Abhilasha Sharma’s Post

It's amazing how many companies will send people to events without a plan or clear outcomes. I know because I've done it! Last year I was tired of it and built a playbook for how we approach events. Over the next couple days I'll share the plays for attending industry specific events when we're not sponsoring, speaking, or exhibiting. I'll get to the sponsored event plays another time, ok! 📅 Post schedule: Today: Pre-conference Thursday: During the conference Friday: Post-conference 🌟 Pre-conference plays 🌟 - Build a list of customers in the industry using LinkedIn Sales Nav - Build a sequence in Apollo: Step 1) LinkedIn connection 2) Manual email asking customers if they are going to the event 3) Automated follow-up email - For positive replies, arrange a time to meet up for a quick chat - Send connection requests to all speakers - Leverage my network: do I know anyone at the speaking or sponsoring companies I can connect with about the event? - Work with the SDR team to prospect into accounts within that industry - Confirm with marketing we're running paid ads to accounts in that industry (we usually are by default if they fit our ICP) - Download and get familiar with the conference app - Plan out what sessions and activities I'll check out by day. I try to pick sessions relevant to my world, but even if I can't, I'll go to something interesting to learn about the industry. Every session presents an opportunity to meet new people! - Block my calendar and let my team know I'll be out of office so I can fully focus on the task at hand - Post on LinkedIn 1-2 times before the conference and use the event hashtags so that you build awareness with your network that you're going 👇🏽 👇🏽 👇🏽 👇🏽 👇🏽 👇🏽 👇🏽 How do you prep for an in-person event? Please share in the comments! P.S. Post 2 of 3 on "during the conference" drops tomorrow. #sales #marketing #events #networking #conferences

😟 Do you know the biggest mistake exhibitors make at trade shows? 🤔❓ 📣 THEY DON’T NETWORK EFFECTIVELY 📣 Attending an upcoming trade show? Don’t forget to utilize your greatest asset – you! We know it’s easier said than done, but don’t worry. We’ve got some tips that will help improve your marketing game before your next trade show. Here we go! 1. Pre-Show Networking Preparation 🔍: Strategic preparation can boost your chances of meaningful connections. Planning ahead ensures you maximize time and effort during the event. To-Dos: > Identify Key Contacts: Use event apps, social media, and LinkedIn to research and list key attendees, exhibitors, and speakers. > Reach Out Early: Send personalized messages to express interest and suggest meeting times. > Set Objectives: Define what you hope to achieve from each meeting, such as partnerships or network expansion. Wins: > Efficient use of event time. > Increased likelihood of connecting with high-value contacts. > Demonstrates a proactive, professional approach. 2. Optimize Your Booth for Networking 🎨: An inviting booth fosters deeper interactions and draws more visitors, enhancing engagement with your brand. To-Dos: > Welcoming Design: Use an open layout and include comfortable seating for discussions. > Interactive Elements: Incorporate touchscreens, VR/AR experiences, or product demos. > Clear Signage and Branding: Ensure your booth communicates your value proposition clearly and concisely. Wins: > Attracts more visitors. > Facilitates meaningful interactions. > Creates a memorable visitor experience. 3. Post-Show Follow-Up 📧: Effective follow-up converts initial interactions into lasting business relationships, showcasing professionalism and genuine interest. “Let’s keep in touch” shouldn’t be just an empty promise. To-Dos: > Personalized Emails: Reference specific points from conversations to show attentiveness. > Connect on LinkedIn: Add new contacts with a personalized message and share relevant content. > Organize Your Leads: Use a CRM to segment leads by priority for targeted follow-ups. Wins: > Reinforces connections made. > Increases chances of converting leads into clients or partners. > Demonstrates a proactive approach to relationship building. Focus on these strategies, and you can streamline your trade show networking efforts and build lasting, valuable connections. Let's make your next trade show a success! 🌟 #tradeshowtips #networking #exhibits

Exhibitors can get 3X the qualified leads. (If you follow this simple list before you go exhibit at SaaStr, or at HubSpot Inbound or at IAEE in Los Angeles, or your next big event.) - Define a booth staff, schedule, and assign roles. Some of your team can be Greeters, others can be deep 1-1 conversations or mini demos. If everyone standing at your booth is doing the same thing. Your doing nothing. - Decide where to store backpacks, gear, extra water bottles etc., You don't want your booth starting to look like an airport lounge (and a busy one at that), plan ahead to store all the gear inside the exhibit walls or in your hotel room or ask the organizer for a place to safely put gear. - Create a daily contest (between your staff). The staff member with the most qualified leads or "Highest quality hot lead" wins a gift card, an iPad, a vacation trip, something worthwhile that makes your team focus in on the event + the conversations + their note-taking. - Ask the organizer about Appointment Scheduling, ways to drive traffic, or ad or sponsorship opportunities (most events use a great technology to help this) - Practice objection handling and your elevator pitch. Change it to be more of an elevator pitch + a Question. When someone walks up to the booth, get them explaining their role or focus so you can give them the context of your offering and how it helps them. - Map out the email follow ups and automation you will be using with your marketing team and Ops team. Do not save that for the week after the conference. Many Exhibiting companies now try to send a thank you email or automated follow up email the SAME DAY as the event. - Make friends with the booths nearby. You're going to be their all day...and they can help send people your way when it makes sense. - Confirm you have a daily lead metric. Is 25 meetings or 75 meetings this goal? #conference #eventprofs

