You’ve done it. You’ve committed to working a table at the upcoming chamber of commerce business association event to help push AEP goals. All those local businesses together in one place, and you want to make sure you use this opportunity to expand your networking connections and generate new leads. While this is just one scenario of a table event, including these items in any table event setup will increase the chances of a successful event and meeting your goals.
Branding & Signage
Branding is key to people remembering you and your business. Displaying your logo throughout will help with visibility and awareness. Put your logo on your tablecloth, center it on the front draping to give your table a professional look.
Invest in a single-sided retractable banner. These banners generally stand about 33 inches tall, are low-cost, portable, and comes with hardware and stand. They are great for providing large-scale graphics that draw the eye. Create colorful and stylish messaging that highlights your services and logo.
In addition, use a separate tabletop sign to highlight your services or general plans. While you cannot use carrier logos or plan information without approval from the Carrier and CMS, you can create a direct and focused message that encourages conversation. This provides another focal point for attendees to get information at a glance.
Print Collateral
Focus your print material on a select few brochures, flyers, and informational sheets. Displaying just a few print collateral pieces on your table keeps things organized and clean-looking while providing supporting information. Consider creating an all-in-one brochure that highlights your specialized services and generalizes the types of plans you work with. You won’t be able to use the carrier logo or plan specifics, but you can use broad descriptions that cover a wide range of plans. For example, you can use bullet descriptions to touch on the range of plans you work with as a whole:
- Medicare Advantage plans with plenty of extra benefits.
- A variety of options for Special Needs plans.
- 24/7 nurse line and medication programs.
Be sure the collateral pieces you feature at the event are relevant to your audience, have your contact information and logo, and are up to date.
Business cards and lead contact forms are another must at any table event. Place your cards in business card holders in various locations on the table. Having business cards and forms at both ends of the table and in the middle makes it easy to grab them no matter where you are standing when speaking with attendees.
Promotional and Raffle Items
Every table event should include promotional items and a raffle item to catch the attention of attendees and draw people to your table. There is no limit to the number of promotional items you can have. Generally speaking, limiting your promotional items to one or two items makes it easier to keep things stocked and can be more cost-efficient when ordering in bulk. Keep in mind there is usually industry compliance to keep give-away item(s) value to $15 per person.
Use everyday items (like pens, small keychain flashlights, magnet clips, etc.) that have your logo will keep attendees remembering you long after the event is over—having a 2-tier system (a low-cost item like pens, and then a slightly higher-end item like water bottles will give you options for distributing your items.
One strategy is to try using a fun game or activity to engage attendees and encourage conversation. A prize wheel with mostly pens in the slots and a random water bottle slot will give attendees something to cheer about. Create a trivia board with one or two health questions: Who needs more sleep at night, men or women? Which gender has difficulty hearing high-pitched or low-pitched sounds? Correct guesses receive a water bottle, and wrong guesses receive a pen Fun health facts could be a lead-in for conversations about supplement plans.
Creating a simple gift basket or having an item to raffle off at the end of the event can be a game-changer in drawing attention to your table. Putting together a gift basket doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Check your circle of friends to see if anyone is willing to donate a product or service as a partnership for additional promotion. Let them know you have a table at the event and would be happy to list that their company donated the item in your signage.
Or put together a themed basket of a few items that would be useful. Items inside the gift basket cannot be cash or of any direct monetary value such as a gift card. But there are many different ways you can theme a gift basket. For example, a health-themed basket could include your water bottle with logo, hot/cold gel eye mask, candle, decorative hand towel, hand sanitizer, and lotion.
Find a basket or bucket container from a store like TJ Max or Ross to display everything. Set a small box under the table cloth to act as a platform to raise your raffle basket. When you design a gift basket, remember the $15 per person compliance rule and request the expected attendee list/count to keep on file along with any receipts for the items you purchased in the event of any CMS auditing.
The Small Details
There are a few additional smaller items that give your table that special touch compared to your neighbors. Put a nice bowl of candy on your table. Mints or chocolates are always a favorite. When it goes on sale after a holiday, buy a big bag in bulk and make sure the candy is individually wrapped.
People are also appreciative of having a box of tissue and hand sanitizer available. With these suggestions, your table is set for success. Accompany your table set-up with a friendly smile and wear your name tag! Table event opportunities can provide a boost for networking and lead generation. Use these suggestions to set your table up for success at your next event.
