A table top display offers many advantages. First, its small size and compact nature make it easily portable in almost any circumstance. Secondly, it is perhaps the most affordable style of exhibit. And finally, it's among the most dynamic when well designed. The key question is: does your company design team have what it takes to make a small trade show display stand out? Although the task is not an easy one, putting in the time to make your exhibit great is worth it. With proper preparation and a little bit of creativity, virtually any company can get the most out of a tabletop exhibit.

Tip #1: Pick One Design Focus

The most common mistake first time table top display designers make is that they attempt to give their booth too broad a central theme. When you have limited space, you need to limit the scope of what you're addressing down to one specific focus. Many companies find that they have the most successful design experience when they distill the actual message of the booth into a single sentence. For example, your message might be "our product is the reliable choice," and you would structure everything around that one idea. Or you might want to communicate "our product is the most fun." Whatever your goal, you should always have it in mind during the design process. Your trade show display should be created to reflect that statement first and foremost.

Tip #2: Add Visual Interest

Visual interest is the glamorous appearance that should be added once the core facts of the booth have been determined. Any visual interest you add should never be allowed to overwhelm your message; if it does, you'll be confusing your potential visitors and diluting what you want to convey. Instead, think of ways that you can incorporate dynamic visuals and multimedia to enhance and enrich your message.

One great way to accomplish this goal is by actually bringing in a sample of whatever product you're offering or demonstrating your service. Many products are small enough to fit at the base of an exhibit, where they will draw attention from passerby and immediately begin promoting the message you determined at the beginning of the process.

Tip #3: Don't Overuse Text

It's tempting to use large blocks of text to help promote your product and your message. Unfortunately, too many companies discover too late that such a technique will actually do more harm than good. People are put off by a large wall of text; if they think it's too much, they won't attempt to read it, and your great trade show display will go unnoticed. Luckily, there's an easy fix for it: just avoid big blocks of text! You should limit yourself to a few lines in any given area, and ensure ample space between different paragraphs. If you need to write more, use brochures. They're meant to be taken home with visitors anyway, which makes them a strong marketing tool for after the show.

Customize Your Table Top Display

Following these tips will lead to a well designed table top display, but there's one key feature that may be missing: that personalized spark that takes your booth over the top. This spark will only come from the creativity within your company, and it shouldn't be constrained by suggestions. In the end, your table top display should be as unique as your company is, and it should fit in perfectly with the values your company promotes. When these two align, the table top display is at its most effective, and your company is reaping the biggest rewards it can.