Internet Marketing Tips - Keeping Your Pulse On Current Events

Lots of people who I talk to ask me how I get ideas for products. I really have to give a chuckle when I get asked these questions. When I hear them, it makes me think that most people are living in caves, which I know they're not. The truth is, if you would just open up your eyes and look around, there are tons of ideas for products and services just ripe for the taking if you do nothing else but check the daily news. That's right. Current events are so filled with great ideas that all you have to do is read the newspaper. This article is going to give you an idea of what I am talking about.

Unless you really have been living in that cave, then you probably heard that just the other day (as of this writing) Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's all-time home run record. Whether you think the man cheated, didn't cheat, deserves the record or doesn't, it is certainly news, and big news. Okay, you're probably thinking, "How can I make money off of this?" After all, you probably didn't catch the home run ball. Well, there are other ways.

How about starting a blog asking people what they think of the record. Put up a poll on the blog. Put up a guestbook for people to post comments. Get as much interest as you can. A topic like Barry Bonds is going to be hot for a long time. So take advantage of it. How? Well, how about joining an affiliate program like Amazon and promote sports books? Seek out online affiliate programs that specialize in sports cards. Maybe you even have Barry Bonds sports cards that you can sell at your site or on Ebay. Certainly there are a number of ways you can take advantage of this situation.

And yes, take advantage is exactly what it is. More explicitly, it's called exploiting. And there is nothing wrong with it. It's how the system works. You look for what people are interested in and then you sell it, plain and simple. And ironically, the things that people are interested in are in the news everyday. You can find them online or on TV or even on your car stereo. I personally listen to WFAN for all my sports news. If I think there is a good story coming up, I'll think of a way to make money on it.

That's what smart businessmen do. As long as you're not hurting anyone or doing anything illegal, there is nothing wrong with taking a current event and capitalizing on it. So the next time you're looking for a marketing idea, turn to current events.

There's more there than you realize.

To YOUR Success,

Steven Wagenheim

Event Fund Raising - Three Key Skills to a Successful Fund Raising Event

Putting together and seeing through a successful fund raising event can be very rewarding or a real pain in the neck. If you have been chosen to volunteer or to be in charge of the local charity fundraiser and you're trying to put together an event fund raising campaign that is successful you first need to consider if you're truly the person that should be running the event. This article will go into a few guidelines that will show you whether or not you have what it takes to be a successful event fund raiser.

How Well Organized Are You

One of the first keys in pulling off a successful event fund raiser is to make sure that you have all your ducks in a row. You should have a system set up where you can keep good records of all donations and all donors. By doing this you will not only help yourself with the current event that you're raising funds for, but it will help in future events, should you decide to continue on doing this.

The Personality Check

Have you ever taken a personality test or temperament test to determine whether or not you have natural leadership skills or if you're more of a follower? Sometimes people think they don't want to lead an event. However, they do possess the skills that make for very good leaders. If you don't already know what your personality type is this a be a good time to do a small little test and find out what your skill sets are.

Along the same lines of knowing what your personality type is - a good leader will also know what the personality types and skill sets of all their volunteers of the volunteers you will be having to help with the event fund raising project. By knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each of your volunteers, you can place them in the proper positions and have a much more successful fundraising experience.

Local Community Influence

Last but not least, if you're going to lead any kind of the charitable event fund raising project - You need to have a good influence on several prominent business leaders in your area. You are going to rely on these people to help boost your donations in the early stages of the fund raising event.

Parents & Kids - Talk About Current Events

Talking with your Kids about Current Events? 

Why not?  There are so many news articles on line, in newspapers and on TV that are truly worthy of noting.  The trick if you're going to talk with your kids about them is to avoid our adult urge to "comment" and/or share our own opinions.  Talk about a turn off!  Most kids are pretty darned sure about OUR opinions--and they don't need a lecture from us. 

