You've got an important trade show coming up in a few months. There'll be thousands of people attending this show important people in your industry - decision makers. You need to make the best impression possible. So how do you do that? With an eye-catching, professional trade show booth.

But it seems like there are half a bazillion trade show booth options to choose from. You can get a portable trade show booth in just about any size, with nearly any configuration of components - on a budget or over the top. So, with all those choices, how do you pick the one that's right for you and for your business? First of all, you want to consider size, style and price range.

Trade show booths come in all shapes and sizes: You can go with a small 10x10-foot booth or a monster 30x100-foot booth that will dwarf all the surrounding displays. You can even splurge on an extravagant 50x50-foot booth. Of course, the booth you select (or design) will ultimately rest on the needs of your business, its overall corporate style and budgetary constraints.

There are nearly as many styles to choose from as there are companies participating in trade shows. You can get a simple booth with a backdrop and maybe wings on either side and perhaps a countertop or two. Or you can go all out and custom design a really elaborate booth with display areas, conference space and a reception foyer.

You'll want to configure your trade show booth to be inviting and approachable - but you also want it to appropriately characterize your business. Make sure the style of your booth suitably represents the company, its products and goals.

Portable trade show booths come in an enormous range of styles, sizes - which means they also come in a wide range of prices. You can get a perfectly serviceable trade show booth for well under $500.

On the other hand, you can go all out and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a custom-built bi-level trade show booth with dozens of options and features. Of course, unless you happen to be in charge of marketing for Microsoft or Ford, that might not be an option you can consider.

However, somewhere between "bare bones" and "wildly outlandish" lies a grey area that comfortably encompasses many companies' marketing budgets. This mid range includes a variety of nicely equipped booths that can appropriately depict your company's style and corporate image without putting a huge dent in your budget.

And whatever size and style you go with, the one thing you want to do is ensure your trade show booth meets your needs and represents your firm well within your particular industry. If you choose wisely, you'll have a portable trade show booth you can be proud of for years into the future.

When it's time to shop for a portable trade show booth, look no further than Expo Marketing (www.expomarketing.com). Their idea gallery is filled with every conceivable configuration of trade show booth - and their design pros will work with you to ensure you get the design the works best for you.