Trade show giveaways can be an effective way to draw visitors to your booth, and to keep your name in their minds after the trade show. While some companies prefer to give away as many low budget items as possible (such as pens or notepads), other exhibitors prefer to give away a smaller number of high quality items to attendees.

Before you invest in promotional items and trade show gifts, make sure you understand the goal of your giveaways. If your tradeshow giveaways are designed to bring qualified buyers to your booth, set up your display so that visitors can't simply pick up a gift and leave - make them enter the booth and hear your pitch - that's why you are there!. If your goal is to give away as much stuff as possible without attendees learning about your company - put your items on the edge of your booth so that everyone can take a handful and not learn a thing about your company.

Trade show giveaways can be an effective way to bring potential customers to your display, but as with anything, having the right plan in place can make a difference between a successful show and a failed trade show.