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"Get
More Than You Paid from Live Information Marketing Events and
Conferences"
by
Marian Sparks
Most
people attend conferences to get information,
get clients and network with people. Do you want to get a better return
from your investment of time, energy and money? You will when
you use a combination of these for spectacular results at the next
live event you attend!
#1 - Create your hot sheet in advance
Shift
from "spending" money to "investing" money
when you prepare. Print the agenda and grab a blank sheet of
paper. At the top, write the single most important reason for
attending. Then create three columns. Fill Column A
with a list
of questions. Keep Column B and C empty until you get to the
event.
Three sets of questions you should capture before the
event:
- What are the 3 to 5 questions you
want answered?
- What are the 3 to 5 challenges
you're experiencing in your business?
- What are the 3 to 5 resources you
seek?
Now
you have 9-15 questions in column A.
This strategic list should guide your conversations,
questions and interactions.
The goal is to return from the trip with column B & C
complete with answers and next steps!
#2 - Make your business
cards work for you
Given the amount of
money you invest to design your
business card, the truth is that most cards get tossed or
filed away without another look. Don't let that happen to
yours.
Join the 10% of savvy marketers who add a call to action on
the
back of the business card! Provide a link to download an
eZine, free report or audio. People love freebies and it
gives
them an opportunity to sample what you have to offer.
#3 - Grab a table for 8 or
12
No point eating alone!
If time limits you to
the hotel cafe for lunch or dinner, then you better believe
there'll be a backlog of
people anxious to get seated. Position yourself as the hero. Tell the
host you need a table for 8 or 12. Then turn to the people
behind
you and ask them if they'd like to join you for lunch.
They'll
say yes, because they won't have to think about getting a table or
waiting. Once seated, request the server to provide separate
checks since everyone is on business travel. The restaurant
will automatically add the 18% gratuity to the bill.
And
each attendee will have a separate bill to charge to the hotel room
or credit card. One more thing! After everyone
orders, ask everyone to introduce him or herself.
This will
give you a sense of who you need to connect with directly and whom you
may need to connect together as the day unfolds.
#4 - Always be present
Make eye contact,
actively listen and ask questions when you're speaking to someone.
Take a peek at your hot sheet to refresh your memory of any
questions the person may be able to answer. Do not
pitch your services! You want your interaction to be remembered
positively. And when that happens,
you'll be surprised by how people open up to you and want you to meet
their contacts. Always be present at each moment.
#5 - Connect people
together
Someone
may not be the right contact for you, but could be the exact
contact someone else needs. When you engage people and ask
questions, you get a better sense for who's at the event and why.
Help connect the dots for others. Bring people
together one on one, during breaks, at the reception,
pre-dinner. They'll appreciate it and it's great
karma.
#6 - Communicate your offline
experiences with your online community
Your
online community on Twitter can't wait to soak in all your
intriguing tweets and pearls of insights. You are their ambassador at
the conference. They're eager for information that's
entertaining and
business changing. Tell them what's going on. Who's
on stage. Add your wisdom to the
information conveyed. Invite your audience to check out the
speaker's site.
Before you know it, your tweets will be shared across the Twitterverse
and people will begin following you. Just be uniquely you and
tell them
what you're experiencing and learning!
#7 - Spark action
immediately
Don't
wait until after
the event is over to take action.
Start your follow on action NOW. Schedule any agreed up
action or calls on your PDA or laptop calendar. No PDA or laptop? Then
make a list. Invest 15-20 min to update your hot sheet. Note
which questions still need answers (column B will be blank).
Get those addressed the next day. If you have answers for
column B, write the corresponding 'next physical action' in column C.
The next action is whatever you need to physically
do to move that item forward. So end the evening with
a plan to close your open items the next day. And you'll jump start
your morning with confidence.
Remember,
you're never going to know
everything you need to know at a given moment. Focus on
getting answers to your strategic and tactical questions. And
start buildling relationships with people who may be become a resource
down the road or possibly an informal mastermind group.
© 2009 Marian Sparks and
SparkActionNow.com
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Marian sparks strategic action that moves busy solo-preneurs,
independent
professionals and small business owners from where they are to where
they desire to grow their business. If you’re ready to
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now at http://sparkactionnow.com
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Marian "Sparks" Hodges MBA
is an independent success strategist, action mentor and
consultant. She sparks strategic action that moves
busy solo-preneurs, independent professionals and small
business owners from where they are to where they desire to grow
their business.