-ons. These are generally rather short, but they once again indicate that you have sufficient expertise in your field.

Now you have several ways to be a recognized expert in your field. It’s time to jump in and start swimming!

About The Author

Peter George is the marketing coach and recognized expert who helps self-employed professionals attract more clients, make more profits, and have more time to enjoy life. Immediately download 101 Ways to Attract More Clients at http://MoreClientsMoreProfits.com

You can identify target market by conducting International Market research activity that will give you detailed knowledge of opportunities in International market. It can confirm that an opportunity actually exists in a particular market and can help you to understand the market’s characteristics. It can give you insight into how a new market can be developed. Most important, it helps you to identify needs of your potential customers and factors influences their buying decisions.

Types of Market Research

There are two main types of market research: secondary and primary.

Secondary research
This can be done by using data and information gathered from periodicals, studies, market reports, books, surveys and statistical analysis available through various sources like chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, industry and trade associations, websites, libraries and government sources.

Primary research
This can be done by using data and information gathered by Interviews, Focus groups, Mystery shopping etc. Primary research almost always demands personal involvement through interviews and consultations. Your foreign or domestic contacts will be able to help you better if you state your company’s objectives at the outset and present your questions clearly.
Though Market Research is a complex process but following three simple steps will help you to identify target with secondary research approach.

Step 1: Collecting data

- Collect statistical information of related sector that show export data of your product or service to various countries. You can collect those data from various sources like periodicals, studies, market reports, books, surveys and statistical analyses published by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, industry and trade associations, Export promotion councils.

- Many country’s concern Govt. dept. publishes export-import statistic data on their websites also. For Example, in India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry’s website- http://commerce.nic.in/ publishes export-import data categorized by HS code.

- Other online sources like Comtrade also publishes International trade statistic data.
Step 2: Screening

- From those collected data, select 5 to 10 countries where your product or service has maximum volume of export from your country. Check them over the past three or five years to know whether growth been consistent year-to-year? Did import growth occur even during periods of economic recession? If not, did growth resume with economic recovery?

- Also select some smaller emerging countries that may hold ground-floor opportunities for you. If the market is just beginning to open up, you may not have as many competitors as you would in an established market.

- Screen and target three to five of the most promising countries for further analysis.

Step 3: Analysis

- Analyse market trends and situation of those screened countries that could influence demand for your product or service. Calculate the overall consumption of your products or services category and identify the amount imported.

- Study the competition, both domestic and non-domestic. Look at each competitor’s market share.

- Identify what affects the marketing and use of the product or service in each market, such as channels of distribution, economic situation, cultural differences and business practices.

- Identify any foreign barriers (tariff or non-tariff) for the product or service being imported into those country affecting exports to the country.

- Refer websites of WTO, Euro monitor, Country reports and screened country’s specific business portals which will help you more to analyse current market trends and situation. There are many other sources on Internet, publishing useful information on current global market trends and situation.

After completing these three steps successfully, you will be able to identify your target market and restrict your marketing efforts to those countries only. New-to-exporting companies should concentrate on fewer than ten markets. One or two countries are usually enough to start with. You can then begin to develop your export marketing strategies and plan accordingly.

International market research activity needs expertise work so recommend you to get expert’s advices on performing research activities because if you have identified your target market wrong, all your efforts for export marketing will go waste from the first step itself.

About The Author

Azaz Motiwala is a marketing consultant and CMD of IKON Marketing Consultants India, a leading marketing consultancy company assisting corporate companies and SMEs with expert advices and solutions on various areas of marketing. http://www.ikonmarket.com

The Small Business Administration has offices in most parts of the country. Although getting face-to-face assistance has become a bit more difficult in recent years due to budget cuts ordered by the Bush administration, the Small Business Administration also has a website packed with helpful information, forms, tutorials and online courses. Small business owners can count on the Small Business Administration for accurate information on laws affecting small businesses, tax and social security information and small business statistics.

The Small Business Administration’s sister organization, the Service Corps of Retired Executives provides mentoring and in-person courses for small business owners. The Service Corps of Retired Executives was created by a group of retired executives from large corporations who wanted to continue using their business skills after retirement to mentor small business owners.

Local Chambers of Commerce are another excellent resource. Chambers of Commerce typically serve two functions: Promoting the business climate of the area to outside investors and serving as a networking hub for existing businesses. However, due to the rise in entrepreneurship, many Chambers of Commerce are beginning to offer seminars to start up business owners including marketing, bookkeeping and other topics. They may also offer special networking events geared toward new businesses just getting started.

Once you get your business started, there is no better resource for networking than your local Chamber of Commerce. The annual fee is typically modest and covers your attendance at more functions than you could possibly find the time to attend. For example, the Chamber of Commerce in West Palm Beach, Florida offers networking breakfasts, lunches, cocktail hours and dinners. They also offer special networking events targeted at certain business sectors, sponsorship of corporate events and a member directory with advertisements from their membership.

About The Author

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Business, Real Estate, and Employment