Make Them Remember You

Are you one of the businesses or industries that use expos, conventions or summits to get in front of their ideal client? Have you thought about what impression you are leaving with those who pass by?? Is this you at a business expo when somebody comes up to the table?? “Everything you need to know is right there, just take a flyer.? We have some ink pens with our name on it, too. If you want one”.? If the roles were reversed, Is this a booth at an expo or a convention that you want to take the time to stop at??

Or is this you, sitting behind the table where you are still separated from the people, but aggressively leaning towards them engaged and saying “You have to take it. Take this paperwork right now, because this is everything you need to know”. Or are you the person who is standing out in front of your booth.? You know that your company spent thousands of dollars to be there. You know your competition is in the same room!? Your company spent money for booth rental, sponsorships, supplies, airplane tickets, hotels, etc.? Are you making sure, that you are making the very best impression, so that you stand out at an expo full of your competition?? How will you do that?? By making a positive and sincere connection with the people as they pass by.?

My name is Wendy Caverly, the coach and founder of Crusaders Networking and I'm a networking coach. Another way to talk about networking is to discuss how to make a sincere connection with those in your world. The reason why you've invested the time, energy, and effort to be in an expo is to put yourself in front of these potential referral partners or these potential clients.? You want to make the most of your time by building a positive and memorable connection.

When you are at an expo, you are surrounded by people in your industry, people who are your competitors and your ideal referral partners and clients.? Why you and not the next person? That’s where knowing how to network or connect effectively becomes valuable.?

I recently had a conversation with an organization that was investing nearly $50,000 in an opportunity to be at a national expo. Their entire strategy was to put their flyer in a different person's hand, every five minutes.And that was it… I thought to myself “how is that different than just making it rain flyers from the ceiling or getting out a business card cannon and just shooting people as they go by”?? At the end of the day, when those participants and attendees dump their bag out on their hotel bed and they pick through all of their fun free things, what would make them remember you or even care about the information you gave them??

It's because you took those extra 10 seconds to make a positive and sincere connection that you will stand out.? Because you treated them as somebody you wanted to know, not just somebody you wanted to sell to. You made that moment with them and for them, memorable.