Cash in on conferences

Whether you attend a conference as a speaker or an attendee, they are an investment.

An investment of your company's dollars and time spent away from the office. So how do you get the most from that investment?

 

If you are a presenter:

~ Make receiving the attendees list part of your up front negotiation.

~ Collect business cards during your session and tie it to a giveaway.

~ Follow up within the first week, before they forget how much they learned from you.

~ Offer extra value - a newsletter, white paper etc. that can be requested.

~ Elicit feedback on how your presentation could be better so you can improve it for next time.

~ Always bring handouts that go into more depth than you can manage in a presentation.

If you are an attendee:

~ Don't be afraid to ask questions - presenters love the interaction.

~ Don't be shy about asking for a copy of the presentation. You can't possibly write everything down.

~ Don't forget that you sell something too. The presenter may be a good customer for your organization and not just visa versa.

~ Pay attention to how the presenter follows up. It will tell you a great deal about how they do business.

Bottom line, everyone knows the game. The presenters are there not only because they have knowledge but because they have something to sell. They want to introduce themselves to the marketplace. The attendees are there to learn but also to kick the tires of possible business partners. As long as everyone is upfront and honest about it - everyone wins. And makes the most of the time and money spent!

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Here's some good reading!

What are your employees trained to watch for? 

Build your brand: Cultural Clues 

How to get the most from your podcast 

Direct mail tricks: The envelope

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