I think one of the best parts about attending a marketing conference is establishing new relationships with thought influencers. And that probably means that you should choose conferences and meets-ups where you can interact face to face with these influencers and get to know them on a personal level. Why? Because influencer marketing is one of the biggest trends in digital marketing, and you should never miss the opportunity to take advantage of meeting these people. Make sure you look for these influencers during the conference downtime, whether it means getting a drink at the bar, arranging dinner, or just having a conversation after a marketing session.
The other benefit of attending a marketing conference is that it gives you the opportunity to bring some “freebies” with you, whether that means a product or a service that you can offer as a sample. You’d be surprised how much “swag” you’ll find at these conferences, and these are just outstanding ways to introduce your company, or to brand it further if you are a known entity. And don’t forget to bring business cards to the conference. You remember those, right? Jokes aside, business cards act as a physical reminder to the people you meet of who you are and what you spoke about. Business cards are also excellent ways to brand your business, so spend some time designing a card that is distinct and memorable.
Business and marketing conferences are also great venues for you to set meetings with prospective leads as well as long-standing customers who are also going to be in attendance. The digital age has made face-to-face meetings between you and your clients much less frequent, so when you have this kind of opportunity to interact with customers and leads in person, you have to jump on it. It puts a human face on your company and it can establish the kind of bond that is priceless when it comes to closing a deal with a prospect, or cementing a long-standing client relationship.
About the Author
Tabitha Jean Naylor is the owner of TabithaNaylor.com and a certified Inbound Marketing Consultant with close to a decade of experience in both B2B and B2C markets. A self-described digital marketing machine, she prides herself in her ability to craft text that generates action. Her intimate knowledge of how sales and marketing go hand-in-hand has resulted in a variety of successful campaigns for start-ups through NASDAQ traded companies.
Ms. Naylor holds a dual bachelor degree in Political Science and International Business from West Virginia University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Her experience brings a unique perspective to connecting with the online world community, especially given the variety of projects she has spearheaded. Her areas of expertise include Branding, Content Marketing, Copywriting, Graphic Design and SMM. Connect with her on Twitter @TabithaNaylor or visit TabithaNaylor.com
