“Trade shows are some of the best places to make relationships within your industry, whether it’s because you identified a new lead or chased down people you wanted to connect with. Trade shows are lands of opportunity,” Entrepreneur.com contributor Stephen Key wrote in his article “Save Big on Trade Shows, Then Work Your Magic.” Check out these tips he’s picked up over 25 years of attending trade shows, to get the most, and the most value, from your trade show experience:

Pick the right trade show. “The best way to identify the tradeshow that you’re going to get the most out of it is by reading the list of exhibitors,” Key says. Since you probably won’t have the opportunity to go to multiple shows in a year, you’ll want to choose the one that offers the most vendors and learning experiences.

Register in advance. Benefits of registering early include lower attendance fees, getting your pass in the mail so you can avoid waiting in lines when you get there, and having a better shot at the most convenient hotel accommodations.

Book your hotel and flight together. If you’re not able to get a special room block hotel rate, you should be able to save a few bucks by booking your flight and hotel as a package.

Map out which booths you’re going to hit and in what order. Sure, you’ll want to do some browsing, but you should at least make a general plan of booths you want to visit and people you want to talk to. It will be a hectic time for vendors as well of course, so if you want to have extended discussions schedule meetings in advance. Same goes for other attendees that you want to get it touch with.

Get there early. You’ll be able to have more valuable interactions when it’s not as crowded. And a side note on packing: Make sure your clothes are comfortable, (especially your shoes) but that doesn’t mean not to dress well. Anywhere you go, people will treat you differently based on the way you’re dressed.

Click here to read the article from Inc.com.

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