How Many of you Attend Events? - Input appreciated ;)

[Emjay Burton]

I am new to this entirely, so am still finding my way around. But, if these live events/seminars are anything like I have attended before for sales pitches then NO I won't be going!

[Kenster]

I am new to this entirely, so am still finding my way around. But, if these live events/seminars are anything like I have attended before for sales pitches then NO I won't be going!

There are some events out there that are heavily pitch fests and not focused on content and they don't have many experienced marketers in the crowd to build relationships with nor networking opportunities. With that said, most of the events I've been to have been phenomenal for networking.

I didn't really want to name individual events but I will because this one in particular has been instrumental in helping me start and then grow in this business and I've gone the last handful of years....and the event is Yanik's Underground event. There are many presenters and it's very rare that there are any real "pitches" from the speakers...probably because it's mostly "underground" type guys that are killing it online and many times it's their first time on stage.

But, the audience is filled with people of all experience levels. Many are hugely successful marketers and of course many of the big gurus are there as well. The networking opportunity is massive. The great thing about this event in particular is that Yanik has all kinds of crazy fun activities that aren't even IM related, things like disco parties and stuff that are super fun and make "networking" super fun, friendly, a non-pressured

The thing to remember is the value of many events is therefore the networking, not even the actual presentations. Many times the conference room has less people in it than the hallways...because that's where people are meeting each other, talking biz, and establishing relationships.

If you go to a lot of the small-time local type events, the pure purpose is to sell to the crowd, but many of the big events out there (though expensive) are super networking opps

Just my two cents

[Laurie Rogers]

I am new to this entirely, so am still finding my way around. But, if these live events/seminars are anything like I have attended before for sales pitches then NO I won't be going!

If you're comfortable, perhaps you can share what event it was that you attended. As everyone has stated, some events are giant sales pitches (I really don't care, because I'm there to network) and if the speakers interest me I'll listen, if not I'm out hamming it up in the lobby with the rest of the crew - which I did do at one event Rob and I attended a couple years ago - I sat and talked to one person in particular, we had some wine, food and did a lot of talking about business.

Local events - I know the guys here in Vancouver that host our local events aren't really pitchers, they do actually have value in their events. If one appeals to me, then I'll go, if not, I just don't, because it's local, so you're meeting the same people. Local events would really depend on who's running the group and if the other attendee's are going to be of value in your business. You always go on the premise that someone MAY know someone that can be of benefit to your business - you never who knows who.

We're pretty lucky here in Vancouver, we've got a lot of heavy hitters and experienced internet marketer's, our biggest problem is getting everyone to converge on a set schedule to do an event lol

Internet Marketing (as with any other business) to me, is at the very least, 50% relationship building (80% of which is networking at events) and if you're not willing to do that, you will find you may have some success or not much at all.

And I'll toss in a P.S. here - not all guru's are uptight pretentious snobs trying to get every cent you have in your pocket, in my experience most are pretty decent and fun folks.

Rob,

I was going to toss your bit about travelling in my initial post, but I thought I wouldn't bug you for once about it LOL!