Collaboration With Events – Part 2

Posted by: Krishna De | Posted on: November 2nd, 2008 | 0 Comments | Posted in: Business blogging, Market intelligence, Personal Branding Tips, Podcasts, Recommended resources, Talent Management

Following on from the last article about collaborating with competitors through hosting events, here are two ways I have benefited directly from collaborating with competitors – not just the profile and co-branding on the platform or the receipt of the speaking fee or a split of the income for the event or workshop.

I have collaborated in many live and virtual events not just free lead generating events but paid for events and workshops.

Even if the event has not been part of a strategic ongoing relationship, I’ve also achieved the following:

1. Built my ezine subscriber list – In this case you advise subscribers to your mailing list and data base  about the event that by subscribing, they are also going to receive information from the event organisers – this means that on registration people know they will be added to more than one mailing list, (I do recommend that you overtly say in your online copy that they unsubscribe at any time). By partnering wih others you can build your valuable asset of your ezine subscriber list.

2. Benefited from a referral fee – If you want to share in a referral fee for people registering through you, I use a shopping cart service that manages my data base and allows me to implement an affiliate or referral programme. This means that all of the speakers at the even are provided with a specific registration code which automatically tracks registrations through their link. A a result, sales can be directly attributed and a referral fee can be calculated. Of course you could also use this approach not just for the speakers but offer it to trusted people in your network who you know will be able to help you promote your event.

I know that my best ever work has been when I’ve collaborated with others.

I also know that other people speaking about my business through word of mouth or word of mouse has helped me attract more clients that I probably could have done on my own.

So rather than worrying about the competition, which of your competitors do you think your audience would like to hear speak or present along side you?

What kind of event could you orchestrate – online or offline?

How could this approach help you attract more clients in recessionary times?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Here is the shopping cart programme, Easy Web Cart that I use to automate my website, manage my ezine and subscriber lists and manage referal programmes – please note this is my affiliate link so if you don’t like affiliate or referral programmes, don’t click!