|
Approaching
Delegates
With
your composite list now completed, move on to approach
possible delegates, in order to persuade them to attend
your conference – not always the easiest of tasks!
Several decisions need to be made at this stage in
the process.
Why
will delegates come to the event? Is it wise to recognise
their reasons for attending so that you can build
on them?
Your
firm’s reputation may be the motivating factor. Is
it a market leader of considerable prestige whose
views and activities are widely held to be significant?
The
subject matter could be the draw. Is it a hot topic,
a `must know’ matter? Will people want to be there
so that they do not miss out on essential information
and advice?
Are the speakers the attraction – the opportunity
to hear an interesting speech, meet an admired person,
see that celebrity and talk to that personality?
Are in-house delegates attending because they have
been told to come along by their heads of department?
Are external delegates being sent along by their companies
whether they like it or not? You should try to interest
and motivate them nonetheless.
Do
delegates have other reasons for coming, such as the
opportunity to travel to an unusual place, to spend
time in a first-class hotel, to get together with
old friends, to make new ones, to socialise with existing
and new business contacts – or a combination of these
different reasons?
|
