How to attract people to a business seminar?

[Veronika]

Hello, everybody. Urgently need advice. We are running a business seminar in London in September. So all the ideas are much apreciated. Thank you.

[fisicx]

What's your advertising budget?

Who are your target audience?

Where is it? How can I get there?

What's the agenda - who is your keynote speaker?

Where's the website?

[Veronika]

The target audience is business owners and entrepreneurs.
This event is run by Clinton Swaine, who is one of the world's top business games expert.

Venue
Ibis Hotel, Earls Court, London

Web link:
http://www.greatexpectations.info/pl...tual_Blue_Bird

[fisicx]

Newspaper adverts? PPC marketing? Events calenders? Marketing forums? Enterprener forums and blogs?

This sort of thing isn't going to be picked up the search engines (one page sites never do) so you are going to have to pay to market the seminar.

The main problem is that you haven't identified the target audience. The owner of the local chip shop isn't going to attend nor is the MD of ICI.

So who exactly are you targetting?

How much have got your in your advertsing budget?

[Veronika]

As long as this seminar is free the budget is rather limited and is spent mostly on calls .
Don’t you think that our target audience is defined- entrepreneurs and business owners who would like to network and meet some clients?

[fisicx]

Define business owners. Is this seminar going to help the local chippy? Will you be able to do somthing for the lady selling accessories in the local market?

I would suggest that the sort of business owners you need to contact are a different breed. The sort that doesn't own a shop or market stall, run a small workshop or garage, does dog grooming and so on.

How are you going to identify the sort of person who would benefit from this type of seminar? This is what I mean by targetting.

There is no point in calling up the owner of a photographer in glasgow who is already inundated with work. And you can probably forget the owner of an online store selling ringtones. But you might get some interest from somebody setting up a business selling chruistmas gifts or the owner of a franchise.

Until you know exactly who you are targetting you will not be able to put together your marketing package.

[fisicx]

Hmm. After your comment that you have a limited budget but this is a 3 day event at Earls Court (which isn't cheap) I investigated.

This isn't your event Veronica, it's an affiliate thing. I assume you are making some money out of your efforts but I feel a little awkward advising you so that the Clifton chap can make a lot of money selling his mechandise to all the hopefuls who turn up at the event.

So far google only shows about 10 affiliates, but I'm sure there will be many more signing up to promote the event in the coming weeks.

Saying: 'We are running a business seminar in London in September' gives the whole wrong impression.

[Veronika]

Sorry for that. I should have mentioned that we are running this seminar on behalf of our client.

[janebush08]

Your seminar should be useful to your targeted customers. Better knowledge transfer, free goodies some sort of benefit they should get. that will only attract them by the thought they are getting something in return.

[roy]

I went on one of Philip Calverts 'Successful Seminars' days back in January and found it very useful as he goes through the process of marketing to, and securing, participants.

I believe all the up and coming seminars before yours are booked but his book on the subject would be worth a read.

He has a profile on ecademy here:

http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=53930