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Expert Answers to Biz Questions
Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.
4 Tips for Representing Your Business Successfully at an Industry Event
As a business owner or entrepreneur, you'll know that you have to be constantly on the lookout for new opportunities and potential new customers or clients for your business. That's why it can be so useful to attend industry events and conferences. They provide an ideal networking opportunity, and you're likely to come into contact with a large supply of people who could utilize your product or service. To make the most of this potential at business events you'll need to represent your business successfully, so here are four easy and cost-effective ways to do just that.
1. Network, Network, Network
Many business events, seminars and conferences have keynote speakers, and the advice that they provide can prove invaluable. It's important to remember, however, that business events are a place to talk as well as a place to listen. You love your product or service, so you shouldn't be reticent about talking to other people about it, and explaining the benefits it can bring to them or their business. Network as much as possible; you must of course be polite and business-like at all times, but don't be afraid to introduce yourself to people rather than waiting to be introduced.
2. Hand Out High-Quality Merchandise
One of your aims at the end of an industry event should be that people will remember you and your business, and a great way to do this is to hand out promotional materials containing your brand logo, website address and contact number. Everyone likes a piece of branded swag as long as it's free and of a high quality, and custom-made lapel pins certainly fulfill this criterion. They can be manufactured in any shape or size, and with a design of your choosing, which means that they can contain your business logo without having to compromise on quality. Branded pens, post it notes, tee shirts and even stress balls are also good examples of promotional goodies which could be a hit at an industry event.
3. Make Contact with Your Peers
Most industry events like to publicize who will be attending and who will be speaking, and that gives you a great opportunity to make contact with them prior to the event taking place. An old fashioned email could be used for this purpose, but it can be quicker and friendlier to contact them via LinkedIn or a social media platform such as Twitter. Keep your message simple rather than going for the hard sell, and simply state that you'll be at the event as well and that you're looking forward to meeting them. This can be a perfect pre-event ice breaker, and it also introduces your business in the best possible light.
4. Volunteer to Speak
Many industry events are on the lookout for high quality speakers, so why shouldn't that be you? Look for events in your sector and your locale, and contact the event organizers to offer your services. It's important to contact them well in advance, and your email or letter should spell out your experience and successes within the industry, and why you would make a perfect speaker at their event. When giving a speech, remember to keep it relevant and interesting, as by doing this the audience in front of you is much more likely to remember you and your business.
Contacting people at the event, during, and before it starts, handing out promotional materials such as lapel pins and pens, and acting as a speaker are all great ways to make your presence count at an industry event. They'll also represent your business successfully and help to grow your brand awareness within your industry sector, which can quickly lead to increased sales and profits.
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