5 Opportunities Lost!

I attended a great networking event last week. It had all makings a Pick Up Artist, for business contacts, could want. Food, Plenty of People and a host that encouraged networking. I saw a friend there who has been struggling with his health product business. Unfortunately he did not take advantage of the opportunities this event could have granted him. Below are the five I noticed:

1. Failed to provide a Door Prize. Most events give the attendees an opportunity to win something. This event was no exception. They asked openly for door prizes. I asked my friend if he had any product in his car to give away. He did but when I asked later if he donated anything he said no. Some of my greatest brand recognition has been from door prizes. So donate when you have a chance and get a few people at the event to yell and scream when your product is mentioned.

2. Didn't work the floor. A good Pick Up Artist, for business contacts, will move around as the night goes on. Staying in one spot, with one person doesn't really help. Your goal at these events is to make appointments to talk in depth outside of the event. There are a lot of people here that you may not see again if you don't meet them. Take advantage, move around, meet people.

3. Bad Business Name/card. Your business card is a reflection of you. My advice is to have two sets. One that is personal. Basic Name and contact information plus your personal LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter Address. It should have a conservative Photo of you. (This is for people like me who have a hard time putting faces and names together.) And of course have you Business business card. In this case my friend had won a prize in the raffle. They announce his name and a business name that I think was an ingredient or two in his health product. It was hard to pronounce and long and in the end the announcer made fun of it. Not a good impression.

4. Didn't give away prize won. I know we all like to win but if you want to make an impression give the prize to someone who expressed an interest. I noticed another prize winner did this that night and ended up exchanging cards. This makes you look like a rockstar. The best Pick Up Artist are the ones that you want to meet. This is one way to become that person.

5. Didn't take advantage of wingman. Wingman are friends that can help you look good and meet others. I learned very quickly that there are key people at these events that seem to know everyone. You need to become friend with them right away and they in turn will introduce you to other. The host of this event is one of those. I being a friend was also one. When you get to the event find your wingman and ask who you should meet that night. That wingman will bring you to the person say a couple good things about you and let you do your thing.

I have one other piece of advice at an event, get to know the photographer. If you can successfully get to know the photographer they'll take pictures of you. Sometimes a lot of pictures that end up in articles and forums. Then at the next event you'll be recognized as one of the influential people everyone should meet.

Fred Abaroa
The Marketing Imagineer
Fred [@] TMIFred.com
@TMIFred

What is of most value in a presentation?

When I was young I watched with fascination as my mother would take a baby in her arms speak a little Spanish and get a huge smile or laugh. She would tell the parent that Spanish was the celestial language. It would be years until I discovered what the secret. And this same secret can help you as a presenter.

The secret is in your attitude. Your attitude must be one of confidence, caring, and enthusiasm. My mom would hold the baby, look at her in the eyes, smile and then speak in Spanish which is very musical when you listen to it. You may not be able to hold an audience in your arms literally but you can figuratively. In the first couple minutes of your presentation do something that will involve them. You can get to know them by raise of hand, have them repeat something you say, throw branded stuff to the audience or anything that gets them to react. The secret is they must react or participate. I have had audiences do the wave, sing, come on stage and switch seats. If this is done in the first few minutes of your presentation your audience will see your confidence caring and enthusiasm.

Want to know more? Let’s get a discussion going.

Fred Abaroa
The Marketing Imagineer
Fred [@] TMIFred.com
@TMIFred

Is My Work Over? 5 Tips For Post Conference Power

Just got back from Pop!Tech, a conference for "world changing people, projects and ideas". (poptech.org) I've attended off and on since 1997. As usual I have a lot of notes not only on the content but the people I met as well. Can't wait till next year!C-Ya.

WAIT! Don't just close the books on the conference for another year! Do something about it! After all did you take notes just to look busy? What about those people you met? Here are 5 things every conference attendee should do immediately after returning (or on the return trip):

1. Add your contacts to LinkedIn
2. Re-Read your notes
3. Create an action plan
4. Upload photos to Facebook
5. Write a Blog about the event

Some of the things above are great on the plane ride home, other when you first get back to the office. And I mean First! I know, I know you are back from days away from you desk and work has piled up. BUT you need to ask yourself why you paid money to attend if you were not going to do something. The act of DOING seems to take a back seat to learning. Not anymore because you are going through the 5 steps above.

Add Your New Contacts To LinkedIn. Why LinkedIn you are asking? Well unless you have telenotes and can dictate your contacts via the phone, you have a lot of typing to do. I just search on the name and all the rest of the info is there. Plus in LinkedIn I can see who else works for the company and gather more intelligence about the new contact. Later I'll add them to facebook so I can wish my new contact a happy birthday.

Re-Read Your Notes. I don't know about you but sometimes I can't understand what I wrote. Especially months afterwards. I find if I re-read and make further notes back at the hotel that evening the talks and impressions are locked in.

Create An Action Plan. "be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only" James 1:22 This verse of scripture haunts me at times when I heard a great talk noting I should make a change. But never made it a plan. We hear great things but if we are not going to implement them why go?

Upload Photos to Facebook. This is part of my devious find their birthday plan. I take pictures of various things and people at these conferences. Mostly as part of my continuing study of networking events, but I discovered attendees love to see photos. This last year I took some pictures of an art sculpture where people had climbed in to pose. They told me post it on facebook. From there I had a few others friend me to see the photos. I just took the meeting people at a conference to a new level. The other plus as I mentioned before is birthday notices.

Write A Blog About The Event. What this does is two things. One it solidifies the most important take away from the event. After all in producing the blog you will probably only spout out what impressed you the most. Two it brands you as a person who wants to better themselves though continuing education. You show you clients and prospective clients you are open to new ideas and learning.

Fred Abaroa
The Marketing Imagineer
Fred [@] TMIFred.com
@TMIFred

Using the iPad to Pick Up Contacts

In my soon to be bestselling book "The Pick Up Artist: Business Edition", I talk about importance of props. A prop is anything that draws attention to you and starts a conversation. I used my Macbook Air, kindle and of course my green glasses. The props work great but only if they are in plain sight. That is why my green glasses work so great. I have received compliments for them all across the country. I further us them as predominately in my avatar and use the color for my iPhone case and other apparel at the same time. Yes the glasses work great but I need other props to keep it fresh.

The iPad is the latest in great props. I recently had one at a get together of father and sons. I didn't even take it out of the pouch and became the center of the conversation for the next 2 hours. My other thoughts are to carry it around with an enlarged version of my business card showing or a presentation deck running on it. That surely will stir up some conversations. I am in the process of developing some new consumer products for Treeno Software on the iPad. This will become an even more intimate pick up technique as many will want to see what I have done and dream up their own app. It may be expensive but you have to look at it as part of your advertising budget.

Props are wonderful pick up tools. Tell me what your favorite prop is and how you have used it effectively.

Fred Abaroa
The Marketing Imagineer
Fred [@] TMIFred.com
@TMIFred