It’s important to stand out at a trade show—but not for the wrong reasons. The display you use can make all the difference. A great one can draw in every visitor who walks by; an ineffective one, however, can make you lose most of your foot traffic. If you have an unlimited budget, it’s easy to stand out with a stunning custom display—but not all of us are that lucky. Here are seven tips that will help you dominate your next trade show, regardless of budget.

Keep things simple. Unless you’re using an exceptionally large display space and have a big custom or modular display, it’s important to keep things manageable. Trade show floors are huge, and a small display that’s too cluttered can be overwhelmed by the space itself—and by the surrounding displays. With a smaller space, keep your display streamlined, make sure your banner and background copy is easy to read from a distance and close up, and don’t use graphics that distract from your message.

Incorporate media. It’s never been easier to make media a part of your trade show display. Plasma and LCD screens are lighter and more portable than the bulky TV’s of past eras, and inexpensive, easy-to-use video editing software make it possible for amateurs to compete credibly with the pros. Visitors love to check out cutting-edge technology and be entertained. If you can find a creative and fun way to promote your product using the latest media, you’re sure to attract attention.

Keep it open and welcoming. In most cases, you shouldn’t have a long table in front of your booth—it keeps visitors from coming inside. The secret to a stand-out display is making your booth a space attendees will want to enter, explore, and even interact with. Have a single podium to the side, and make your space open and inviting so that visitors will be drawn inside your booth. The further inside they go, the more chances you’ll have to interact with them, make a good impression, and hopefully make a sale.

Give some thought to lighting. Many pop-ups and other displays will come with a few halogen lights incorporated into the design. But that doesn’t mean you have to stop there. Careful and creative lighting design can add drama to your display space and catch the attention of passing attendees. If you have cabinets or shelves displaying marketing materials or products, add some undercabinet lights to showcase them to best advantage. Uplights—lights shining up from below—can add considerable visual impact to a targeted area of your booth as well.

Make space for attendees to try your product. Visitors will do a lot of looking at trade shows. Stand out by making your booth hands-on. Design a space in your booth for attendees to try out your product and get some firsthand experience of how it works. Even at a trade show with many exhibits that showcase products similar to yours, you’ll stand out by letting visitors actually use your product instead of simply telling them about it.

Choose an unusual shape. If you walk any trade show floor, you’ll probably see a lot of exhibits that look the same. It can be worth your while to choose a booth that gives some unique appeal. You don’t have to spend thousands on a custom display to do it, either—3D pop-up displays are shaped to stand out, in designs that range from round to square to Y-shaped. And they don’t cost much more than a typical pop-up display. With so many businesses using pop-ups, it’s important to make sure yours doesn’t blend in with the crowd.

Use live entertainment. Live entertainment can be a big draw at trade shows. From magic acts to classes and demonstrations, people love to watch a show. It’s important to hire the right people for the job—don’t pick an act that looks amateur. Use entertainment that fits with your industry and demographic, and avoid cheap tricks like shock value and sex appeal unless it fits with your product or industry. When done well, a live show can make your booth a hot spot—but it’s also possible to flop if you don’t choose your entertainment carefully.

Success at a trade show is all about standing out. You can do it with a clean design, a welcoming space, eye-catching visuals, and interesting elements such as media, live entertainment, and hands-on demonstrations. Make your booth unique and interactive, and you’re sure to attract attention and traffic.