There’s nothing like standing in a 10x10 trade show booth, pitching your business over and over again, to learn what actually works. In this episode of Mike and Blaine, we dive into how trade shows act as a powerful marketing forcing function—exposing weak messaging, sharpening your pitch, and teaching you what really makes potential customers stop and listen.
We break down the hidden value of trade shows beyond the leads and the swag bags. Repeating your message 83 times in a single day forces you to refine your words, drop the fluff, and finally ditch that confusing slogan you’ve been clinging to. It’s an intense but invaluable process that reveals the difference between what you think your value proposition is and what your audience actually hears.
Mike and Blaine share stories of their own trade show experiences—the wins, the cringe-worthy fails, and the lessons that every entrepreneur can apply whether they’re on the floor of an expo or simply pitching their business one-on-one. The booth becomes a mirror, showing you where your branding is strong and where it falls flat.
Whether you leave with stacks of new leads, a sharper marketing message, or just the realization that your slogan needs a reboot, trade shows give you something far more valuable than swag: unfiltered customer feedback that hits right at the heart of your brand.
#CustomerAcquisition #TradeShowMarketing #SmallBusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurshipPodcast #MikeAndBlaine
Don't miss the latest insights and entertaining discussions on entrepreneurship, small business, and random BS. Subscribe, follow, and like Mike and Blaine's "Business, Beer, and BS" and catch every episode!
Featured Beer: @burlingtonbeer @estbrew
Mike: Burlington Beer Co. - Uncanny Valley NEIPA
Blaine: The Establishment - Perfect Day Hazy IPA
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qvJpVLoknqo
Thanks to our Beer Sponsors:
• Rachel Barnett from Gentle Frog: youtube.com/@GentleFrog
• Karen Hairston from 3S Smart Consulting: 3ssmartconsulting.com
• Larry Weinstein, the Cash Flow Cowboy in Houston Texas!
• Neighbor Pat
Listen to all our episodes at mikeandblaine.com
cashflowmike.com
dryrun.com
Catch more episodes, see our sponsors and get in touch at https://mikeandblaine.com/
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.