The purpose of talking to kids about current events is to get THEIR opinions and thoughts.  For example, just recently there was a news story about Levi Johnson (you know Bristol Palin's former boyfriend?).  He was being interviewed and was asked: "Do you have any regrets?".  He replied that he didn't regret "being a father".  No matter what your political beliefs, this is a great lead-in to a discussion. 

In this example, no matter what your opinions and ideas on the subject, this in-the-news broadcast issue can provide a glimpse into your child's notions and beliefs about many aspects of this story.   This could be a good opening to talk about "premarital sex", "teen relationships", "behavioral choices",  "risky behavior", "long-term plans", and a whole bunch more. 

If you wanted to start a conversation with your child about any of these issues, how would you begin?  Sit down and say, "I've been wanting to talk to you about ____"  or "Now's a good time for us to talk about ___" Or "What do you think about ____?"  Any of these openings delivered out-of-the-blue is likely to illicit an unspoken thought: "Oh, boy, here we go...here comes the lecture!" 

The mistake that many parents might make in bringing up a life-lesson subject into a discussion is that we adults often want to lead the discussion.  After all, we've got the maturity and life-long experience to impart.  When we tout our own opinions before finding out what our children think, we often shut the door to an open and genuine conversation.  Kids often perceive the spontaneous personal "conversation" as a one-way lecture and give us a glazed stare--have you noticed?

Instead, using another outside-the-family specific person or event (like one "in the news"), provides a sense of being an observer to the issue.  By seeing the issue from a slight distance parents and kids can talk about them and their issues--them or what they or how that worked for them--it's not quite so personal or open to personal criticism or embarrassment.

Here are some tips to connecting with your child and finding out what he/she thinks:

1.  Be vigilant!  Be on the look-out in the newspaper, on-line and in televised news for stories that can open a discussion.  It might be about sex, drugs or music--it might be about personal safety--it might be about school behaviors or education.  The news is full of ideas--EVERYDAY!
2. Ask if your child heard the story (on the news, in the paper or on-line) about _____.  If not, explain what happens in the story.  If so, ask, "What do you think about it?"
3. Be prepared to ask open-ended questions so that you won't get a "uh" or a "yes" or a "no".  Try questions like "What do you think he was thinking?" or "What do you imagine he thought was going to happen?" or "How do you suppose he got in that predicament?". 
4. Avoid asking leading or personal questions like: "You wouldn't do that, would you?" or (even worse) "You wouldn't be so foolish as to think that, would you?" or "How can I be sure you aren't going to get into that type of trouble?". 
5. Ask your questions and give your child plenty of time to respond. 
6. Avoid judging his/her response, notions or beliefs.  Notice your own tendency or desire to preach or teach and DON'T.  Keep asking open-ended questions so your child can keep sharing and talking.  This is your opportunity to find out what your child needs to know or understand--not your time to act on it.  
7. If the "discussion" goes awry, apologize for YOUR part in the conversation.  Explain that you just wanted to talk TOGETHER about what YOU had seen "in the news".  But, don't defend your position about the subject--it'll lead to an argument if your child disagrees.  Or it might even shut your child down and close a future window of opportunity for discussion.
8. Be gentle on yourself.  Talking WITH kids is tough!  It takes practice and intention to automatically use "open-ended" questions.  It takes a true desire to find out what your kids think and belief and resist the immediate desire to correct their thinking. 

Parenting requires patience, skill, knowledge--and experience.  Your children are out-there exposed to all sorts of ideas and behaviors.  Our job is to assist them to do what we did--learn from what we observe and experience.  Talking with your kids about issues "out-there" makes it easier to open a conversation about a subject, learn from it and change or confirm beliefs and ideas.  Luckily there is a lot of hot-topics in the news everyday we can use to start the dialogue. 

Overview of Hollywood - Bollywood Current Events

The world's movie wealth is not Hollywood but Bollywood. Bollywood is the nickname for the Indian film production situated in Mumbai.

Indians are in love with movies, even though most films follow a similar format called collection of spices. Movies are three to four hours long (and include an interval), include dozens of songs and dances, top stars, the story between the songs of boy meets girl, lots of action, and always - a happy ending.

