This past week, I’ve been looking for entrepreneurial conferences to attend — with my girls. With my girls, because I want to expose them in a new way to this world.. but not JUST for my girls. I want to attend a conference that will leave me better equipped for bigger success as well.
MANY OF YOU are also making choices right now about which conferences you should attend, and I appreciate your — always confidential — questions on this topic.
First, everyone has a different goal for going to a conference or event in the first place. If your goal is to just “get out of the house,” any conference will do. The same goes for those whose goal is to “get inspired.” Almost any conference will do.
However, if your goals include connecting and networking with like-minded people, getting new clients, and learning how to make more money in your business, keep reading. Below, I’ve shared MY PERSONAL “assessment” questions / considerations — for how I make my own decisions regarding which conferences to attend.
1) How much does it cost?
This is NOT because I want to go to some conference selling “cheap seats.” Let me be VERY VERY clear: I don’t. Why? Well, the “crowd” or “tribe” attracted to a conference with “cheap seats” is NOT the right crowd for me to be networking with.
I’ve seen conferences — put on by the SAME people –just at different price points. The bottom line is that a three day event with a $697 or $997 or $1497 ticket price attracts one market. And a three day conference with a $147 price point attracts a completely different market. Not better or worse, just different! Same name. Same concept. Same leaders at the helm. Different PRICE = completely different event. And, listen — I’ve seen this in MY OWN business. In fact, I see this EVERY YEAR in my business.
Every year, i put on a “New Year’s Planning Event.” This one-day event — unlike ALL of my other events — is (literally) open to anyone willing to pay $20 towards a charity of their choice. No “invitation” necessary. Just pay and show up. If you don’t want to donate to a charity, I’ll even give you your $20 back. Seriously. I’ll lead the event. I’ll provide your materials, your lunch, your snack and some cool gifts too. For $20, which I never see a penny of.
About 40% of the group will be my “regular market” — people you find at my other events. The other 60% are still amazing women who I love getting to meet. They’re just different than who shows up at my typical events. The networking is different. The questions are different. Same information. Same location. Same leader. Different price = Entirely different event.
So, I immediately dismiss conferences that don’t protect MY TIME by filtering out the masses and attracting a like-minded group of seriously driven business owners. If it’s too LOW of a price point, I won’t consider it. (And MOST accomplished business owners won’t. Because we VALUE our time. We KNOW how much we make in ONE DAY, and are very choosy regarding how we spend our work days.)
Side note: if you’re NEW in business, your goals will be different. Low / Cheap Seat conferences are GREAT PLACES to start… and at a bargain of a price! Plenty of these are going on now — at the beginning of the year. Just keep your eyes on the STAGE. LEARN what you can, and then rush back and implement it!
Right about now, I’m being thought pompous — and perhaps callous — by some readers. But, this concept of PRICE is alive and well regardless of who’s offended. When you walk into Golden Corral, you can expect a certain level of service and certain quality of steak. And a CERTAIN market of diners. The same is true for walking into a Ruth’s Chris.
My point is that if you KNOW that you’re networking on behalf of Walmart, Golden Corral might be a fine place to network. But, if you’re networking on behalf of Neiman Marcus, you might want to choose a restaurant whose PRICES have brought together a more fitting market for you.
2) Where is it?
Ha! I hate traveling to Chicago and Canada. I’ll consider — almost — anywhere else! =) But, that’s just me!
3) The Agenda & Speakers
I often go to an event for ONE or TWO speakers. But I look at all the rest as well. I want to determine: Has “stage time” been “sold?” Say, to sponsors and / or — as is MOST common today — to a group of select “platinum” coaching members of the headliner? Yuck. I want to go to a conference to meet MY objectives.. not to provide an audience for someone’s coaching clients and groupies to parade in front of.
This, by the way, is why I’ve NEVER attended a conference of one of my favorite all time mentors. The events are huge, full of selling to the back of the room, and — frankly — every speaker on the agenda is EITHER a top level coaching client or a sponsor of the event — or both. (I MAY — though — break my ten year streak of avoiding this conference this year… with my girls. Still considering it, but only with ONE primary objective in mind…)
4) Does the Event KNOW Who It Is?
There are too many events out there who don’t know who they are anymore. What do they stand for? What’s their event ABOUT? Who’s it for? Who does it attract? And who does it repel? What’s the purpose? Is it networking? shopping? Fun stuff like makeovers? Hard-hitting strategy? Is it for beginners or the more advanced?
Listen, GOBS of plotting and planning and promotion go into every event. DO NOT waste your money — and more importantly, your time — on events that have a wishy-washy concept of “self.”
P.S. I think the same goes for men. =) But I’ve been madly in love with my Mister for long enough to be out of touch on that one. =) So, what are your thoughts?
