Are you looking to get more sales leads at conferences? If so, you’re in luck! In this blog post, we will discuss ten different ways that you can do just that. Attending or hosting a conference can be a great way to network with potential customers and partners, but it’s important to make the most of the opportunity. By following the tips in this blog post, you’ll be able to increase your chances of generating quality leads at any conference!
Why Should Your Sales Team Attend Conferences?
Attending conferences as a sales team can be an invaluable experience. 95% of marketers believe that in-person events can help achieve business goals, such as increasing the number of sales leads your team can generate.
Not only does it provide an opportunity for your team to expand their skill sets and build connections, but it also keeps them motivated and engaged. Conferences can help your sales team become more in tune with the industry, learn about any new technology or developments, and receive training from experts on topics like negotiation tactics, closing deals, customer service strategies, and more. Additionally, many thought leaders are often giving lectures that give attendees insight into new product launches and strategies that other companies are using in the field. Attending such sessions will allow your sales team to gain fresh perspectives while networking with industry peers.
At conferences, your sales team can explore alternative career paths and job opportunities at leading companies. This is a great way to stimulate creativity by delivering actionable advice along with real-world examples. Staying up-to-date on industry trends is key to staying competitive, but these events also provide opportunities for members of the sales team to learn soft skills such as public speaking, presenting effectively, and confidently interacting with customers—all tools which will increase their success exponentially in their role.
Lastly, spending time together outside of your normal working environment cultivates teamwork skills and reinforces company values—something that will benefit both individual reps as well as the overall success of the sales team. Thanks to what they learn in all these areas and more through attending conferences, your entire sales force will be better positioned to hit their targets while forming relationships elsewhere throughout the industry.
What Kind Of Conferences Are Available For Sales Teams?
Are you curious to learn what kinds of conferences are available for sales teams? Fortunately, there is no shortage of events where sales reps can gain valuable insights and network with potential customers, including:
Host Your Own Conference
Hosting a conference can be a great way to put your company front and center while getting the sales team in touch with potential customers. You’ll want to research what is already happening in your industry, then create an event that draws attention and helps differentiate your brand.
Attend An Industry Conference
Industry conferences provide an opportunity to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technology, and they are a great place to network. These events can also be good for professional development, as you may have access to presentations from industry leaders that can help your reps develop their skills.
Use Conferences For Industry Research
It’s essential to stay on top of industry developments, and conferences allow you to do so. You can attend talks from leading professionals in the field, see what products are being presented or released, and get an inside look at how other companies are working in the area.
How To Get The Most Sales Leads At Conferences
Now that you know what kinds of events are available let’s talk about how you can get the most sales leads at conferences. Here are 10 methods:
Get The Attendee List In Advance
One of the best ways to maximize the potential of a conference is to receive the list of attendees in advance. Having this information will allow you and your team to start making connections and sales calls before the event begins.
For example, suppose you know that a potential customer is attending the event. In that case, you can reach out to them beforehand and schedule a meeting or create a strategic plan for engaging with them during the conference. This will help maximize your team’s time while also giving them a chance to create meaningful connections.
Schedule In-Person Meetings Before The Conference
One great way to increase sales leads is by scheduling in-person meetings with potential customers before the conference even takes place. Not only does this give you a chance to introduce yourself, but it also provides an opportunity to secure immediate face-to-face contact with prospective leads right away.
This can be particularly helpful in securing those crucial upsells and cross-sells of your products and services which require deeper personal connections than can be made through email or phone calls alone. By making sure you are fully prepared before a conference starts, you are more likely to leave with several solid sales leads that were converted at the event itself – plus any additional ones that were generated during the in-person meetings!
Make Yourself Available For Meeting During The Conference
Besides scheduling meetings in advance, make sure you and your reps are available for spontaneous conversations during the event. Offering your team members’ availability throughout the conference is a great way to make sure that any potential leads can be taken advantage of immediately.
For example, if you have a sales rep that is particularly good at networking, designate them as the go-to person for any unscheduled meetings. This will ensure everyone on your team is available to meet with potential customers and generate leads when the opportunity presents itself.
Schedule An Event For Current Customers
Inviting your current customers to an event during the conference is a great way to show them that you value their business and build relationships. You can also use this opportunity to provide information on upcoming products or services, as well as any promotions or discounts you may be offering in the near future.
By doing this, not only will you be able to strengthen the relationship with your current customers, but word will spread, and you’ll also be able to increase sales leads by drawing in new customers as well. If you want to take it a step further, you can also allow customers to invite a guest who might be interested in your services.
Find Out What Events Current Customers Are Attending
Finding out what events your current customers are attending at the conference gives you an opportunity to meet with them in person and discuss their needs. This will also help you better understand how they use your product or service, identify gaps that need to be filled, and determine any additional support they may require.
For example, there may be after-hours events or panels that your customers have registered for. By attending these events, you can build relationships with current and potential customers as well as identify new sales leads.
Consider B2B Sales Situations To Grow Your Business
Not every conference is focused solely on B2C sales. Many conferences also offer the opportunity for businesses to network with other companies and seek out partners or clients for their business operations.
This is a great chance to generate B2B sales leads, as any potential customers you meet could be in need of specific services that your business offers. It’s also a great way to explore potential collaborations or partnerships with other businesses, as these can lead to even more sales leads and opportunities down the line.
Host A Seminar
Hosting a workshop or seminar dedicated to your products and services can be very beneficial in generating sales leads. You can use this opportunity to showcase the features and benefits of your offerings, as well as discuss any promotions or discounts you may have available.
You can highlight customer problems, explain how your services solve them and provide examples of successful customer stories. This way, you’re more likely to convert leads into customers after the conference is over.
Plus, when your team positions itself as an expert in the industry, it will make it easier to start conversations with potential customers and build relationships.
Create A Booth That Stands Out
Creating a booth that stands out at the conference is an effective way to draw in customers. You can do this by having interactive displays, engaging presentations, and attractive giveaways.
For example, you could have colorful banners featuring your products or services, hand out promotional items like mugs with your logo on them and offer discounts for products or services. All these tricks will help make your business more visible and draw potential customers to your booth.
Host A Giveaway
Hosting a giveaway is another great way to generate sales leads. You can give away products or services related to your business, or you can offer discounts on products and services.
You can also include an entry form in the giveaway where customers have to provide their name, email address, and other contact information in order to be eligible for the giveaway. This way, you can capture their information and follow up with them after the event to generate more leads.
Follow Up After The Conference Is Over
Following up after the conference is over is an important step in any sales job. You should contact all the potential customers you met at the event to see if they’re interested in learning more about your products and services.
You can also send out promotional materials or discounts to those who attended your presentation or seminar. Lastly, you can invite people to join your email list so they can be notified of any upcoming events or promotions.
Conclusion
If you want to increase the number of sales leads you generate at conferences, it’s important to make sure that you’re taking all the necessary steps. From attending industry events to hosting special seminars and giveaways, there are many different ways to get more sales leads from your conference attendance. Take some time to plan ahead, research potential customers and leads, and make the most of your time at the conference, and you’ll be sure to see better results.
If you’re trying to hire new sales candidates for your team, let Sales Recruiters Chicago help you. Our team of sales headhunters specializes in finding and placing top sales talent. If you want to learn more about our process or how to get sales leads at conferences, don’t hesitate to reach out, and we’d be happy to help!
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