How To Choose A Live Event To Attend

I don’t think I have to mention it again but just because I can I will I recently attended NAMS 3 – my first live event since I started working from home a little over 4 years ago.

Live events are not only a great way to meet some peeps you’ve known online for awhile but they are also a great way to network with other like minded business people!

The question is – how do you know which live event to choose?

There are so many out there that are available to attend! You need to know where to look to find the ones that are best suited for you. Here are two suggestions that will help you hear about live events:

• Forums. This was the first way I heard about the NAMS event. One of my favorite forums – Mom Masterminds – had a topic all about those members of MM that would be attending the event. This was when I first really started giving some serious thought as to whether I wanted to invest the money or not to go.
• Favorite Blogs. This is a great way to hear about upcoming live events. People are excited to go so they’re eager to share with their readers! Not to mention that most events offer an affiliate program which provides a little incentive to get the word out! This was the second way I heard about the NAMS event and probably the most influential on me. When your favorite bloggers talk about their experience with an event it’s hard to not get as excited as they are. Nicole Dean really ‘showed’ her enthusiasm and excitement for NAMS through several of her blog posts.

After I made the decision to attend NAMS I started thinking about ways that the event would benefit me. It came down to two beneficial aspects:

1. Professionally. On the professional level you need to choose events that pertain to your business. It would be pointless to spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars on an event that doesn’t pertain to your business. For example if your business is built around selling dog items you wouldn’t attend an event focused on cats and cat products.
2. Personally. On the personal level it boiled down to cultivating relationships on a deeper level with those I’ve known online for some years now. There were so many people going to this past NAMS event that I’ve known online for several years I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to meet them in person!

Maybe you’re thinking that because you’re new to online business that a live event isn’t for you. Or that maybe because you’re so new to online business that you don’t have a clue how to pick a live event to attend. Those are definitely valid thoughts but let me help you with a few suggestions on how to pick an event if your a ‘newbie’ to online business:

• Location – To help cut the cost down (live events can get expensive quick, you’ll be staying in a hotel – if you don’t live nearby (and even if you do staying at the hotel is something I’d still recommend if you can swing the cost just because there is so much networking going on after the events end for the day!) – eating out for all your meals, snacks, etc.
• Registration Costs – The cost of your ticket to attend a live event can range in price greatly. It’s hard to give a specific cost because there are so many different price points for live events. You’ll have to decide whether you can swing the cost for a high caliber event or not. Just make sure it’s one that will benefit you and your business.
• Speakers – Take a look at the lineup of speakers the event has. You’ll want to pay for an event that’s going to provide top notch, internet marketing savvy speakers. If they’re all speakers you’ve never heard of you just might want to pass. On the other hand if the speakers are some of your favorite bloggers or business owners you’ve wanted to meet you just might not want to pass up the opportunity to hear them speak and to get your questions answered.

Don’t make the decision to attend a live event harder than it needs to be! All it comes down to is gathering as much information as you can about the upcoming events (fees, locations, etc) and then sitting down and figuring out which one you can afford and which one would benefit you and your business the most!

p.s. Whether you’re a ‘newbie’ to internet marketing or a pro I recommend NAMS for your live event. It’s broken down into 3 stages – beginners, intermediates or advanced – so there’s a place for everyone!