January 3, 2026 Convention, Tradeshow, and Expo Marketing

When you picture the energy of Indiana’s bustling convention scene, images of sprawling expo halls and crowds from every industry come to mind. These are moments of concentrated opportunity, where every brand jostles for eyeballs and engagement. Yet, while many send flashy booths and overworked promo teams, a growing number of ambitious brands are skipping the predictable and injecting real character into their presence with guerrilla marketing. These unconventional methods bring brands closer to attendees—sometimes quite literally, right on the sidewalk or under their feet.
American Guerrilla Marketing stands at the heart of this movement, uniquely primed to make tradeshows, conventions, and expos throughout Indiana into vibrant canvases for memorable campaigns. Whether you’re eyeing the famous Farm Progress Show’s buzzing rural crowds, the high-energy circuit of Gen Con, or the innovative floors of Indy PopCon, guerrilla marketing tactics can take your interactions from transactional to transformational.
Indiana’s tradeshow circuit attracts buyers, sellers, and thought leaders from all corners of the country. Standing out means more than just having the best booth graphics or trinkets. Guerrilla marketing introduces your brand directly into the flow of traffic, fostering moments that stick long after the event ends.
The Farm Progress Show draws an audience passionate about agriculture and ag-tech. Imagine attendees leaving the main exhibition, only to find branded sidewalk stencils—sprouting witty agrarian slogans—guiding them to nearby coffee stops, each table lined with custom-branded beer coasters or leave-behind flyers. Local restaurants near the fairgrounds become impromptu pop-up gallery spaces with wild posting or wheat-pasted posters that transform plain walls into bold showcases of your products.
Targeting home improvement enthusiasts, this show is prime for guerrilla marketing that feels tactile and personal. Picture snipes—those short, punchy posters—strategically placed at entryways, or branded decals directing families to try samples at nearby partner stores.
Personal connections are everything among fishing and outdoor aficionados. Engage them through what feels like chance encounters rather than overt sales pitches.
Facing stiff competition among high-tech gadgets, your marketing needs to feel as innovative as the latest tech.
Travel and adventure are the currency of this lively gathering. Capture the spirit of the open road with attention-grabbing tactics that move with the crowd.
Expos in Indiana pull together hyper-engaged crowds from sectors like gaming, fitness, food, and technology. For brands looking to turbocharge their engagement, guerrilla marketing transforms fleeting encounters into shareable experiences and new relationships.
With the country’s top tabletop gaming fans flocking to Indianapolis each year, Gen Con Indy is a magnet for creativity. It’s the ideal setting for playful, imaginative guerrilla marketing approaches.
Pop culture covers a massive spectrum, and attendees are always on the lookout for surprise activations.
Every corner near the Indiana Convention Center can become your brand’s stage during comic con season.
Full of energetic people with an appetite for new ideas in health, nutrition, and fitness, this expo is ripe for innovative guerrilla marketing.
B2B expos benefit from memorable engagement as much as B2C.
Major conventions draw passionate communities: they’re perfect venues for unexpected, high-impact guerrilla marketing. Whether your audience is highly technical, deeply creative, or socially active, the right tactics can break through to the emotional core.
The annual car show fills the Indiana Convention Center with automotive lovers and industry insiders eager to make connections.
This vibrant event honors African-American culture and achievement, drawing a diverse crowd over several days of programming.
Boasting a blend of creators and fans, this gathering is an incredible platform for eye-catching interventions.
One of the largest student conventions nationwide, the FFA gathering is packed with young leaders and educators in agriculture.
This event is a magnet for retro gamers and industry insiders alike.
Here’s a quick reference for key guerrilla marketing tools that make a statement across conventions, expos, and tradeshows in Indiana:
| Service | Description | Activation Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Posting | Eye-catching posters in high-traffic areas. | Hotel corridors, cafes, bus stops |
| Wheat Pasting | Artistic poster layers on blank city walls. | Art walks, event routes |
| Sidewalk Stencils | Branded and creative graphics on walkways. | Main entrances, city sidewalks |
| Decals | Removable, shaped designs for floors and windows. | Venue lobbies, adjacent hotels |
| Snipes | Punchy, impactful mini-posters. | Elevators, entryways |
| Projections | Animated/video brand messages on building exteriors. | Nighttime, event spaces |
| Branded Coasters | Custom drink coasters for bars/restaurants. | Hotel bars, local eateries |
| Pedicabs | Custom-rigged bike taxis with driver branding. | Downtown routes, hotel shuttles |
| Flyer Distribution | Hand-delivered or placed print collateral. | Street corners, shuttle stops |
| LED Trucks | Mobile displays for video, live feeds, and announcements. | Venue exteriors, main arteries |
Injecting authenticity, surprise, and local flavor into your marketing efforts fires up curiosity and builds emotional connections with your audience. The Indiana convention circuit is fertile ground for brands eager to capture attention and embed themselves into the collective memory of attendees.
Ready to ignite your next campaign? To create buzz at your next Indiana convention, reach out to Campaign Architect [email protected] at American Guerrilla Marketing, and shape an experience as bold and unique as your vision.