Setting SMART Goals for a Successful Exhibition at the Basingstoke Revive+Thrive Show

Exhibiting at the Basingstoke Revive+Thrive Show is an exciting opportunity to showcase your brand, connect with potential customers, and boost your business. However, to make the most of this experience, it’s essential to set clear objectives. That’s where SMART goals come in.

SMART is an acronym that helps you create, track, and accomplish goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These goals ensure you maximize your return on investment (ROI) and leave the event feeling accomplished.

Why Set SMART Goals?

Exhibiting at an event requires time, effort, and money, so having a structured approach ensures that you get the most out of your investment. Without clear goals, it’s easy to attend the event without direction, leading to missed opportunities and wasted resources. SMART goals help you focus, track progress, and evaluate success once the event is over.

Breaking Down SMART Goals

Specific – Define What You Want to Achieve

Be clear about what you want to accomplish at the show. Instead of setting a vague goal like "get more leads," be precise. Ask yourself:

  • What do I want to walk away with?
  • Who do I want to connect with?
  • Am I aiming to sell, generate leads, or increase brand awareness?
  • What actions will I take to reach these goals?

For example, instead of saying, "I want more customers," set a specific goal like, "I want to connect with 50 potential customers and gather their contact details."

Measurable – Set Quantifiable Targets

Numbers are your best friend when tracking success. If your goal is to generate leads, define how many you want to collect. If you aim to make sales, determine your sales target.

Ask yourself:

  • How many leads do I want to collect?
  • How many direct sales do I hope to achieve?
  • How many people do I want to engage with at my stand?

For example, "I will collect contact details from 50 visitors and schedule follow-up calls with at least 20 of them within a week after the event."

Attainable – Keep It Realistic

While ambition is great, setting goals that are impossible to reach will only leave you frustrated. Look at past events or similar experiences to gauge what is realistic.

Ask yourself:

  • Are my targets reasonable based on event size and past experience?
  • Do I have enough team members and resources to meet my goals?
  • Am I overestimating the audience’s willingness to buy on the spot?

For example, if you’re a new business, aiming for 500 leads in one day may be too ambitious. A more attainable goal could be "I want to generate 30 strong leads and sell at least 10 products during the event."

Relevant – Align with Your Business Goals

Make sure your exhibition goals align with your overall business strategy. If your company’s main objective is to grow its online presence, then your exhibition goal might be to increase social media followers rather than drive on-the-spot sales.

Ask yourself:

  • How does this goal contribute to my business growth?
  • Does it align with my current marketing strategy?
  • Is this the right event for my target audience?

For example, "I will promote our new wellness program and encourage at least 100 people to sign up for our newsletter, which aligns with our goal of increasing online engagement."

Time-bound – Set a Deadline

Without deadlines, goals can drag on indefinitely. Set a clear timeline for each objective.

Ask yourself:

  • By when will I achieve these goals?
  • How quickly will I follow up with new leads? Have a set end date for when you want to have got in contact with them by. This is your warning that hot leads go cold very quickly.
  • When will I analyse my event performance?

For example, "Within one week of the event, I will email all leads and schedule at least 10 follow-up calls."

How SMART Goals Improve Your ROI

By using the SMART framework, you can measure your event’s success and determine whether exhibiting was worth the investment. Post-event, review your goals:

  • Did you meet or exceed your lead targets?
  • How many sales did you make?
  • What strategies worked best?
  • What can be improved for future exhibitions?

Final Thoughts

Setting SMART goals before the Basingstoke Revive+Thrive Show will ensure you make the most of your time, resources, and efforts. Whether you want to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or boost sales, having a clear strategy will keep you focused and maximise your success.

Are you ready to make exhibiting at the Basingstoke Revive+Thrive Show a success? Start setting your SMART goals today and make this event work for your business!