SES NY: The Total Recall Recap!
My first Search Engine Strategies conference has come and gone, and all I can say is wow. There was so much to learn and the conference managed to have the maximum amount of information packed into 4 days. There were some extremely compelling presentations and sessions that I attended about the rise of social media networks. I even checked out the newest features that Microsoft had to offer with it's new 2007 version of excel. Unfortunately, I didn't win a free copy of it. I also didn't win a 2008 Scion, or any iPod or iPhones that people happened to be giving away at the expo.
The expo was definitely one of the best parts of the entire conference, because I love to see how people use promotional products in their dealings at trade shows and expos. If used correctly, promotional products can really be ice breakers to start conversations with potential clients. The company that did this the best was PM Digital. One of their reps started a conversation with me the minute that I dropped my business card into the raffle for the iPod Touch, and after we talked for a while, suggested that I speak with their marketing person. The marketing person was otherwise engaged so I figured that I would wait. I didn't have to wait long, because the CEO himself started talking with me when he saw that I was standing by myself. We had a great conversation and it was definitely the best interaction that I had at the expo. I even got a free notebook out of the deal.
There were several other promotional products available at the expo, and even though I garnered a bunch of them I wasn't really looking to collect schwag. I wanted to focus more on the experience and see how promotional giveaways factored into the equation. There were some people that really tried to use the promotional products as selling points, and not for nothing a stressball or a pen is not going to convince me to sign a contract with any company for thousands and thousands of dollars.
However, the worst promotional product usage goes to a company that shall not be mentioned. In fact I didn't even take one of their giveaways because I thought the minimal experience that I had at that booth was that bad. They were giving out a promotional toy that we don't offer on our website but I have seen it before. Here's a snippet of how the interaction went.
Me: Oh wow, I love that thing.
Lady at booth: Yeah.
Me: I actually work in the promotional products field and that one is one of my favorites.
Lady at booth: Yeah.
Me: Has it been getting a lot of attention? Do people want it?
Lady at booth: (sigh) (grumble) (another sigh) I guess.
Me: Well, have a nice day.
Lady at booth: (no response)
Just goes to show you, no matter what promotional products you choose, they'll only be helpful if you engage the potential client.
Either way, here's the loot that I made out with.
The expo was definitely one of the best parts of the entire conference, because I love to see how people use promotional products in their dealings at trade shows and expos. If used correctly, promotional products can really be ice breakers to start conversations with potential clients. The company that did this the best was PM Digital. One of their reps started a conversation with me the minute that I dropped my business card into the raffle for the iPod Touch, and after we talked for a while, suggested that I speak with their marketing person. The marketing person was otherwise engaged so I figured that I would wait. I didn't have to wait long, because the CEO himself started talking with me when he saw that I was standing by myself. We had a great conversation and it was definitely the best interaction that I had at the expo. I even got a free notebook out of the deal.
There were several other promotional products available at the expo, and even though I garnered a bunch of them I wasn't really looking to collect schwag. I wanted to focus more on the experience and see how promotional giveaways factored into the equation. There were some people that really tried to use the promotional products as selling points, and not for nothing a stressball or a pen is not going to convince me to sign a contract with any company for thousands and thousands of dollars.
However, the worst promotional product usage goes to a company that shall not be mentioned. In fact I didn't even take one of their giveaways because I thought the minimal experience that I had at that booth was that bad. They were giving out a promotional toy that we don't offer on our website but I have seen it before. Here's a snippet of how the interaction went.
Me: Oh wow, I love that thing.
Lady at booth: Yeah.
Me: I actually work in the promotional products field and that one is one of my favorites.
Lady at booth: Yeah.
Me: Has it been getting a lot of attention? Do people want it?
Lady at booth: (sigh) (grumble) (another sigh) I guess.
Me: Well, have a nice day.
Lady at booth: (no response)
Just goes to show you, no matter what promotional products you choose, they'll only be helpful if you engage the potential client.
Either way, here's the loot that I made out with.
posted by Motivators.com at Monday, March 24, 2008
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