{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F48ad733f-3cf6-4582-ace3-204e849c693f","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"The Truth About Business Development at Conferences","description":"Episode 57 of the Business Development Podcast explores the effectiveness of exhibiting at conferences as a marketing strategy. The host, Kelly Kennedy, emphasizes that attending conferences and setting up booths is not an active marketing approach and may not yield significant returns on investment. He highlights that most attendees are not potential customers and are primarily interested in grabbing free promotional items. While conferences can create brand recognition, their passive nature does not guarantee sales or business growth. Kennedy suggests that businesses should carefully consider their reasons for attending conferences and explore alternative strategies for effective business development.\r\n\r\n\r\nIn this episode, the host delves into the topic of business development at conferences, emphasizing the passive nature of exhibiting and the limited conversion rate of attendees to actual customers. Kennedy advises businesses to critically evaluate the purpose and expected outcomes of attending conferences, as they primarily serve to create brand recognition rather than generate immediate sales. He encourages listeners to consider other active marketing strategies that may yield better returns on investment. Through sharing anecdotes and personal experiences, the host challenges the common assumption that conferences are essential for business development and provides valuable insights on how to approach marketing at such events.\r\n\r\n\r\nKey Takeaways: \r\n\r\n\r\nAttending conferences for business development purposes may not necessarily lead to immediate sales or direct ROI.\r\nExhibiting at conferences is more of a passive marketing strategy, aimed at creating brand recognition.\r\nThe majority of people attending conferences may not be potential customers or have any intention of buying a product or service.\r\nConference attendees often visit booths for free merchandise, rather than genuine interest in the company or its offerings.\r\nInstead of solely relying on conferences for business development, consider other active marketing strategies.\r\nIt is important to understand the reasons behind attending conferences and set realistic expectations for ROI.\r\nConferences can still be valuable for informing new people about a company's products or services, even if they may not directly lead to sales.\r\nSelecting conferences where a higher number of potential customers will be present can increase the chances of generating leads.\r\nIt is crucial to weigh the benefits and costs of exhibiting at conferences and explore alternative marketing avenues for better returns on investment.","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/23fe78d8-848d-4f19-a0ae-f673c5b43f7e/original-928c12c9bef0bcdc508d26568f4473df.jpg"}