.png)
Whether you are attending SXSWEdu, FETC, ASU/GSV, or ISTELive ‘22, your education organization may be in the trenches of the conference season. However, as we all know, attending conferences can be a pricey proposition. How do you ensure that you get the most fruitful return on your investment?
Set goals for the conference
Setting goals is an essential part of conference attendance. Why are you attending in the first place?
Be specific with your goals: Outline exactly what you want to achieve at the conference by taking into account your target audience and objective for the event.
Ask yourself if your goal is achievable: Achievable examples include things such as setting a specific target number of meetings or demos at an event or aiming for distinct quality and quantity of leads.
Create a media and marketing plan.
If you want to maximize your conference participation ROI, remember that marketing your involvement begins before the conference event takes place. Get the word out via social media and targeted nurture campaigns highlighting your attendance, meeting links, and don't forget the conference hashtag!
Create excitement at your booth space.
You want to draw people in and engage in a unique and different way, versus everyone else exhibiting. For instance, create a fun interactive experience that attendees interact with each tied into your solution and bring them back to your space for a reward, giveaway, or premium. Use this experience as an opportunity for them to take pictures and share them on social media to gain organic activity around you and your presence.
Book meetings in advance.
There will be plenty of ‘down time’ during conference hours and plenty of time both before and after. Use that time to meet with key stakeholders. Much of the progress and traction at a conference can happen away from the exhibit hall.
Prepare your space.
Ensure all of your marketing collateral and booth materials are ready! Your booth is your brand. Explore and implement creative ways to drive booth traffic. Sometimes, it really is a numbers game so develop a plan to talk to as many people as possible at your booth. Oh, and don’t forget the candy!
Host an event.
A tried and true way to maximize your ROI from a conference is to host an event outside of the conference venue. This enables you to hold one-on-one conversations with prospects who are unable to attend your booth or even if they did, provide valuable face-to-face time. Make sure the venue is easily accessible and does not conflict with any other key events.
Attend Sessions.
Authenticity in the education space is key to success. Authenticity means understanding the market, the problems your potential customers face, and ultimately how your solution solves their problems. There are very few better ways to build authenticity in your organization than attending sessions to better understand the market and your place in it.
Have a follow-up strategy in place.
You've got the leads! Now what? It's time to follow up with them. The best follow-up strategy is to contact them quickly after the conference is over. Remember, everyone they spoke to is also trying to reach them. Link to your website, blog, or any other relevant resources that can help establish trust and credibility with your startup.
Comments