How to Make Profitable Connections at a Conference

Even though technology allows us to connect across the miles and conduct business without meeting face-to-face, there is a lot to be said for in-person meetings. In fact, as technology disconnects more and more, the idea of looking a prospective client or business partner in the eye is becoming more attractive

One way to connect with others is by attending trade shows and conferences. I’ve found great value in attending conferences for my business. If you hope to turn the (tax-deductible) cost of attending a conference into a net profit, here are some ideas for making your mark:

Bring Swag

Everyone loves swag. I regularly attend FinCon and Podcast Movement, and many companies come with unique branded swag to pass out on the expo floor. Identify a conference or trade show where prospective partners and clients can be found. Then, rent a booth and bring branded swag.

There are many companies that can help you create swag with your company logo. Choosing something unique and useful is more likely to be remembered. Plus, there is a good chance attendees will share it on their social networks, increasing your reach and boosting your brand’s visibility.

Sponsor Events

Many trade shows and conferences include different events, including awards shows, breakfasts, lunches, and keynotes. If you attend a conference, you can get your name in front of more people and earn a few gratitude points (and more social media mentions!) when you are involved at these conferences.

Every year at FinCon I help plan The Plutus Awards, which draws many of the conference attendees. Many of them live tweet the Awards ceremony and even record and rebroadcast it. It’s a fun event and it’s a good way for partners to gain the undivided attention of influential financial bloggers.

Look for different opportunities to sponsor events at a conference. Chances are you’ll be able to get extra mentions and visibility, connect with high-quality prospects, and generate good will.

Wine and Dine Influential Attendees

I’m not including this one just because I like to be wined and dined (although that’s fun). If you can identify influential attendees, business partners, or clients, invite them to meet with you. Take a prospective client to lunch. At FinCon, Fidelity held a very nice breakfast for women financial journalists. They provided a hashtag for the event and discussed issues of importance to us. More than 50 women were tweeting and posting images to Instagram and Facebook, mentioning the breakfast, the issues, and Fidelity’s part.

You don’t have to hold a big event, but it can make sense to set up meetings with those you are most interested in working with, since you’re all at the conference anyway.

General Networking

Finally, don’t forget about general networking. Attend the networking opportunities offered at the trade show or conference. Be ready with business cards, an elevator pitch, and your winning personality. Get to know people and make it a point to show that you are a person with interest, and that you can be a valuable contact.

I met my business partner at a conference. We had networked a little bit online ahead of time, but when we met in person, we saw that there could be a benefit to partnering. But it took that extra connection in person to put things in motion.

Go to your next trade show or conference with a plan to connect and network–and maybe even wow the attendees to get their attention–and you’ll make back the cost of your attendance.

Not-So-Scary Way to Cut Costs

Whenever you hear someone say it’s time to cut costs in your business, you break out into a cold sweat. After all, you’re already operating on a miniscule budget. What is there left to cut?



Rather than fear the idea of cutting costs, use these realistic tips to ensure you’re not spending outside of your small business limits:

1. Look at Utilities

Whether you work from home or have retail or office space, utilities are a key expense. And while you don’t want to freeze out your customers by turning off the heat completely in the winter, there are subtle changes you can make that will reduce your bills.

Start with a schedule thermostat. Set the temperature to be ideal during the hours that customers or employees are in your business, then turn your air/heater way up or down (depending on the season) so that it’s energy saving at night.

Consider fans as an alternative to air conditioning, as well as space heaters instead of blasting the heat all day.

Some cities offer incentive programs for businesses that work to reduce their energy use, so see if there are ways to save with your utility company.

Beyond that, turn off all lights and devices at night, and unplug anything that’s not in use.

2. Negotiate Better Rates

If you buy regular inventory or office supplies, you might be able to haggle a better price with your vendor. Instead of buying one box of printer paper every month, see if you can save by buying in bulk from your office supplier. Ask for a discount if you pay your invoices early. A good vendor will want to keep you as a customer, so should be willing to negotiate.

If your vendor isn’t, shop around and see if there’s a better deal out there.

Also look for bundling opportunities. If, for example, you have business liability insurance as well as car and home insurance, see if you can get a discount for having your policies all with the same insurance company.

3. Look for Alternatives

Be honest: do you use your 20-line phone system as much as you should? That—or other unnecessary expenses—is a great place to cut back on spending. Most of your staff probably uses their cell phones to make calls anyway, so consider whether chunking the phone system is feasible. You can use Skype and Google Hangouts instead.

What’s the situation in the break room? Are you supplying gourmet coffee to your team, but it just sits in the pot getting wasted each day? Think about buying a pod system coffee maker so no coffee is wasted and people only use what they’ll drink.

And if those snacks you’re supplying aren’t getting eaten, cancel the order. People tend to bring their own food, so they probably won’t even miss them.

You’d be surprised how many places you can cut costs without negative effect. Just look at what you’re spending and pull back on anything that isn’t helping you grow your business.

A Mystery Shopper Has Visited Your Business !

Hi Guys   Did that statement give you a fright and if so why? Are you aware of  the people looking for your products and services every day?  What could be done do to make sure they become your  customer? Have a great Easter Weekend ! Coach Chris The hotel is clean and quiet. The staff is courteous and helpful. The rooms are spacious, and fitted with nice-looking furniture and flat-screen TVs. But, in room 528 at least, something is missing… The king-size bed has only one night table.There are four lamps – one standing in the middle of an empty wall – and no coffee table. In the bathroom, only two towels (stacked in an open niche under the sink). And aside from one tiny hook two feet above the toilet, no towel racks or hangers. To a person staying in that hotel room, it feels as though some designer had looked around and said, “Here’s what you need in a hotel room.” But that designer hadn’t actually tried to USE the room to see if anything was lacking. If you think your business is immune to this problem, think again. Websites are often built by tech people who don’t understand how an average user thinks.  Your Team may answer questions but may not always ask any questions to lead the Customer and in so doing engage that potential Customer further. So make sure you test everything – your site, your products, your store – your team - to make sure it works as it’s meant to. Better yet, have a friend, your spouse, and your grandma test things out for you. Get them to report back on what works, what doesn’t, what’s missing, and what’s superfluous. You’ll end up with a better product/site/whatever – and your customers will have a much better experience. Which leads to trust… which leads to loyalty… which leads to referrals ...which leads to more sales. So go ahead - get someone to mystery shop your business ........