Marketing

1. Announce the booth
   Tweet or blog about your presence at the convention. Let people know what they can expect if they drop by your booth, and get them excited about it!
2. Keep your brand on point
   If people can’t read your logo, they won’t remember your name. Use consistent colors, fonts, and imagery to make your signage, handouts, and business cards coherent and professional. And cover that ugly table with a tablecloth.
3. Design banners
   Large-format graphics give your booth a sense of epic scale. Be big and bold, and prioritize visibility. Keep your designs simple – nobody wants to squat down to read your fine print. Consider retractable banners for easier transport.
4. Hand out freebies
   People love swag. Free postcards, posters, buttons, and temp tattoos are an easy way to attract attention and pitch your paid offerings. Buy in bulk for bigger discounts. Also, keep in mind that some cons ban stickers.
5. Include contact info
   People want to be able to follow you easily. Include your website, Facebook, Twitter handle, or Kickstarter link on everything you hand out. Display QR codes. Invite folks snap a quick photo of anything they like.
6. Offer promotions
   Use raffles and competitions to encourage repeat visits. Entice instant purchases with discounts or pre-sales. Give free posters or pins to existing customers. Use your imagination.
7. Sell merch
   Unconventional items that tie into your creations really stand out. T-shirts, hoodies, hats, totes, patches, toys and statues can help offset convention costs. If you have merch rewards for a Kickstarter, consider bulk purchasing some extras to sell.
8. …or Don’t sell merch
   Every pound of physical goods costs money to ship or haul. Estimate the cost of the merch versus the potential sales figures. When will you’ll break even on it? Where will you store it in the booth? What if you don’t sell anything?
   

Game Dev Specifics

1. Build your press kit
   Journalists hate hunting down game assets. Make their job easier, and they’ll be more likely to actually try your game. Build a quality press kit in no time »
2. Prep download codes
   People also love free games. Take a stack of business cards and put free download codes on the back. Give them to your biggest fans and press evangelists. Trust us, it will go a long way.