You’re looking to grow your business through direct sales. How can you find the best events to attend?

Go where your buyers go! To effectively do this, the simplest strategy is to directly ask them about the conferences they are attending today. It’s important to keep in mind that their engagement isn’t limited to just in-person events. Many buyers are increasingly participating in industry webinars and virtual events. So, don’t forget to ask about these as well.

To find the best events to attend, you need to do some research and planning. Here are some tips to help you: ? Know your target market: You should have a clear idea of who your ideal customer is and what kind of events they are likely to attend. ? Use online resources: You can use various websites, apps, or social media platforms to search for upcoming events in your area or niche. ? Contact event organizer: Once you find some events that interest you, you should contact the organizers and inquire about the details, such as the date, time, location, fee, attendance, rules, and expectations. ? Evaluate the events: Before you commit to any event, you should evaluate its potential return on investment (ROI).

After the event, follow up with attendees to maintain engagement and nurture leads. Send personalized thank-you emails, share event highlights, provide additional resources or offers, and stay connected through newsletters or targeted marketing campaigns. Consistent follow-up helps solidify relationships and convert leads into customers.

I got a JOB assignment at an Event - Asia World Expo, Hong Kong. I knew that some of the top Consumer Electronics Brands have booth at the Asia Expo and I signed up as a delegate. Next I looked at the exhibitors, I prepared a list of who I'll be visiting. I further did my budgeting - travel Delhi Hong Kong flights, hotel etc. I checked who'll from my ex company was travelling, industry speakers, colleagues etc and visited the websites of exhibitors. I downloaded the APP and prepared a calendar after fixing meetings. I prepared my pitch and landed up a JOB offer at the event. Please check the check Full Story in my posts. Follow and comment your experiences.

Understanding your ideal customer profile is crucial in direct sales, as it allows for a targeted approach that increases the likelihood of conversion. Leveraging analytics tools can provide a wealth of data about customer behaviors and preferences. Additionally, engaging with your audience through interactive content or community events can deepen your insights and help tailor your sales strategies to their evolving needs. Remember, the goal is not just to find any event but to find the right one where your presence aligns with the interests of potential customers, thereby maximizing your direct sales efforts.

Time is finite, & it also costs money to attend F2F events, so you need to be crystal clear on your goals & the outcomes you’re aiming for. Remember, you’re not just there to hand out trinkets & free stuff. You are there to help achieve your sales objectives. For example, if your goal is to generate leads, start by identifying who is attending these sessions. While you might not get access to the full attendance list, take a look at the speaker list & the types of companies represented. This can be a goldmine for understanding the audience. Then, reach out to your prospects and existing customers to see if they're planning to attend. Building these connections and meeting in person is critical-#hustleisreal.

It all depends on what phase your company is in. If you're starting, lead generation should be key but once you're company is established, it's all about brand awareness.

Number one thing is to know what to do, how to do it, where to do it. Number two thing is who are your target? The next is how to execute the task. The final thing is to achieve all.

Don’t forget to also look at your customers and prospects LinkedIn posts. Some of them post and let their network know what events they are attending. Also ask your top sales reps where are they networking. Why reinvent the wheel if they have identified events that are impactful. Finally, if you find an event that your customers are attending but no one in your company has heard of it. Don’t shy away from asking your boss to see if they can invest and send you.

Check Event Directories and Platforms: Use online event directories and platforms such as Eventbrite, Meetup, LinkedIn Events, and local business associations' websites to discover upcoming events relevant to your industry and interests.

Find the "connectors" in your industry or sector. There are tons of great people to connect with through so many various mediums, but almost always 5-10 people will be repeatedly brought up as the people who know everyone in a locality or on LinkedIn.

Ser conocido o hacerse conocer es muy importante y mientras más informado estés mejor,utilizar todas las herramientas virtuales que hoy tenemos a la mano servirá para lograrlo y poder ser destacado y mostrar nuestros objetivos

Assess an event's value by researching its audience, size, and reputation. Consult past attendees for insights and weigh the cost against potential ROI. Consider the agenda and speakers to ensure it aligns with your business goals.

Some events might costs a lot of money, time and effort to prepare. You need to make sure that the money spent on an event is worth investing time in it. Large events/tradeshows could be interesting on the paper, but in reality the outcome might be totally different. So, make sure you select the events wisely, or try to organise your own events with your prospects and customers, where your customer's usecases are shared across your prospects (workshops, roundtables,...).

There are more than enough organizations, networking events, and conferences to attend for literally any industry. Test them out, ask your peers, and then determine if they are worth your investment moving forward. You have to be diligent and ruthless in this qualification or you will spend a ton of time spinning your wheels in places that provide no real benefit for you or your organization.

Estar al tanto de lo ocurrido en los eventos es importante sin embargo tomar en cuento lo malo se puede mejorar para no caer de nuevo en los mismos errores y evolucionar sobre ellos ayuda.

I have done tradeshows and just attended events both as a participant and as a speaker. Based on my experience, if you’re not strategic about it, simply being on the floor fighting for a buyer’s attention among many others doesn’t yield significant results. It’s not just about them signing up, getting free stuff, and getting their card; it means nothing if we didn’t engage them, pique their curiosity, and agree on some follow-up. One strategy I find effective is attending as a participant, genuinely engaging in sessions that interest me. This is where you can engage with your buyers too. It’s about authentic connection, learning about your buyers, and building a connection that continues well after the conference is over.

Walk 2mn sq/ft area at CES, Las Vegas, World's Largest Expo for electronics?. I never thought, how I will cover in 5 days and 4k brands exhibiting. Make the most by doing this (Visitors) 1. Apply to CES by September and save $100 to $450 2. Download the CES APP by November 3. Screen exhibitors and connect with them 121 4. Fix meeting in advance and secure your slot 5. Prepare a 1mn script for your objectives 6. Ensure the endpoint of the meeting at the venue (people are busy) 7. Follow up (after 2 weeks) Take a water bottle, get some lunch packed, keep a power bank and and enjoy the show. These tips should improve your connect ratios and it'll work the same for IFA, Berlin; Asia Expo , Hong Kong and other as well.

CONSISTENCY!!! this is the key to success in direct sales. What I mean by that, is once you've determined your ICP, their industry and location, you should consistently build your network there by regularly attending industry events in the target region, by making road shows, and being "the part of the tribe". The focus is surprisingly rewarding.

Don't be afraid to ask experienced salespeople in the industry for advice and ask for support from partners. As a newcomer to an area (either personally or as a company), it is important to know the systems and players in the area and not to go for the big fish first. Build up references and learn what problems customers have. Learn their language, how they express things and be patient. Direct selling is the art of empathy towards your customers, patience to give space to your customer's internal processes and self-motivation to stay on the ball.