Duh, I Just Got It--How I Would Do A Live Event If I Had it to Do Over Again

Well it took me a long time, but I just got it.

I just figured out why live Internet Marketing events are important, why you have to sacrifice to get there and why you need to network like crazy even if you miss some classes.

First, what did I 'get'?

When you finally have a launch or you are ready to do something big, you would like to be able to call on somebody you "know" and who "knows you". And that connotes that you have to get to know people who are doing things and let them get to know you. I didn't do a good job of that at two high profile events I went to last year.

You don't go to these things necessarily with your JV Proposal in hand ready to shove it in the faces of every heavy hitter you meet (unless you have that kind of likability where you can be a jerk and have people still like you). I did not do that thankfully.

Once you get to know somebody and they offer you the opportunity to do something with them, you can't take it personally that you are not getting compensated like an employee would. If you look at it like you are being taken advantage of, you will miss the point. I made a huge mistake this year when a heavy hitter invested some time with me but I treated it like an employee would and missed an opportunity probably for life. I had just been stiffed for two book writing contracts so I acted stupidly.

What I would say is that if you do something for the 'hitter' and it doesn't give you lots of money or notoriety, it is okay. In the new economy, you can't look at this as "an honest day's work for an honest day's pay". Many days you get nothing, but it becomes worth something when you can call on an individual for support. I totally blew it with one heavy hitter and I am still regretting it. You would think that a professor should know these things, but I am learning along with the rest of you.

I missed some events because of money. In other words, I balked at paying the fee or making the trip or being at the hotel. And looking back on that, I would do whatever I had to do. Write some extra articles, do some services, discount stuff and sell it so I could have the money to go to some of the premium events. Why? Well so that I could get on a first name basis with some of these chaps. So, I think that even if I am busy from now on, if it is remotely worth it, I will try to make the sacrifice to go.

The next is a little more subtle. I did this one well. You make friend with up and comers, NOT the peanut gallery. If you pick the lowest hanging fruit to be around at a live event, you will find them complaining about something, and it will be quite natural for you to complain with them. That is not why you pay the money. You make friends and become associates with the up and comers and schmooze and get to know the hitters. If you do that and take your 5 inch binder home, you will have succeeded.

Then it may be a good idea to stay in contact. That does not mean that you spend all of your extra time on skype, but you spend some time staying in contact. This is a business and the more contact you have the better you are. You realize (as I just have) that you are NOT in competition with everybody. That is the industrial age mindset. You are in league with those who are likeminded.

Sometimes you can make money by working together and other times you find a new partner. But if you have a wealth of people to call on, that is like being General Motors in the old world. I am notoriously bad at that. And you can't expect others (especially the hitters) to remember you and call you. You have to get off your duff and make contact. If you think, as I have from time to time, it is a waste of time..just vow to stay off social media, sports and news sites for a week. There is probably more time for contacting people than you think.

So if you have a chance to go to what you really think is 'rinky dink' conference or Warrior Event..know this...it only really takes one acquaintance to turn your next product launch into a big success and put you on the map. Everybody has good products (yeah I know some are crappy) but for the most part there is nothing new under the sun. What matters is the depth of your connections. And the last I checked, you can sometimes do that better over coffee than over skype.

Not sure what prompted this, but if it helps you...just say thanks. If not, well, you know what your mother told you about if you can't say anything nice.

Okay that's not what a forum is for, all positive opinion. But I am just sharing my perspective not stating a rule for you. Some people are probably self made online, but not everyone is...nor do they have to be.

CT