Blog Post

Using Events to Connect with Customers

Marketing Mondays with Marci B.

Events can be a great opportunity for you to increase customer engagement and brand awareness. If you own a brick and mortar, you have limited reach to see your customers face-to-face. Even if you your online reach is national, you are limited in your personal interactions with your clients. There are several types of events to consider. Take the time to learn about some of the most popular events, and see if they could be a good fit for your business.

1. Trade Shows
Trade shows are industry events that offer many opportunities to connect with customers and view the competition. Manufacturers and vendors showcase products to take advantage of point-of-purchase sales. Many companies offer special trade show pricing on products. Industry leaders can often be found at trade shows. If you are not ready to vend at a trade show, consider attending as a patron and see what the industry is up to. It will help you prepare for the next year's event. Stand out from the competition by sponsoring an important event such as an afterglow reception or even a meal.

2. Seminars
Seminars can be industry specific or events sponsored by businesses that cater to your customer base. When you consider that seminars are focused on teaching and learning, this is a great opportunity to be considered a thought leader in your industry. If there is a panel available for industry experts, see if you can participate. Most panels get agendas in advance, so research the other panel members and details on their perspective about the particular subject. Be prepared to have a unique voice, and even be willing to challenge other panelists on points if you have opposing views. Similar to trade shows, seminars may have opportunities to vend and sponsor.

3. Product Launch
If you have a new product to release at your brick and mortar location, make a big deal out of it! Celebrate your business and invite your customers to join in on the fun. Send out customized invitations to your favorite customers. Encourage your prospects to stop by and learn more about the business. Offer promotional materials to increase brand awareness and special event pricing to create a sense of urgency.

4. Holiday Events
If you have room in your store for customers to fellowship, holiday celebrations are a great way to interact with your local community. Direct mail marketing and newspaper ads are effective in reaching local customers for events at your retail location. Customers are already in buyer mode at this time of year. Showcase large, attention-grabbing graphics to alert customers of all the sales in the store. Make all sales promotions easy to find with sales signs near products you really want to focus on selling.

5. Local Business Events
Stay on the lookout for local events that cater to your customer base. You can find these events on Facebook, Eventbrite, BrownPaperTickets, local newspapers, radio station and TV news stations. Even if the event does not mention sponsorship opportunities, don't be afraid to reach out to event contacts and suggest a sponsorship. Most times, if they do not have a sponsorship they haven't even considered it, and that gives you negotiating power to craft a sponsorship that suits your specific business needs. Sponsorship can be in the form of promotional mention, public relations, promotional signage, naming rights for a conference room, promotional gifts, print ads, web banners. There are many other ways to sponsor an event, but these are some of the most popular.

6. Local Community Events
Community events that are hosted by non-profits are a great way to interact with the community. You are sharing your business with local prospects, providing resources, and getting exposure. Events that bring the community together are highly likely to be picked up as news stories by the local media. Sponsorship, vendor payments, and in-kind donations are all considered tax write-offs. Do yourself and your community a favor by financially supporting events that enhance the neighborhood where your business resides.

For more information on how events can benefit your business, contact Marci B. Marketing & Management at 248-838-9458 or marci@marcibmarketing.com.

Further reading:
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/event-marketing.html
https://www.marketo.com/event-marketing/
http://www.marketing-schools.org/types-of-marketing/event-marketing.html
http://www.inc.com/guides/201102/new-rules-of-event-marketing.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhall/2015/04/12/the-value-of-events-in-a-marketing-world/#388471953...
https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/how-to-market-an-event/

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