Generate more business, meet new potential clients, announce your expertise in the field. These are just a few reasons why businesses organize or participate in exhibitions. But what is it that motivates visitors to leave the comfort of their homes or offices and drive all the way to the exhibition ground to attend your exhibitions?

Visitors at exhibitions are unique as are their reasons to attend. By understanding what motivates them, you can learn how to serve them better. Thus, enabling you to target them more effectively and generate more business.

This article is a short compilation of reasons 'why' visitors attend expos. We hope it provides you with greater insights into the minds of your potential clients and customers.

1. Sourcing Information
An expo is usually the most cost effective means of sourcing products, services and information.

Many visitors attend exhibitions to source information - product and supplier information as an exhibition typically have a variety of vendors and exhibitors belonging to a particular industry. For example, a hospitality expo will have vendors exhibiting everything from bathroom fixtures and bed linen to kitchen supplies and gym equipment. Thus, enabling an hotelier to source all types of products and services for his hotel in one go.

2. What's New - Trends and Developments
An expo is the most effective way to keep up to date with new technologies & innovations.

Every day new and improved products are developed and many companies deem expos as the perfect pad to launch these products and hold conferences and seminars that let visitors examine these innovations. By attending expos, visitors keep abreast to the latest trends, developments and innovations within their industry. They also get direct access to the suppliers of said leading technology.

3. Evaluating Products, Services and Suppliers
An expo has highly targeted audience of specific industry professionals.

Visitors often have a list of products and services that they are looking for. By attending expos, they have the opportunity to examine, compare and evaluate the products and services of competitive suppliers. It also serves as an opportunity to get a feel of the product, check out the supplier and gain answers to any and all queries before a decision to purchase is made.

4. Networking & Building Relationships
An expo is a focal point for industry, attracting a broad cross-section of representatives, from buyers and sellers to trade associations and the media.

By attending expos, visitors have the opportunity to network, consolidate business relationships, solve specific problems, find new markets, discuss specific terms/conditions/pricing, obtain technical knowledge and discuss business needs in a neutral environment and more.

As an event organizer or an exhibitor, keeping in mind the visitor’s expectations will help you plan your pitch around their needs and organize a successful event.