Fourteen million Indians go to the movies on a daily basis (about 1.4% of the population of 1 billion) and pay the comparable to the average Indian's day's wages (US $1-3) to see any of the over 800 films churned out by Bollywood each year. That's more than double the number of feature films produced in the Hollywood.

The public's curiosity in Hollywood actresses and other celebrities is not a recent trend. Magazines have provided reporting of Hollywood actresses for decades, chronicling their performances and contribution a glance into their lives. Actresses who starred in movies back when they were called "talkies" have all awestruck the public. Film buffs attracted in learning more about these Hollywood actresses can do more than just watch the films in which they starred: They can also learn about who they were outside of their characters by reading articles in magazine archives.

When these Hollywood actresses shot to fame, magazine articles often focused on their early lives, before they entered the public eye. In addition to offering biographies of Hollywood actresses and stars, these articles also discussed their performances and critiqued their films. Though many magazines offer admittance to their archives online, these archives may not go back far enough to cover the time of early Hollywood actresses.

Infrequently, some fans may come across old issues of periodicals like Film Spectator and Photoplay Magazine at garage or estate sales, but often they are at a loss for primary sources.

List Relationship Marketing - Build Rapport With Your List by Relating Current Events to Your Niche

You want your information to stand out among the sea of blog posts, articles, emails, and other communications your prospects will be exposed to on a regular basis. An excellent way is to relate a current event to your niche. There are many ways to do this, but you will want to choose events that are timely, that you can use to make a point regarding your topic, and that hold the interest of the person you are trying to connect with. This can all be done without compromising the integrity of your business.

You can find timely current events simply by keeping your eyes and ears open to what's happening around you. Whether you receive your information from the network news, magazines, newspapers, or any other source, there is always something happening that can turn into a media connection for your niche. For example, during the recent Olympic Games I wrote about the leadership skills and the similarities of being an athlete to those of an entrepreneur. It made for interesting reading and many of my readers commented on my post. This was a way to connect with people I had never heard from before.

Make a relevant point about the current event you are writing about. Even if it is a stretch, you can connect most events to your niche. Think about awards that are given for the arts and for science, a discovery that makes people think differently about the world around them, or a small achievement by someone not usually in the news. Once I wrote about a man who had jumped onto the subway tracks to save another man from being run over by the oncoming train. This small act of heroism saved a life and changed two lives forever. I related that to the events surrounding one of my mentors in his life and business. All of this makes us more real and human in the eyes of our prospects.

Even though our businesses are interesting and exciting to us, or should be, this may not be the case with someone on your list. By relating a current event and sharing a more personal story along with it, we are able to draw that person in to our world, even if it is only for a short time. When I think about how I came to start my online business and become an entrepreneur, it is the stories that made a difference to me. Imagine getting just one person to want to change their life, based on a story you shared that was based on a current event. When I was a classroom teacher that happened regularly; in my online business it is far too rare.

Banking Keeps Up With Current Events

The internet has changed the way we do things, the way we look at things and the way we handle our personal business. The public usually responds positively to anything that makes life easier, and when it comes to banking, maintaining your finances is definitely easier.

The fastest, most convenient way to access your bank account information is via online banking and it comes as little surprise that it has gained widespread acceptance for its ease, accessibility and security. From a home computer, users can log onto their bank account and complete a variety of transactions at any time of day, seven days a week.

For numerous reasons online banking has gained its reputation as the new and, for many, only way to bank. Firstly, it's convenient as account holders may access their information at anytime and from any computer with a basic internet connection. Also, users can save time avoiding frustrating bank queues and conduct their finances from the comfort of their own armchair at a time that suits them.

Most importantly, online banking has become increasingly secure and most of the initial apprehension surrounding this self-banking process has now dissolved into warm acceptance. High levels of security have increased privacy and protection of account information making a current account online a true winner for personal banking.

As a result of the explosive growth of online banking, users have become increasingly concerned with the implications of fraud and identity theft. This has become a hot topic in the media and people are now seeking assurance that online banking is safe. Banks have responded by developing and upgrading effective security features, creating peace of mind for customers and a wall of protection against identity theft.

