Do you ever wonder why you spend thousands of dollars on a seminar but feel like you return home empty handed?
Live conventions are a significant investment of your time, money, and resources. With the three tips below you will be sure to make the best of your investment.
First, come with questions and goals written down. Each year I attend several events and spend tens of thousands of dollars on my marketing education. For a few weeks before each event I keep a notebook at my computer to think of questions to ask or really specific things I want answered at the upcoming seminar. Perhaps you have a question about how to use Google's Website Optimizer tool. Maybe there is a colleague you want to meet in person.
It is so easy to get distracted at a seminar and completely ignore the reasons you bought your ticket in the first place. That is why having the notebook handy will help remind you about your questions and goals.
The most important tip is to make sure you are assertive especially if you consider yourself to be a shy person. Many times you may find yourself intimidated by the so called experts or gurus in the crowd. Resist the urge to hole up alone in your hotel room. Keep in mind that others also feel apprehensive about meeting new people and making conversion. I guarantee you will get infinitely more value from these rare networking opportunities than if you keep to yourself.
Good marketing seminar events are rare. Often an event is only held once per year. When will you have personal access to these types of high level entrepreneurs outside of these events?
Even if it means you meet just one person of value. That just a single contact can help you add thousands of dollars in profits or many hours of friendship for years to come.
Third, execute, execute, execute! It is tempting to form a habit of attending seminars because it makes you feel like you are working and adding value to your business. These same people often get home and immediately begin looking for the next event rather than execute the highly value creating techniques they discover at the last seminar.
"Seminar intoxication," or the lack of execution is the enemy. While you are at the event you have grand ideas of executing all of the ideas you learned. However, once you get back home with all of the typical distractions and the seminar "buzz" has worn off, it is difficult to execute these same ideas.
The one way to combat this destructive cycle is to execute one small idea at a time. Begin with just one idea, execute and then move on to the more advanced processes. Most of the marketing principles are time tested so they will be applicable even if not executed right away. You may also consider getting some inexpensive labor to help execute some of the techniques. This is especially true for highly technical type tasks or any activity you either dislike are are not proficient.
The main idea is to be honest with yourself. If you know you are not ever going to teach yourself complicated php programming, but need it to execute a new strategy, then find somebody who will do it for you. Consider posting the project on outsourcing boards like elance or hiremymom.com.
If you find yourself spending thousands of dollars, plus time energy and resources to attend seminars but do not get your money's worth, then apply these tips and you will certainly see a more profitable return on your seminar investment.
Live conventions are a significant investment of your time, money, and resources. With the three tips below you will be sure to make the best of your investment.
First, come with questions and goals written down. Each year I attend several events and spend tens of thousands of dollars on my marketing education. For a few weeks before each event I keep a notebook at my computer to think of questions to ask or really specific things I want answered at the upcoming seminar. Perhaps you have a question about how to use Google's Website Optimizer tool. Maybe there is a colleague you want to meet in person.
It is so easy to get distracted at a seminar and completely ignore the reasons you bought your ticket in the first place. That is why having the notebook handy will help remind you about your questions and goals.
The most important tip is to make sure you are assertive especially if you consider yourself to be a shy person. Many times you may find yourself intimidated by the so called experts or gurus in the crowd. Resist the urge to hole up alone in your hotel room. Keep in mind that others also feel apprehensive about meeting new people and making conversion. I guarantee you will get infinitely more value from these rare networking opportunities than if you keep to yourself.
Good marketing seminar events are rare. Often an event is only held once per year. When will you have personal access to these types of high level entrepreneurs outside of these events?
Even if it means you meet just one person of value. That just a single contact can help you add thousands of dollars in profits or many hours of friendship for years to come.
Third, execute, execute, execute! It is tempting to form a habit of attending seminars because it makes you feel like you are working and adding value to your business. These same people often get home and immediately begin looking for the next event rather than execute the highly value creating techniques they discover at the last seminar.
"Seminar intoxication," or the lack of execution is the enemy. While you are at the event you have grand ideas of executing all of the ideas you learned. However, once you get back home with all of the typical distractions and the seminar "buzz" has worn off, it is difficult to execute these same ideas.
The one way to combat this destructive cycle is to execute one small idea at a time. Begin with just one idea, execute and then move on to the more advanced processes. Most of the marketing principles are time tested so they will be applicable even if not executed right away. You may also consider getting some inexpensive labor to help execute some of the techniques. This is especially true for highly technical type tasks or any activity you either dislike are are not proficient.
The main idea is to be honest with yourself. If you know you are not ever going to teach yourself complicated php programming, but need it to execute a new strategy, then find somebody who will do it for you. Consider posting the project on outsourcing boards like elance or hiremymom.com.
If you find yourself spending thousands of dollars, plus time energy and resources to attend seminars but do not get your money's worth, then apply these tips and you will certainly see a more profitable return on your seminar investment.
About the Author:
Ben Moskel is a full time Internet Entrepreneur and consultant. Ben has generated several million dollars in online revenue for many large retailers and service providers. He is the author of The Online Entrepreneur available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
