More than half of the 214 American companies surveyed are currently exhibiting outside the United States, and nearly seven out of 10 have at least tentative plans to explore foreign markets in the next three years. The majority of marketers venturing outside our borders are doing so because they are targeting clients and prospects from other regions of the globe in an attempt to increase sales, generate brand awareness, and cultivate relationships.

Despite the fact that shipping represents the most significant hurdle to international exhibiting, more than 20 percent of companies still ship their booths overseas. However, nearly half of U.S. companies exhibiting internationally opt instead for rental exhibits or build-and-burn booths to sidestep shipping obstacles altogether.

The following information features data points culled from our 2013 International Exhibiting Survey, including respondents' advice for marketers looking to make their global debut.