A current account online [http://www.barclays.co.uk/current-accounts/] allows for greater control and personal awareness of your finances. The days of briefly scanning a monthly paper statement are gone, many users check their finances several times a week and nearly all access their accounts many times a month as it is an excellent way to pay bills or transfer funds. No third party is required to answer questions or alleviate confusion, users simply access their accounts whenever they need to and everything they need to know is onscreen in a matter of seconds.

Even for those who are no fan of computers or technology, online banking allows people the opportunity to complete all their business in one sitting. Options available include bill payment, balance enquiry, interest and charges information, loan applications and scheduled transfers. Many like to set aside some time do it all at once and online current accounts are very accommodating in this regard.

Convenience, practicality and accessibility are the principal benefits of a current account online and with continued security improvements being made by providers, an online current account has become the more secure way to handle and protect your personal finances.

Staying Connected to Current Events With Satellite Internet

Sometimes when you live further away from major cities and towns, it is easier to fall behind on what's happening in the world. While it's definitely one reason that people often move from the big city, having absolutely no news whatsoever is not the same as taking a bit of a media fast. No matter how you feel about the media, staying at least a little bit informed as to what is going on is an important part of life, regardless of your political affiliations.

For those rural internet users who have been depending on a dial-up connection to enjoy the world wide web, staying plugged in is a whole lot more difficult. After all, dial-up is made for a time before information was disseminated at an incredible speed online. This means that it is not ready to handle things like streaming video, constantly updating blogs, or even newsrings where there is more than just simple text. The only way that someone who is living far away from cable or broadband options to get a quicker version of the internet is by getting with satellite internet.

It could be said that satellite internet itself was developed as a response to the need to get information out as fast as possible. Some of the very first adopters of this technology were organizations who needed to foster communications with remote areas. Whether it was Doctors Without Borders working to connect their main offices in the States with field offices in far-flung African countries or cable news networks who needed to set up a live feed for reporting in remote regions of the world, satellite has definitely done more than its part to connect people in important times.

Now, it's possible for satellite to connect you to the outside world, too, at a much friendlier price than when the technology was reserved solely for large corporations and their personal needs. Satellite internet at a consumer level offers just as much bandwidth and just as fast a connection, but at a price befitting someone's personal home service. The speed means that anything from streaming video to listening to a news anchor's podcast is possible. And that, in turn, means that it is more possible for you to stay connected to the world.

It's not just the international news or the top political stories that will now be easier to access. If your local community newspaper has a website but not a delivery boy who feels like coming to your neck of the woods, you can stay in touch. Likewise, if you miss family living in another city, stay tuned into the events of your former home - or their current one - through satellite internet. And, as always, you have just as much access to lighthearted information, like gossip television, as well as the helpful benefits of weather websites that can actually load, since you're not on a slow dial-up connection.

If staying in the loop is the only thing that's been keeping you from relocating to a more remote part of the country, consider that your goal is now much more feasible, since satellite brings all of the world's news to you at a speed that makes it possible to enjoy.

Helping Your Child Cope During Difficult Current Events

Current world events can be unsettling. If your children watch the news, they might find that it's difficult to distinguish between what is happening elsewhere in the world or in their hometown. For these children, the stories that they see on the news can have a personal effect and can even be distressing to them.

As parents, we want our children to be safe and happy. With today's media coverage of current events, it is more likely that your children could be aware of violent acts occurring in other parts of the nation. If your children know of such events, it would be helpful to talk with them about what they've seen. Remember when talking to them to remain calm and reassuring. Acknowledge their feelings and stick to the facts. If your child is reacting negatively to any news coverage it is important to monitor and limit their TV viewing.

If your child continues to have worries regarding current events, please contact the staff at your child's school. Your child can receive support from the teacher, guidance counselor, school social worker or school psychologist, depending on the severity of the effects on your child. If the school determines that your child needs more help then they can provide, they might refer you to a clinician outside of the school system.

