Seminars are a very important part of a comprehensive IT marketing plan, and you need to make the most of them.

Focus on Registration

When you offer IT marketing seminars, they should be free, but you have to stress registration to remind people that there is limited seating.  Because they are free events, not everyone will make it a priority to show up.  Have a door check in and a survey that, if completed by participants can be exchanged for a door prize.  This will also help you tailor-make your IT marketing seminar to fit the interests of your attendees.  An educated prospect will be easier to engage than one that is uneducated.

The registration process also helps you capture contact information, which you will need to follow up with prospects.   

After Your IT Marketing Seminar

You should offer a handout with your contact info and a limited-time special offer for participants of your IT marketing seminar.  Offer highlights of the seminar in a short article that you can hand out right after the seminar or mail shortly after it.  You can also try to get it published in different local business journals, the chamber newsletter or other organization newsletter.  You should be forthcoming and allow anyone that wants to educate people about protecting computers against viruses and security threats (or whatever your seminar is about) to publish it.  You can also make the article into a free report to offer with future IT marketing campaigns – advertisements, follow-ups, etc.  

The IT marketing seminar and the highlights article help to showcase your expertise.  Offer the same fixed-price audit package with a special offer discount and a set deadline also to those that participate in the seminar.  

Traveling Seminars?

You can also travel with your IT marketing seminar.  GO out and offer it for the local chamber of commerce meeting or Rotary and Kiwanis.  They are typically always looking for speakers to speak for 15 or 20 minutes at breakfasts and luncheons.  Seminars of this variety give you a captive audience and instant demand.  They are already filling the seats, and you have the floor to show your expertise!

You can also go to business partners – set up a good partnering relationship with an accounting firm or other professional, non-competing services firm.  Get their clients together and talk about data security awareness or something else related to what they are doing regularly to help your IT marketing strategy.

Blogged By:  Joshua Feinberg