The Winning Combination of Networking Events and Event Staffing
Today, I am going to let out a secret that I have dearly held to myself for so long. You see, I am a business lady, and most of my [business] admirers think that I have great communication and networking skills. Their concept is that I have a flourishing enterprise because I can easily connect with people and “persuade” them to buy my products. All of this, I announce today, is very wrong. Now, because I want more ladies to know the secret, let me share my two-tier secret.
The only thing that my admirers were right about is that I attend many trade shows, summits, seminars and events that lie within my line of business. However, attending them does not guarantee me new clients or provide the opportunity for me to start selling my products all over. No. Being at such events demands its code of conduct if you have to look professional and not rub people the wrong way.
So, let me tell you what you should and should not do at networking events.
Image courtesy of atpsydney on Flickr
First, you must be prepared in every possible way to announce your enterprise’s presence. Dress for the occasion. Be casual if that is what it demands. Again, carry your business cards and any other item that supports networking. Sense has it that you can easily be dropped if upon being asked for your contacts you start flipping through the handbag for a pen!
Do not try to pitch everyone that you meet at the events! Even if it is one of those events where you take your products along to show them to potential clients, do not do the marketing yourself. I will demonstrate how I handle it. By pitching I mean do not be too much of a salesperson. Better put: make friends first then introduce your business later. There is a difference between hawking and networking.
As promised, my secret to marketing at events is by consulting staffing companies that have models to do the promotion and commercialization in a classy manner. Your duty, in this case, would only be: to define your goals to the staffing organization, define the client to them, and provide all the details of your products. The organization will then do what they do best: provide models that will go the extra mile to ensure that you succeed in promoting yourself at the event. One of the popular event staffing companies that I use is PUSH.
Once you have these ambassadors representing you, just sit down like a modern boss lady and watch yourself grow!
Image courtesy of Femme Fatale on Flickr