If you are do not know where to go for outside mental health services, ask for suggestions from either your school, primary care physician or your insurance carrier. If you do not have insurance, please check with your local Community Services Board. They work on a sliding scale, making receiving mental health services affordable for everyone.

Current Events For Teens - What Do Teens Care About?

Sometimes it may seem like all teenagers care about are clothes and music, but that may not be so. Many teenagers are deeply interested in the world around them as they get prepared to enter the real world. They are interested in current events for teens.

Teenagers who follow world events know that they will likely not receive Social Security like their grandparents did. Many teens may worry about this fact. Hopefully this reality will inspire them to save their money as soon as they start working and stay out of debt.

Even though most teenagers cannot vote, many are interested in politics. Many schools have clubs for Young Republicans and Young Democrats. Teenagers can help with campaigns by passing out literature, making phone calls, and putting up signs. Teens will want to read about politics, because it effects their future.

College costs and information related to college is important to teenagers as they will soon be choosing and attending a school. Current trends are showing that college tuition is going up at a high rate, and teens need to know more about financial aid and scholarships. Teenagers need to know information about deadlines for applying for aid and where to apply. This information is not always readily available to them.

Career trends should be included in current events for teens. Although most teenagers have some time to think before starting in the work force, most teens are at least contemplating what field they want to work in. They need to have an idea, so they know what courses to take in high school and college. College graduates need to be able to get a job and make decent money after graduation, in order to pay back their student loans.

Teenagers do care about music, movies, and television. This fact is undeniable. They want to stay on top of the hottest trends, see all the new shows and listen to all the hottest new music. Teenagers want to read about these topics, along with fashion, dating, and health information. Teenagers have special needs that are unique to their age group, and current events for teens must address this fact.

Teenagers like to know where to shop to get new fashions and where the "cool kids" are eating. They want to know all about the popular places to go to have fun, shop, and eat. Teens enjoy getting out of the house with their newfound freedom!

There may be some teenagers that only care about their tiny corner of the world, but most teens are much more thoughtful. They want to know about current events relating to politics, jobs, college, and their future. They realize that they do have a future, and they want to know where that future is going.

How Current Events Shape The World Of Bodybuilding

It's a scary world we live in. Terrorism, economic uncertainty, and globalization all promise to present us with a brand new world in the coming decades.

But what the heck does this have to do with bodybuilding?

A lot, actually. Watching the news and learning how to apply it to your own lives is a very valuable skill, which could significantly improve your quality of life.

Affects of oil prices on food

The price of a gallon of milk has gone up over a dollar in the last year. Supplement manufacturers are beginning to raise their prices, as the prices of raw materials they use to produce their goods are going up 25 to 50%. Should additional wars erupt in the middle east and the Persian Gulf find itself closed, we should be aware that the prices of food and water here in America will rise significantly, as oil prices will rise, leading to higher gas costs. This affects food prices because a lot of gasoline is used to deliver food to grocery stores.

Affects of food scares

Every time there is a 'mad cow' disease scare, beef production halts, and that daily steak you enjoy so much costs more to get to your dinner plate. Every time another 'avian bird flu' headline hits our screen, the poultry industry is forced to make adjustments, which are reflected in the price of chicken at the supermarket. The same is true with fruits and vegetables. Remember the scare with the tainted water causing bad produce resulting in several deaths? A smart bodybuilder will watch the news and make purchases accordingly. Not only avoiding foods which could potentially harmful - but by quickly buying goods which might become scarce/more costly when a market takes a hit.

Whey as a survival food

Should things (God forbid!) ever get bad in our country, they whey in your cupboards will be worth its weight in gold. Aside from its long expiration dates, whey protein provides high protein, good carbs, and essential vitamins and minerals. Used sparingly, a tub could last a family for weeks should no other food source be available. A few hundred dollars' invested in whey protein for a rainy day might be very wise investment.

