Branding Secrets & Vendor Success at Invest Fest
Branding Strategies for Vendor Marketplace Success and How to Stand Out at Investfest
This episode breaks down how to design an unforgettable presence at a vendor marketplace, using Investfest as a real-world example. The guest explains why standing out is less about being the biggest and more about attracting, engaging, and staying memorable. Practical moves—from booth design to on-the-ground support—are explained step by step so business owners can maximize exposure and long-term value.
How To Attract and Engage Attendees with Purposeful Booth Design
Start with the primary question: how will you attract people to your booth? The advice is to craft interactive experiences and present clear, visible activities that invite participation. It’s not necessary to be the flashiest; instead, focus on how people will feel when they encounter your brand. Simple games, photo opportunities, or live demos can drive foot traffic and create memorable moments.
Collect Contacts and Convert Event Interest Into Revenue After the Show
Don’t treat the event as a single-day revenue pursuit. Instead, capture contacts and follow up. The episode emphasizes systems for collecting information, nurturing leads, and turning initial engagement into repeat customers. Strategies covered include offering incentives to join email lists, creating post-event funnels, and using team members to maintain follow-up momentum.
Serve the Community: The Power of Giving Back at Large Events
One standout approach is to leverage success to support other vendors rather than compete. The speaker describes organizing an on-site team to help vendors with content, breaks, or attracting visitors. This service-oriented branding builds goodwill, strengthens relationships, and positions you as a leader in the community.
Practical Preparations: Webinars, Workshops, and On-Site Presence
Pre-event education like webinars and workshops helps vendors prepare, understand conversion tactics, and set expectations. During the event, balance stage time and booth time—prioritize meaningful interactions, not just visibility. After the event, create follow-up processes to translate impressions into tangible business outcomes.
- Actionable checklist: plan an interactive booth element, schedule team shifts, capture emails, host a pre-event webinar, and run a post-event follow-up campaign.
By focusing on how people feel, offering tangible help, and building systems to collect and convert contacts, small businesses can turn marketplace appearances into lasting growth. For a quick highlight of practical takeaways, see the insights section.
Insights
- Design an interactive element at your booth to increase immediate engagement and encourage social sharing.
- Host a pre-event webinar so vendors arrive prepared and know how to collect contacts effectively.
- Use a small dedicated team to help other vendors, building goodwill and stronger business relationships.
- Collect attendee contacts with clear incentives and follow up within days to convert leads to sales.
- Prioritize personal interactions and emotional connection over immediate sales for lasting brand recall.
FAQ
How should vendors prepare for a large marketplace like Investfest?
Vendors should attend pre-event webinars, plan interactive booth elements, schedule team coverage, and create a clear follow-up plan to capture and nurture leads after the event.
Does investing in a big booth guarantee a good return on investment?
A big booth alone doesn't guarantee ROI; memorable engagement, lead capture systems, and post-event follow-up determine long-term returns.
What are simple ways to attract more visitors to a booth?
Use interactive activities, photo opportunities, live demos, competitions, and visible incentives to draw attention and encourage participation.
How can successful vendors help others at the marketplace?
They can form an on-site support team to assist with traffic, content creation, breaks, and promotion, which builds goodwill and community leadership.
