Top Strategies for Exhibitor Success
Boost your EDspaces investment.
Congratulations on securing your presence at EDspaces 2025! Whether you want to break into the education sector, connect with key decision-makers, or reinforce your market position, exhibiting is the first step toward reaching your goals.
So, what comes next? That’s what we’ll cover in this guide. Success takes more than showing up. It takes showing up prepared with a winning strategy.
Quick Start:
How to Use This Guide
This Exhibitor Kit will walk you through everything from booth prep to marketing to meeting scheduling. Whether this is your first time exhibiting or you’ve been part of EDspaces for years, this playbook will help you stay on track.
Deadlines and remindersHow-to guides for logistics, shipping, ordering and booth prepPromotional assets to amplify your presenceTools to schedule and execute high-impact sales meetingsIt’s everything you need to plan like a pro. Let’s make your investment count.
First, Define Your “Why”
Before you dive into the logistics, take a moment to establish your goals. Below are three questions to set you on the right track.
The answers will help inform every aspect of your presence.
- Why is EDspaces the right platform for your company?
- What two to three outcomes would signify a successful return on your investment?
- Who are the key people to engage — and what insights should they take away?
Once you have your answers, you can start building the foundation of a strategy that achieves exceptional results with intentionality.
Activate Your EDspaces Strategy
You’re nearly ready to tackle the “how.” To ensure you have a rock-solid foundation to build on, make sure you
Have your top outcomes clearly outlined.Share your goals with your entire booth staff.Consider which customers you want to meet with most.Beyond the Booth: Leveraging the EDspaces Advantage
Your booth is more than just square footage. It’s a direct reflection of your brand and your potential impact. That’s true at any event — but EDspaces is so much more than a typical trade show. It’s a curated, appointment-driven experience designed to connect you directly with the people actively shaping educational environments.
Ready to maximize your ROI? Scroll through to discover three top strategies to level up your investment.
Schedule Meetings
Yes, compelling products and booth design will attract attendees to your booth. But why leave engagement to chance when you can take a proactive approach? The most successful exhibitors consistently schedule intentional, qualified meetings in advance — often before they even arrive at the event.
Scheduling meetings early means you can:
- Build trust through focused one-on-one time.
- Deepen conversations beyond quick booth visits.
- Dramatically increase your return on investment.
Beyond the Booth: Leveraging the EDspaces Advantage
Your booth is more than just square footage. It’s a direct reflection of your brand and your potential impact. That’s true at any event — but EDspaces is so much more than a typical trade show. It’s a curated, appointment-driven experience designed to connect you directly with the people actively shaping educational environments.
Ready to maximize your ROI? The secret to leveling up your investment lies in these three strategies:
Take Advantage of Full Conference Access
Every booth package at EDspaces includes full conference registrations. This means your team can attend the same valuable education sessions as your prospective customers. Not only does this foster familiarity and trust but it often leads to some of the most meaningful conversations — whether in sessions, back in your booth, or even at the hotel bar.
Beyond the Booth: Leveraging the EDspaces Advantage
Your booth is more than just square footage. It’s a direct reflection of your brand and your potential impact. That’s true at any event — but EDspaces is so much more than a typical trade show. It’s a curated, appointment-driven experience designed to connect you directly with the people actively shaping educational environments.
Ready to maximize your ROI? The secret to leveling up your investment lies in these three strategies:
Harness the Power of In-Booth Meetings
EDspaces offers a distinct advantage: the ability to host semi-private, scheduled meetings directly in your booth or in a dedicated meeting room. These can be conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, with in-booth meetings also available after exhibit hours on Wednesday. We provide a registration list (for those who’ve opted in) to help you get started.
Exhibitors who use this tool consistently report:
Higher ROIIncreased booth footprints year after yearMeetings so critical, they would reconsider exhibiting without them
Smart Prep Leads to Standout Results
Let’s turn your vision into reality! The rest of this kit gives you the tools for executing your booth and marketing plans. From ordering furniture to downloading promotional assets, this is your one-stop resource.
Promote Your Presence Early and Often
Don’t stop at the provided attendee list! Reach out to your own network and amplify your results. Research shows it often takes multiple marketing touches before someone acts — so don’t wait to start promoting your presence. And remember, consistency pays off!
Design Custom Invites
Our Custom Invitation Program features everything you need to create and share high-impact promotions tailored to your company, including customized emails, landing pages and social sharing invitations. These free tools don’t just help you get the message out — they help you get noticed. Enhance your marketing with assets like the 2025 floor plan, EDspaces highlight reel video, official show logos and more.
Be sure to spread the word — and remember to include your exclusive link to register so your guests can receive $100 off all passes!
What to Expect: Before, During and After the Show
Before The Show
Update your company profile in the Exhibitor Console. This is crucial! It’s the only way attendees can find your company in the Show Directory, connectED mobile app, or Exhibitor List online. You can add company photos, videos, press releases, show specials and more to create a robust profile. Get step-by-step instructions to update your exhibitor information.
Add key deadlines to your calendar.
If you’re not using the show’s official contractors, follow the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Process.
Design your booth and order necessary services using the EDspaces Service Manual.
Incorporate hands-on experiences to enhance attendees’ perception of your brand — 95% of attendees say it’s easier to determine if a product or service is a good fit from hands-on experiences, according to Freeman research.
Promote your event presence and invite customers and prospects with the EDspaces Customer Invitation Program.
Reserve meeting time with customers ahead of the show to ensure you have the opportunity to connect on-site.
Train staff on product details, booth layout and booth etiquette — keep phones put away (other than for collecting leads). 
Choose team members who are enthusiastic and knowledgeable and assign roles (e.g., greeter, product expert).
Practice asking open-ended questions and using active listening skills to facilitate meaningful conversations.During The Show
Arrive early during set-up hours — follow logistics in the Service Manual for smooth installation.
Keep your booth tidy, welcoming and staffed with knowledgeable team members ready to engage. If attendees don’t get the answers they’re looking for in your booth, they’ll find them somewhere else.
Ensure your most promising customers have the time and space for focused conversations! Schedule meetings in your booth or a private room before or after exhibit hours by completing the Sales Meeting Reservation Form.
Network, collect leads and take notes on promising conversations using the official connectED app.After The Show
Debrief with your team: What worked? What can you improve for next time?
Follow up with leads when the event is fresh in everyone’s minds — and personalize your outreach for best results. Check out the Increasing Your Leads page for tips.
Review your results against goals to measure ROI. Sending a post-show survey can offer insightful feedback for next time.
Key Deadlines to Know
Wednesday, October 22 | Attendee list share with exhibitors
Friday, October 24 | Advance pricing for in-booth meeting ends
Wednesday, October 29 | All comp badges end. After that date, any remaining comp badges are forfeited. Thank you for your understanding.
New to Exhibiting?
Freeman also offers a robust first-time exhibitor checklist to get trade-show ready.
Meet Your Exhibitor Services Contact
Joe Tucker[email protected]
Charlie Reynolds[email protected]