Selling from a stage is a proven way to sell, particularly high-ticket offers! And one of the biggest keys to success? …Getting people registered and in the room. Because without an audience, it doesn’t matter how amazing your product or service is… …Or how effective your presentation or your offer is… No People = No Sales 😭🥀😤 On June 5th, we’re hosting Stage Selling Success: Your Lunchtime Showcase. And we’re focusing on how to leverage LinkedIn to support you in filling those seats… …so you’ll have plenty of qualified buyers to hear your story, your brilliance, and offer a next step in their journey (i.e. sell from stage). Our guest expert Sherri Coffelt will share why she believes LinkedIn is such an underutilized tool for promoting events and the keys to how she uses LinkedIn to help fill her live and virtual events. And she’ll share the #1 reason why promoting your events on LinkedIn not only drives registrations, but also grows your business for the long haul. It’s Part 2 of our 4-part Lunchtime Showcase series, that will not only help you get up on the stage to sell with confidence, but also organize your own speaking engagements. Join us LIVE on LinkedIn at 12 PM ET on: ✅June 5th-Maximize your audience with LI Events! with Sherri Coffelt, CEO of Results Partner Then mark your calendar for the final two showcases in the series on: ✅June 19th-Streamline with Mary Sue, CEO of Work Smarter Digital ✅July 9- "Secrets Revealed" - how to rock your Events! with Kelly Ann Peck, head coach in charge at Sales UpRising We can’t wait to share our expertise with you, so you can share yours with the world! Register for this FREE event here: https://lnkd.in/ehPDzqhZ #SalesUpRising #businesscoach #salescoach #salescoaching #sellfromstage #salespresence #eventplanning #speakingsuccess #salesexpert #salestips #LucrativeLiveEvent #LinkedIntips

🚀 5 Key Actions to Turn Virtual Events into Client Magnets! 🚀 Virtual events offer a goldmine of opportunities for businesses looking to expand their clientele. Here’s how you can harness their full potential: Showcase Expertise 💡: Host webinars or workshops that address pressing issues in your industry. Position yourself as the solution to these challenges, building trust and authority. Engage in Real-Time 🗣️: Use live Q&A sessions and interactive polls to engage your audience. Real-time interaction not only captivates attention but also builds a personal connection. Offer Exclusive Content 📚: Provide attendees with valuable resources they can’t find elsewhere. Exclusive content encourages sign-ups and fosters a sense of exclusivity. Network Effectively 🤝: Utilize breakout rooms and networking sessions to connect one-on-one with potential clients. Personal connections can convert prospects into paying customers. Follow Up Strategically 💌: After the event, reach out with personalized messages or offers. A strategic follow-up can transform interest into action. Embrace these strategies to transform your virtual events into a powerful client acquisition tool. Dive in, and let's turn connections into conversions! 🌟 #VirtualEvents #ClientAcquisition #BusinessGrowth #Networking #DigitalMarketing

🌟 And it’s over! So much preparation, conversation, and planning, and the event has come and gone. I’ve often been surprised by how quickly time can pass at a conference, while some meetings can sometimes drag on. 💡 Now it's time to summarize what you have accomplished from your planned activities. 📝 1️⃣ Analyze Your Performance ✅ Review your objectives and assess whether they were met. ✅ Analyze which strategies worked well and where improvements are needed. 2️⃣ Follow Up Promptly ✅ Send personalized follow-up emails to leads and contacts within 48 hours. ✅ Reference specific conversations or points of interest discussed at the event. 3️⃣ Share Your Experience ✅ Post-event content on social media and your blog summarizing key takeaways. ✅ Share photos, videos, and highlights to keep the momentum going. 4️⃣ Update Your CRM ✅ Enter new contacts and notes into your CRM system. ✅ Segment leads for targeted follow-up campaigns. 5️⃣ Evaluate ROI ✅ Calculate the return on investment (ROI) by comparing event costs to the value of leads generated and sales made. ✅ Use this data to inform future event participation decisions. 6️⃣ Plan Next Steps ✅ Develop a post-event strategy to nurture leads and convert them into customers. ✅ Schedule follow-up calls, meetings, or product demos as appropriate. 🔔 The last June event is behind you, but you can already see the list of fall events. If you want to make the most of your company's participation in events, contact me. Let's discuss how you can boost your sales through events. 💬 #Events #SalesStrategy #ConferenceTips #Networking #Communication #BusinessGrowth #PR

