Here are a few budget-conscious tips to consider while designing your exhibit:

- Plan your entire annual show schedule at one time (or even better your schedule for the next 3 years). This includes planning all of your potential booth sizes and trying to design these with the greatest number of common parts.

- If you exhibit at many shows, it is usually more cost-effective for you to buy your exhibit. However, if you exhibit at one show that is much bigger than the rest, it makes more sense to rent the additional parts to fill out your space for that one show.

- Make sure you put aside 1-3% of your budget to track what is and isn’t working. This way you can trim the fat for the next show or next year and focus on what is making you money.

- You can have an attractive, functional, lightweight modular exhibit (even for islands) that could save you up to 50% on your shipping and drayage costs. Those savings can be kept or spent in more productive areas such as graphics, promotions, staffing or ROI measurement.

If you notice, the biggest commonality when it comes to frugal exhibiting is planning. The earlier and more detailed the plan, the less room for costly mistakes.

Ah, the tabletop. The underdog of the trade show circuit. Although many may think that the smaller the exhibit, the less ROI, they are mistaken. Your tabletop display can be just as effective as an exhibit 10 times its size - if you know the right way to work it. Following are the Top Ten Tips for Tabletops (say that 5 times fast) from the January issue of Exhibitor Magazine.

1. Select one main image—Make sure your graphics convey who you are and what you at a glance. A bigger, simpler image is better. Stay away from busy designs.

2. Limit your text, aim high—Keep your text from about 6-10 words in length and place it in the top 2 feet of your display.

3. Select proper fonts—Skip the artsy fonts, make sure your font color is easy to read on the background, and make the font big enough. Basically make it legible.

4. Try different positions—Consider moving your tabletop from the back of your space up to the forefront. Bring it closer to your prospective customers.

5. Cut the clutter—It’s already a small space, don’t make it worse by including things you don’t need. Take out chairs, desks, and other furniture.

6. Light it up—If you want people to see your display, you must light it. It’s recommended to use two 100 or 200-watt bulbs, or use a tabletop with a bubble, backlit panel.

7. Train your staff—Since you have such a small space, your staff is really where most of your focus should go. Make sure they are well-versed in your company’s mission as well as all things trade show. The best number of staffers is two, but not in the booth at the same time.

8. Promote—Just because you have a smaller display doesn’t mean you should cut out your pre-, at-, and post-show promotions. You need to let people know who you are and where you’ll be.

9. Create an illusion—Get a table skirt that is the same color as the majority of your display. This gives the illusion of having a full-height 10×10 exhibit.

10. Consider add-ons—While you should always try to keep it simple, there are a few add-ons that may be useful. Think about getting a header, a portable DVD player for presentations, or small uncluttered product shelves.

Just because you have a smaller space doesn’t mean you can’t compete with the big dogs.

It’s a brand new year. A fresh slate, a new beginning. By this time you probably have a pretty clear idea of your goals for this year and you have a budget and strategy for carrying your business to the next level. But have you thought about your exhibiting for this upcoming year?

I know what many of you are thinking. Budgets may be tighter this year and you don’t have the money to redo your entire exhibit. But a little change goes a long way and it doesn’t have to break the bank. The easiest way to revamp your exhibit is to update your graphics. Here are some signs that you should consider changing your graphics:

- Your company logo, branding, or brand positioning has changed. This is a must. While making such a sweeping change within your company you may have overlooked your exhibit. Make sure that your message is the same across all of your

- You use the same graphics at each show. This may not be as pressing as the first example, but it still bears consideration. If you exhibit at more than one show, chances are there are differences in the demographics of the attendees. You want to make sure that your graphics are targeting the right groups.

- You’ve had the same graphics for a few years. If people have seen the same thing at the same shows for the past few years, chances are they are just going to walk right by you. Go for something different and eye-catching to grab those attendees right into your space.

New graphics can change the entire look and feel of your exhibit and they will help you realize your goals for this new year without exploding your budget. You’ll be on the road to better, more profitable exhibiting in 2008.