Trade Show Tip  
Good Manners - Like your personal appearance, your manners give people an immediate impression of your stature in life and in your company.

• Stand up straight. Smile and be pleasant.
  
• Keep your hands out of your pockets – don’t jiggle coins and keys.
  
• Put your business cards in your right pocket so you can make a smooth move – hand in right pocket, pull out business card, transfer to left hand, shake hands, present card and introduce yourself. Put the visitor’s card in your left pocket for follow-up.

• Wash your hands with soap after eating and using the restroom. Use a non-oily, fragrance-free hand lotion afterwards. (Remember – you will shake hands with hundreds of people at a trade show. New germs are showing up around the world every day. Washing your hands is the single most basic and important health precaution you can take.)
  
• Keep your language clean. Swearing and profanity are signs you can’t think of anything else to say. You never know who you will offend, or who will overhear you.
  
• Brush after every meal – carry breath mints and use them discretely.
  
• Even if you sell it, don’t chew gum in public.
  
• Don’t eat those smelly foods you love. No garlic, onions, peppers – anything that can cling to your clothes or breath,  (despite brushing and mints).
  
• Keep the jokes you tell clean and politically correct. And, no, you don’t have to laugh at or agree with jokes and statements you find offensive – even when told by a prospective client.

Mother told you not to talk to strangers. Use your good judgment and street smarts. On the show floor, strangers can be clients or competitors. No matter, it’s important for you to make a professional first impression.
 
For more tips on the power of 1-to-1 marketing read The Trade Show Reader by Julia O’Connor available at her website: http://www.TradeShowTraining.com .