How to Create a Trade Show Planning Chart

Trade shows stand out as powerful marketing tools. Planning a trade show involves a great deal of work. Preparations include preparing advertisements and press announcements, drafting informative literature and distributing promotional items. To make trade show planning a more manageable project, create a chart that identifies and describes each necessary task.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Use PowerPoint or a similar graphics software program. Open a "Blank Document." Insert a title placeholder somewhere in the center of the page. Add the title within the placeholder, "Trade Show Planning."

2. Insert four main text boxes. Connect lines between the title and these four boxes. Use one of the following headings in each box, "Present," "Inform," "Distribute" and "Advertise." Format each box with a different fill color and background to show that each covers a separate topic.

3. Begin the "Present" section. Attach one line with two dotted lines extending from it. Attach one text box to each dotted line. Name the boxes, "Press Interviews" and "Panel Discussion."

4. Create the "Advertise" section. Insert one main line with three dotted lines connected to it. Insert one text box for each dotted line. Title these boxes, "Raffle Prize," "Email Attendees" and "Trade Magazines."

5. Design the "Distribute" subpart. Draw one main line from the subpart title. The number of dotted lines and text boxes connected depend upon the items to be distributed. Examples include t-shirts, pens and buttons.

6. Finish with the "Inform" section. Insert three text boxes in this section. Each should be connected to a dotted line that links one main line to the part's title. Name these three boxes, "Representation," "Flashy Demonstration" and "Large Banner."

Tips & Warnings

• Each text box on the chart should have a boldfaced title and a one sentence summary of the task being identified.