In today’s consumer-oriented world, it is important to build strong relationships at every opportunity. Whether online or in person, event marketing offers a chance for consumers to interact with brands and get a true sense of a company’s personality.
Not only can event marketing help with brand awareness, but it can also be a huge player in generating leads. When executed properly, hosting an event allows your company to interact with groups of already interested consumers and foster even stronger leads and relationships.
Here are 6 tips to help you foster the strong leads your company needs at the next event!
1. Plan Ahead and Set a Goal
You can try, but unless you’re hosting a close-knit group, you simply won’t be able to speak with every potential customer on your guest list. Before the start of the event set a goal for how many people you wish to talk to. This will help keep yourself in check and manage your time effectively. Know who your most important prospects are and make it a point to talk to them first.
2. Collect Data
No matter the objective of your event (inform, upsell or cross-sell), make an effort to collect as much information about your guests as possible. This will make it much easier to reach out and connect with them after the event is over. Try setting up registration/contact forms at check in that asks for quick information like their email. This will help tremendously with the follow-up process!
3. Leverage Social Media
Because events happen in real-time, many attendees use social media to interact with others in a live environment. For example, Twitter is not only a great tool for promoting your events, but also for engaging and connecting with attendees in real-time. Try establishing a solid hashtag prior to your event that attendees can use throughout!
4. Leave Your Salesman Hat at the Door
Make sure you are taking the time to form genuine connections with each person you meet before dropping your perfectly crafted sales pitch. Ask questions and really get to know your prospects to help them feel more comfortable. This will make it much easier to win them over once the timing is right.
5. Follow Up!
Plan your follow-up strategy before the event begins. Properly following up with your guests can set you apart from your competition in the minds of your potential customers. This is why it is imperative that you get every guest’s contact information. Sending a follow-up email or handwritten card can go a very long way.
Overall, hosting an event is most effective when you invite the right people. Make sure you know who your strongest leads are before, and make it a point to talk to them. Don’t just sell – form genuine relationships. And make sure you follow-up! With these tips in mind, there’s no doubt that your next event will generate the strongest leads yet!
Events lead to success—Check out how we achieved a 30:1 ROI and gained 190+ referral sources for Kindred Healthcare through event marketing.
Want to learn more about lead generation? Or how about help planning your next event? Give us a call to start brainstorming today!
