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With only one more week to prepare for MD&M West, there’s just enough time left to finish scheduling meetings, make your packing list, and get your game face ready. To help you maximize your time and minimize your stress, try some of these tips to make your trade show experience more successful.

Before You Arrive
MD&M West features four days of conference sessions and three days to see what more than 1200 exhibitors have to offer. If you haven’t already finished scheduling meetings with the exhibitors and attendees you know you want to see, take a look at the current exhibitor list on the show’s Web site (www.mdmwest.com), which you can peruse by category or alphabetically. Several companies have posted information about products they intend to display during the exposition. You can also learn more about special-focus pavilions and co-located shows that conveniently group related exhibitors to help attendees find exactly what they’re looking for, from quality control and laser technology to electronics and packaging.

Making a packing list can help you prevent overpacking and easily double-check items you may have forgotten. Remember to keep reservation printouts, meeting information, and other work-related documents in your carry-on bag in case something happens to your luggage. For more packing tips, see related article in this edition of the MPMN Advisor.

Last, but definitely not least, get as much sleep as you can. Traveling can drain your body of energy very quickly, so drink plenty of water and go to sleep early to ensure that you’re ready to put your best foot forward on the trade show floor.

While You’re There
Trade show floor maps available on the MD&M West Web site and in the show directory (pick one up on your way into the convention center) are great tools for planning strategic booth visits. Note where your scheduled meetings are and look for other companies you may want to visit that are located in between your meetings. Scheduling specific times for checking your e-mail can also help curtail excessive inbox-checking so that you’re time on the trade show floor is put to best use. Carrying a shoulder bag will save you from having to juggle product literature, notepads, your phone, and your coffee. If you forget one, don't fret; many companies give away handy tote bags at their booths.

An inside tip: The badge holder can be used for more than just holding your badge. Make a short list of things to watch for or booth numbers to remember on the back of a business card and slip it in behind your badge. It’s a great cheat-sheet and beats having to dig those notes out of your bag or fumbling with binders. You can also use it to hold other people’s business cards as they accumulate throughout the day so that you don’t have to search for them later.

Perhaps most importantly, remember to smile and be sincere and professional. The show is full of opportunities to enhance your business so don’t let any stress you may be feeling in your stomach or on your feet show on your face.

After the Show
When the show is over and you’re back in the office, don’t let more than a couple of days pass before you review your notes from your meetings and follow up with potential leads you collected. People are eager to get back to business after the show, but in order to make the best use of the event, you need to chase those leads as soon as possible. A simple e-mail to the effect of ,“it was nice to meet you” or “keep me posted on that thing we discussed” can lead to great returns in the coming months.