If you’re planning events for 2025, start with this question: How are you bringing your best customer with you? Even if they can’t attend, their story needs to. Here’s why: The first time someone sees your company at an event, there’s a 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗺. Sales reps can be charismatic, but prospects are still asking, "Can I trust this will work for me?" What bridges that gap? A peer—a customer—telling your story for you. ☑️ Social proof builds trust. ☑️ It crushes skepticism. ☑️ It shows, in vivid detail, the impact your product delivers. Getting customers to attend in person is ideal—but rarely scalable. Instead, bring their story through video testimonials. Why video? It captures 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲—the power of live storytelling with the convenience of pre-recording. 𝟯 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: 1️⃣ 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺. Play a customer story before the event kicks off to set the tone and build trust with your audience. It’s a simple way to break the ice and make your company memorable. 2️⃣ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵. Loop customer stories on a screen at your booth, and pair them with closed captions. Captions ensure the story lands even in noisy environments, proven to grab attention and keep people watching. 3️⃣ 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Video testimonials amplify trust at every stage of your event funnel: 👉𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵: Use them to intrigue your audience by hinting at what’s possible. For webinars, they’re perfect for teasing key topics or results you’ll cover. 👉𝘖𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴: Use video testimonials to subtly add credibility. Even a “thank you” page—a highly underutilized space—becomes a trust-building moment when you include a short testimonial. 👉𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘵-𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸-𝘶𝘱: Extend the impact. Including a customer story in your follow-up emails keeps the trust-building momentum alive and encourages warm prospects to take the next step. In 2025, the brands that win at events won’t just pitch their story—they’ll prove it with their customer proof. #eventmarketing #b2b #expo   

🎯 Maximizing ROI at industry events isn't just about showing up; it's a strategic journey from start to finish. Here's a condensed game plan to ensure your next conference pays off: 1. **Pre-Conference Prep**: Kick-start your success before even stepping foot at the event. Dive into attendee lists, set clear objectives, and plan your approach. This isn't just about being prepared; it's about being proactive. 2. **During the Event**: Now's your time to shine! Maintain high visibility, engage actively with attendees, and integrate tools like LinkedIn to deepen those interactions. It’s about creating memorable impressions that echo beyond the event. 3. **Post-Conference Strategy**: The real game begins after the event. Follow up is key; personalize your messages, segment your new contacts based on their interests, and reference conversations you had to reignite that initial spark. 📈 Each phase is crucial to transforming brief encounters into lasting business relationships and tangible outcomes. Have you found certain strategies particularly effective in your event follow-ups? Let’s exchange some top tips! #EventMarketing #Networking #BusinessStrategy Need help improving your ads? Let's chat.

Boost Engagement and Drive Leads from Your Trade Show Booth with Interactive Magic ✨ Exhibiting at a trade show? You’ve invested time and resources in your booth, but are you maximizing your attendee engagement? Many exhibitors face the “dead booth” dilemma: attendees pass by, glance around, and keep walking. If you're lucky, they'll give you "the nod." Here’s the reality: engagement is key. Without it, even the most eye-catching booth can get lost in the crowd. Imagine this instead: Your booth is a buzz of excitement, drawing in attendees who stay to learn more. How? By offering an unforgettable, interactive experience that captures attention—and holds it. With live, customized, magical presentations tailored to your brand, I attract crowds, entertain, and subtly convey your key messages. After each presentation, I invite attendees directly into your booth, setting the stage for more meaningful conversations and badge scans. 🔹 Engagement + Brand Connection: Interactive magic captivates attendees and organically integrates your brand messages, making it easier to spark interest and build rapport. 🔹 Lead Generation Without Pressure: Magic creates a “no-pressure” environment. Attendees feel welcomed and are more likely to engage, ask questions, and share their info. 🔹 Stand Out from the Crowd: A live magic presentation is hard to ignore. Attendees stop, engage, and remember your brand well beyond the event. Ready to transform your trade show booth into a lead-generating experience? 💬 Connect with me here on LinkedIn or message me directly to start a conversation. Let’s make your next event unforgettable. #TradeShowTips #EventEngagement #BoothAttraction #InteractiveMarketing #EventMarketing #LeadGeneration #BrandExperience #CorporateEvents #AudienceEngagement #TradeShowMagic #ExperientialMarketing #BrandActivation #LiveEntertainment #TradeShowBooth #NetworkingEvents