If you’re not laser-focused on your priorities, ARA might just slip you by.
Hi y’all,
Last week, we talked about SMART goals and how they can guide your business priorities. This week, let’s take those goals to the ARA Show 2025 (or any industry show you may be headed to this year!).
Timing matters
Trade shows can be an excellent way to catch up with industry friends and make new ones, but (in my opinion) that’s not a good enough reason to go. These events are a big disruption from your normal day-to-day flow, so make sure you and your team have the bandwidth to invest the time to be present. If not, consider catching next year’s event.
Know your priorities
Trade shows are packed with opportunities — but not all of them are right for you. Let your goals guide every “yes” or “no.” Even before you get to the show floor, make sure you check each event against your goals.
Are you looking to upgrade your inventory or explore new software? Or maybe you’re focused on building relationships and expanding your network. Does the show you want to attend offer the best opportunities to pursue those goals?
I’ll give you an example: When our team at Goodshuffle decided to attend the ARA Show, we knew it’d be a great place to showcase Dispatch, our newest feature. So, we invested in a bigger booth, upped our marketing spend, and sent more team members to get the most out of our demos (visit us at Booth #557!) 🚚
Get strategic with your schedule
If you’re bringing new team members to a conference as a learning experience, educational sessions and networking events can help them build confidence and industry knowledge. If you’re an industry veteran, you may want to instead focus on connecting with specific vendors or peers.
But before committing to an event or meeting, ask yourself:
- Is this conference the only opportunity I have to connect with this person?
- If I attend this meeting, will the learnings be something I have the capacity and budget to act on now?
- Will this help me achieve the goals I set for this show?
And finally, don’t forget to pace yourself. The trade show floor is exciting, but overloading your schedule can leave you burnt out — and your business still needs you next week!
See you next Tuesday,
Mallory Mullen
Goodshuffle
