I know many marketers think you go to conferences, throw up a booth, sit behind it, and mission accomplished. You are branding your firm.
I have to believe there is a better way to approach conferences.
If you are going to take several days away from your job and family, I think you need to come away with something tangible.
In addition, conferences are expensive. You could be paying $1,000 to $3,000 just to walk in the door. Even if you are Donald Trump, that is not an insignificant amount of money. Personally, when I spend money I like to receive something tangible in return.
What is Tangible?
The most tangible thing is always fee. Now, you may not walk out of the conference hotel with a $50,000, $100,000, or $1M assignment. However, it is reasonable to believe, with the right approach, you could get an assignment in the months following a conference.
To some extent, info is tangible. Can you obtain information at a conference that would benefit your contacts/clients, making them more likely to give you work? I believe you can.
Press is tangible. Can you get your firm published as a result of conversations you have at a conference? Sure.
I believe focusing on tangible results will greatly improve your conference marketing.
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