Face to Face Marketing

I mentioned last week that the value of face to face marketing was still your highest return on investment.  For many of us this is meaningless...but here's some information I found.  The need for face-to-face interaction has never been more important in our digital and social media age. According to a report from Meeting Professionals International (MPI), 40% of prospects converted to new customers via face-to-face meetings, and 28% of current business would be lost without face-to-face meetings.

I don't know about you, but a 28% loss would be huge in most small businesses.  So why not add some face to face marketing to your overall marketing budget and plan.  Marketing is a very complex subject with all the options and expense involved.  Consult your professionals to better understand the plan that is right for you.

The reality is that both face-to-face and virtual marketing are essential components to any company's communications strategy. There are benefits of both approaches and as a business owner it's important to create a plan that is both beneficial and manageable.

Making the Case for Face-to-Face

Whether considering a tradeshow, a grand opening event, or a product unveiling, face-to-face interactions provide significant business benefits. At its core, face-to-face engagement creates a personal connection and builds trust between a company and its target audience. Giving a warm handshake, carrying an engaging conversation, and getting to know customers and prospects on an individual level can help form stronger, more meaningful, and more profitable business relationships.  There are many different types of events that can support this type of marketing.  Event professionals can help you match your demographics to your perfect type of event.  They will work with you to produce the event and to market it to achieve your goals.  A really good event planner will even help you track the return on investment of your marketing dollars.

Event planning of any type is a lot of work with much attention to detail given to insure the success of an event.  Check out the event planners in your area for that professional touch.  You can then continue to work your business while a great event is attended to.  On event day, you can show up and be the event without any attention being taken away from your business leading up to the big day!  The cost is worth it if you convert just one or two to new customers or renew a few relationships with existing clients.  Save yourself the stress without neglecting this important part of your marketing strategy.

Plan Ahead Events has franchises in over 100 locations.  Find one near you if you are looking for
professional help.  (www.planaheadevents.com) Events are a great way to maintain those relationships
you have so that you do not lose them, as well as to create new ones!

Have you had success with face to face events in your business?  If so please share the stories with others!  We can all learn from each others successes.

Read more about face to face marketing at this link we really like: http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2011/5938/the-value-of-face-to-face-marketingin-a-virtual-age#ixzz2XzPcMzwh