Disability expos are an excellent way to connect with the community and get your products or services in front of the people who need them. They’re also a whole lot of fun! With over 29 disability expos across Australia this year, you’re likely to find some that suit your needs.
Here are our top tips for exhibiting at disability exhibitions, so you have the best chance of achieving your goals for the event.
1. Plan ahead of the event
Like with anything, planning ahead will set you up for success. Make sure you leave enough time so you’re not rushing close to the event date.
Here are some things you can do to plan:
- Set goals for what you want to achieve on the day, such as connecting with NDIS participants and other providers or getting your organisation’s name out there.
- Do some research to make sure you choose the right stall size and location for your company.
- Decide on your company’s messaging and branding, and organise any flyers, stickers or other marketing materials that you want to have there.
2. Make sure your stall is accessible
It’s important to make sure your booth design is accessible to people with disabilities. Some things to consider in this planning include:
- Providing enough space for people to move around the stall.
- Making sure the stall is wheelchair accessible.
- Ensuring your materials and signage are readable.
- Making sure your stall is easy to navigate.
- Ensuring any activities you have at the booth are appropriate for a range of ages and abilities.
3. Know your audience
Knowing more about your audience will help you better communicate with them on the day. There are a lot of stalls at expos, and attendees are on the hunt for answers and solutions for things they need. Knowing your audience simply means understanding them as people and how your product or service can fit into their lives.
Think about your flyers, signage, booth activities and even the way you describe your business. All these should clearly communicate your understanding of your audience and what they’re looking for.
4. Have some fun giveaways or activities for the table
You might like to offer some fun activities or giveaways at your stall to encourage people to stop by your booth and start a conversation. The activities you choose should reflect the main audience and theme of the expo - for example is it mainly for families and kids?
Some ideas include:
- Face painting
- Balloon art
- Colouring in or other arts and crafts
- Branded pens, notebooks or other handy knick-knacks
- Temporary tattoos
- Networking opportunities
- Games that offer prizes or giveaways
- Photo booth
5. Use social media to connect with your audience
Social media is a great tool for connecting with attendees before, during and after the expo. You can share photos and updates to platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, and consider using relevant hashtags to help your business be seen on social media.
We’ve written some tips for using social media in our article about how to connect with NDIS participants.
6. Provide clear information about your service or product
When thinking about your stall and marketing materials, consider using clear visuals, diagrams and interactive displays to help get your message across. And always write and speak in plain English - avoid using jargon or technical language that may be difficult to understand.
7. Be friendly and approachable
A little friendliness goes a long way at disability expos (and any other expo!). Make sure your team on the day is not just knowledgeable about your product or service, but open to starting conversations and making people feel welcome. It’s a good idea to meet with other staff before the day to discuss how you will approach the expo, and what your goals for the day are.
8. Use inclusive and respectful language
Your materials and how you speak on the day should respect the dignity and agency of people with disabilities. Avoid any stigmatising language. As a quick check, always ask yourself, ‘Would I say this about someone without a disability?’
The Australian government has put together a guide for best-practice language when talking about people with disabilities. This doesn’t reflect each person’s preference when talking about their own disability, so be open to constantly learning and adjusting.
More importantly, consult or reference people with disabilities or disability organisations to make sure the way you communicate is helpful, respectful and appropriate.
9. Engage with other exhibitors
It’s worthwhile engaging with other exhibitors at the expo. This can help you get a better understanding of the disability sector, build relationships, learn about new products and services and potentially identify new partnership opportunities.
On the day, go for a walk around the expo hall and exchange flyers or business cards to people you speak to, so you can get in contact after the event.
10. Follow up with attendees
Following up with attendees who expressed interest in your product or service can help build relationships and lead to new opportunities. There are lots of ways to get in touch with people after the event, including replying on social media, sending emails or scheduling follow up meetings.
A well-rounded approach to meeting new NDIS participants involves being present offline and online. At HeyHubble we’ve made the online part easy, by personally matching quality service providers directly to NDIS participants based on their requests. You can see the types of NDIS providers we connect people with here.
You can sign up to HeyHubble for free or send us an email at providers@heyhubble.com.au. Ask us anything!
