23 Mar 2011
We have just completed two successful face-to-face events in partnership with Kaseya - one in Birmingham and one in central London.
Both events - covering opportunities in the MSP market - had over half the registrants actually come along on the day, which is pretty good going considering how reluctant everyone appears to be to leave their office.
One of the executives at Kaseya said they intend to do a lot more face-to-face events because 'the demand is there'.
However much I would love to agree with him - I just know how much effort we have to put in getting people to come to any event.
It is not a case of people battering down our doors, it is often a case of us dragging them there kicking and screaming. Well, maybe I'm being slightly dramatic there.
Annoyingly people always say how glad they are they came and how useful they found the events to be.
So I would adopt a more cautious approach and say that although people are willing to register for events, and might indeed consider coming along - when it comes down to it - the majority will find something else to do - or have a sudden avalanche of work bearing down on them.
Personally I find it a shame - and we on CRN are as guilty of that as everyone - sparing time to attend an event is very difficult indeed - even though the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
So do you agree? Are you more open to coming along to events now or is it harder than ever? It would be great to hear your thoughts.
Someone.........anyone?
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Sara
Nice post. Now more than ever businesses need to be getting in the face of their prospects, clients, and peers. While social media is the current juggernaut we believe that people will soon realize that for the time they invest face to face networking can be as or more profitable.
Would love your feedback on a new networking model we launched in Nov. 2010 called GoGrabLunch.com
Posted by Jonathan Patrick | 25 Mar 2011
I think Keith Warburton underestimates the total number of computer solution provider businesses in the UK as we have a list of nearly 21,000 of which we would say around 4,000 are serious indies and we are in regular email contact with over 2,500 above and beyond our subscribing membership base. I am in complete agreement with Keith though about owner managers finding it hard to travel away from their businesses to events which is why we use all the communications tools within our portal to keep our members updated as to new channel and wider business developments.
We believe strongly in face to face meetings as well and have taken the decision to increase the number of our member events from two a year to a minimum of four which we will continue to take around the UK with our associate vendors, distributors and service providers support. Putting 50 member businesses in one place for 10 associates to present and show products during breaks and lunch from table displays we find works. Given we are a subscription membership model business we can make these events an added benefit to both our indie computer solution provider members and our associates and thus keep the costs minimal so the ROI for associates is very easy to monitor.
I think the speed dating approach is interesting and I think Network Group are onto something there. I find the use of this type of one to one meeting very useful at events such as ECRM and Retail Vision. I am fully with Network Group about the need for making content relevant. We have a great many repairers and refurbishers in Brigantia and at our recent event the update from Microsoft on their Authorised Refurbisher Program really emphasized this message of relevant content.
We have just signed an interesting new service provider associate who provides virtual reality meetings which given the reach of our membership base overcomes the bandwidth issues associated with traditional video conferencing.
Posted by Iain Shaw | 24 Mar 2011
One of the problems is that while there may be 10,000 resellers in the UK that the vendors, distributors and CRN would like to engage with somehow, anyhow, 90% of them are micro-enterprises and the owner-manager simply can't find the time to come out and learn / network. Being up to their backsides in alligators most of the time they have difficulty focussing on actually draining the swamp.
Which leaves say 1,000 resellers spread across the UK who might have the time / resource to enable their attendance, provided the message reaches them in time and they can actually manage to prioritise the event, and indeed that it is of interest to them. Any single vendor event that manages to attract more than 50 true resellers is doing well, in my opinion. That's why multiple vendor events combined with informative and educational presentations are the best way forward. Either that or else run very small, local, low budget events that are brief and out of hours ... they can give a reasonable return, but don't look as glamorous!
Of course, there's always video conferencing and webinars!
Posted by Keith Warburton | 24 Mar 2011
Sara, I'm totally with you! I know it can be hard to get people to events and often last minute workload seems more important. But, particularly at Network Group, we see more and more sucess where people take the time to get face to face. We ran a 'speed-dating' session at our last event and the feedback was unilaterally great from all sides. I think the secret is making sure the event is relevent, with great content and delivers value for both sides. :)
Posted by Gemma Telford | 24 Mar 2011
Being in Sales, I recognise the importance of speaking with customers/prospects/suppliers face to face as you will gain a much better and honest insight into them, their business and then hopefully where your service fits in with them. I have experienced many times that the mini-hitler you speak to on the phone turns out to be quite timid when in person; people can be whoever they want to be behind emails and the phone! The most effective networking events that we have attended have incorporated a 'speed-dating' function which forces those who sign up to prepare to either court for business or be courted. This has proven worthwhile as, without this, the tendecy is that the majority stick within their groups of colleagues/customers and are either reluctant to approach strangers or become withdrawn when approached. The 'speed-dating' is not compulsory but we've noticed on the few events that we've attended that hold this, a large % of attendees sign up and those who don't end up doing so out of awkwardness from standing alone @ the buffet table!
Face to face, where possible, will always remain the best form of honest communication.
Posted by Owain Williams | 23 Mar 2011
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