Should natural (or manmade) disaster ever befall our nations or world, the strong always survive. As do the prepared. So each night as you catch the news, spend just a moment considering how the things happening on the global and national level could very possibly affect your bodybuilding goals. Being strong AND prepared is a very wise idea as we all enter the unknown world that is the future.

Tips to Aid an Event Planner - Plan Current Events

The urgency involved in planning current events can make the exercise taxing physically and emotionally. An event planner is under much pressure especially when trying to meet a deadline. By preparing well in advance, event planners can avoid the last minute rush that will add undo pressure. Early preparations include identifying and reserving the events venue, applying for a permit if the law requires one to do so, evaluating the budget and getting entertainment, food and drink that will be sufficient and within the budget.

To make the work easier, the event planner must define the event. Will it be a formal or informal affair? Will it need an outdoor or indoor venue? Next, knowing when the event will take place will help the planner determine when to start scouting for a suitable location and then making reservations.

By knowing why the event is happening, the planner can focus on giving it a suitable theme. Themes for sporting events are very different from the themes a planner would use for weddings. By describing why the event is happening, the planner is also able to focus more on the details that will highlight the purpose of the event.

A current events planner needs to be cautious about spreading the budget evenly in all the areas that need to be paid for. Usually, big corporate companies have bigger budgets than a small business or a personally sponsored affair. The event planner should know exactly how much money they have to work with, and then prioritize on what needs to receive which budget amount.

Usually, higher priority is given to the things that hold the most meaning. In a wedding for example, the venue is of much importance to the couple, so the appearance and convenience of the venue is important. On the other hand, only the pitch and the ability of the venue to accommodate a huge audience are considered for sporting events.

Seeing that entertainment is such a vital part in current events, the planner should decide whether to provide recorded music or live music for entertainment. Alternatively, he can opt for performing arts acts. Drink and food are equally important and the planner must ensure that everything is in order by hiring a dependable staff. A clear understanding of the guest list, what the event is for, and the available budget are things that even the most seasoned event planners need to know to avoid getting bogged down in the planning details.

Business Small Talk - How to Make Conversation at a Business Event

Making small talk with strangers at a business event - does the idea fill you with dread? It isn't easy making small talk with people you don't know. If you've ever ended up with a frozen smile on your face while you frantically think of a topic to discuss, here are some tips to make it easier.

1. Prepare conversation topics ahead of time. Chances are, before heading out to a business or social event, you think about what you will wear, how you will get to the event, and even where you will park. How often do you plan what you will say once you get there?

Before the event, plan three or four conversation topics. This will save you from a frantic search for a new topic when the conversation grinds to a halt.

At a business event, know what's happening in your industry. Read professional journals and newsletters in your field to keep up to date.

Be up on current events. Read the local and national newspapers. Skim the headlines and top stories for topics of interest. Watch the local and national news so you won't to be in the dark about recent developments. Then plan at least one topic from your industry, and one general interest topic that you can discuss.

2. Use an opening line to start the conversation. Don't worry, you don't need a brilliant opener. In fact, it can stop the conversation because when you say something weird or unexpected, people may be momentarily taken aback if they aren't sure how to respond.

Stick to simple topics like the weather or why you are at the event. That's why we talk about the weather - it's something everyone can talk about!

A compliment is always a great opener. Comment on the person's unusual tie or necklace, or on the wonderful hors d'oeuvres. Just make sure your compliment is sincere, and not too personal.

3. Get the conversation rolling. The best way to do this is to begin with your shared experience, such as the event you are attending. Ask about the person's relationship to the event or group. Ask their opinion on the speaker, or how they know the host. Or talk about the venue or city you are visiting.
Any of these questions give you an instant connection because you've had the same experience.

Remember that at business events, people want to meet new people. Be friendly, use your opening line, and talk about the event. You're sure to get the conversation moving forward.

10 Beer Budget Event Marketing Tips

Are you planning an event or participating in a trade show any time soon? If so, consider the following 10 low-cost marketing tactics before mailing your payment.

