How To Make The Most Out Of An Industry Event For Your Brand

5 tips for making the most out of an event in the auto aftermarket restoration and performance industry

Over the years, the Motorhead Digital team has attended many events across the country. Car shows, seminars, trade shows, and so much more, and at every single one, we’ve made sure to utilize our time properly.

We know how to handle a busy event, so today, we’re letting you in on five tips you can use for your next event.

1. Always make a plan of action

When attending an industry event, whether as a regular attendee, speaker, or sponsor, you should always plan your day to make the most out of it. When you have everything for the day planned out, you’ll reduce the stress of having to juggle too many things on the day, and you’ll be able to fit in everything you want to do.

You can meet with who you need to meet and see the panels and talks you want.

When creating your schedule, put everything you’re doing for each day in the calendar, so you can access your plan when needed. Remember to leave space around the talks or panels you’re running, and if you have a booth at the show, be sure to organize it into your schedule and consider delays.

Big auto restoration and performance events are busy, and sometimes the day becomes much more hectic than you realize. Your schedule might change a bit on the day if meetings are rescheduled, or talks are pushed back, but by having a plan ready, you’ll be prepared to make adjustments.

The more you plan, the more comfortable you’ll be on the day!

2. Pick one place to meet with clients

If you’ve attended an auto restoration event before, you’ll know that these events can be enormous. So big that you could spend an hour trying to find the room you’re supposed to be in. There’s a lot of space and too many stairs to climb – especially when you need to make a meeting.

One of the most challenging parts of any event is organizing where to have all your meetings, and it’s not easy figuring out all the locations in advance. But, one of the best ways to tackle this meeting spot problem is to arrive a bit earlier, find the perfect spot and tell your clients where the meeting is happening.

This way, you’ve chosen the space and can stay there as long as possible without running around.

You can meet them at:

• Coffee shops
• Bars
• Open seating areas
• Free conference rooms

Choose a place and let your clients know. This won’t just make it less tiring for you, but you can rest assured knowing you’ll be on time for all of your meetings.

In-person meetings are vital for the success of your company. In fact, 84% of people say they prefer in-person meetings over virtual ones. So don’t go to an event without scheduling in a few meetings with potential clients or vendors!

3. Look for speaking opportunities

Public speaking is often something that a lot of people hate doing. A select few people excel at speaking in front of large crowds, but if you’re not one of these people, we understand your fears!

However, in saying that, speaking at an event is a fantastic way to show off how unique your brand is. By organizing to talk about your auto restoration shop or business, you’ll have an excellent opportunity to show how your brand will help your potential clients. You might be a little nervous, but embracing this discomfort will provide you with great benefits!

Presenting at an industry event and talking about your expertise will:

• Introduce your business to your audience
• Position you as an expert in your niche
• Reinforce your position as a leader in your area
• Bring your business to the front of your audience’s minds – meaning they’ll pick you over your competitors
• It allows you to make a lasting impression
• It helps expand your network

If you use slides for your talk, be sure to offer to email them to your audience if they’d like them. This will allow you to get their email for post-event marketing campaigns!

Top tip: If you can get one of your team members to record your talk, you can use it later on your website or social media or create a lead magnet for your brand!

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Please head on over to the Motorhead Digital Blog for the rest of this article.

The Motorhead Digital team are digital marketing expert with over 25 years of experience. They’re focused on supporting automotive aftermarket restoration, performance, and race shops. Their signature Site, Location, and Maximizer™ programs will supercharge your digital marketing including website design, social media, SEO search engine rank, content marketing, and your entire online presence so you attract better leads who want to spend more money with you. You can reach Motorhead Digital at (585) 766-9785, via email, or online at MotorheadDigital.com.