Event Marketing Tactic #1 -- Is the purchase decision-maker attending the event? Are you certain? Let's say you sell gifts that help increase employee moral and you're considering exhibiting at the National Association of Human Resources annual conference. Is your decision-maker attending? Who attends this event -- HR directors, managers or VPs? Perhaps all, or a small percentage of all three attend. If your decision-maker is a human resources director, then you'll want to make sure the event management company can provide you statistics supporting what percentage of the participants have director-level titles. You need to drill down to your target audience. It's not good enough to say that it's a human resources related event; rather, is the job title you're targeting attending? And if so, what percentage of the attendees hold this title? I recommend at least 50-60% before spending any money.

Event Marketing Tactic #2 -- What value-added benefits is the venue [trade show organizer] making available to your business? Will they allow you access to the attendee mailing list so you can implement a premailing promoting your one-day trade show special, as well as the location of your booth? Well organized events, at minimum, provide a list of attendees after the event so exhibitors can follow up. More organized events provide participant contact information BEFORE the event as well as after. Other value-added benefits to inquire about include: being included in participant email distributions promoting the event, as well as an advertisement in the event show guide.

Event Marketing Tactic #3 -- Target your event qualifying questions around the "who?," instead of the "how many?."

Event Marketing Tactic #4 -- Giveaways should be relevant to your business. Don't give something away for free just for the heck of it. Who cares if you collect 10,000 names because you ran a really cool promotion giving away a free 48" TV. If you're a personal chef, what does a TV have to do with your business? Nothing! [Unless you're Emeril.] Therefore, you've just collected 10,000 NON-qualified leads. Instead, as a personal chef you could try, "Sign up to receive our special report, "How to Live Like the Rich; Tips to Hire an Affordable Personal Chef." One can assume the majority of business cards deposited in your fish bowl have an interest in personal chefs.

Event Marketing Tactic #5 -- Location, location, location. If prospects can't see you, then you're wasting your time. Don't be fooled into purchasing a cheap booth at a last-minute special, such as "One booth remaining at 50% off." Chances are no one will be visiting you, since your booth will be tucked away hidden from all eyes. The most ideal locations are found at the entryway to the event and near the pathway to the food stations and restrooms. Corner booths between major walk-throughs are ideal.

Event Marketing Tactic #6 -- Some of your most qualified event leads come from networking with other exhibitors. Therefore, secure the exhibitors' list several days before your event. At minimum, you want to know what competitors will be there so you can mystery shop. What's more, you want a plan outlining what exhibitors you intend to approach to either pitch your services, or secure an informal partnership. Prepare your plan and your sales-spin before the big day!

Event Marketing Tactic #7 -- Would you like to participate in more events but don't have the budget? Try approaching complementary exhibitors and ask if they'd be interested in sharing booth space with you. Split the costs. Moreover, you can cover for each other when you need a break. Or, look around for hidden advertising money. If you're a distributor, perhaps you've accrued MDF funds [Market Development Funds] a.k.a. advertising coop money, unbeknownst to you. Many companies will allow resellers to spend MDF funds to pay for event booth fees.

Event Marketing Tactic #8 -- Save yourself a lot of time and only approach event passersby who make eye contact. People who don't look at you or your booth are not looking for a reason. Remember, you can only speak to so many people at an event, therefore utilize your precious time wisely. Target those who make eye contact.

Event Marketing Tactic #9 -- Make sure you're allowed to display signs, posters, banners, etc. Treat your signs as miniature billboards. No more than six words and make sure it can be read from at least 10' away.

Event Marketing Tactic #10 -- Don't pay full price. Remember, almost everything in life is negotiable, including booth fees. Always ask for a price reduction; you'll be pleasantly surprised. Printed advertising and/or booth fees are just a starting point for negotiations.

P.S.....Stand up, don't chew gum and try not to talk too much to the other people working your booth. The latter makes you appear unapproachable. Finally, your attire should be slightly better than what you believe attendees will be wearing. For example, if you're attending an event whereby most of the attendees are engineers, don't wear a three-piece suit!