If you are in the business of ‘Internet Marketing’, seminars are a great way to learn the basics as well as refresh your ideas in what is an ever-changing and extremely mind-boggling industry. However, for some marketers, the words Internet + Marketing + Seminar, make them break out into a cold sweat! If this is you included, then it's time for a rethink the advantages you can gain from attending.
While some seminars can be enough to cure even the most chronic insomniacs, if you choose the right seminar with the right speakers, they can be not only informative but fun as well.
Don't believe it?
Here are a few reasons to be cheerful about attending an Internet Marketing seminar...
A Day Out of the Office
Without being too flippant, anything to take you away from the constraints of the four walls of your office has to be a good thing once in a while!
Getting out and being exposed to different environments can only enhance your creativity, and an Internet Marketing seminar can inspire you to all sorts of innovations once you're back in the office.
A Great Networking Opportunity
Even if the Internet Marketing seminar you attend is a small one, chances are you will make some valuable contacts. Even if some of your fellow delegates are your competition in the industry you should never consider them the 'enemy'.
It pays to network with like-minded business people and you never know when one of them could become a valuable ally. There is, in fact, a secret recipe to great event networking!
A seminar is also a great place to give out your card to potential clients. Not everyone attends seminars for the same reasons and sometimes it is not too hard to pick up business from someone who has decided it's all too hard and they'll leave it to the experts - that's you!
An Education
Of course, the main purpose of attending an Internet Marketing seminar is to learn about Internet Marketing.
A seminar is the best way of learning the basic building blocks of the industry. Seminar speakers are (or should be) leaders in the industry themselves and so know exactly what works and what doesn't in the world of Online Marketing.
No matter what stage you are at, whether you have some knowledge or are a complete amateur, you will benefit from attending one of these seminars.
Free Lunch!
You've always heard there's no such thing, right? Well chances are if it is a reputable internet marketing seminar, and they want to make a good impression they will supply lunch, or at the very least coffee and morning tea.
Lunchtime is also a great time to do some networking as everyone will have had time to become a little more relaxed. It's much easier to talk to someone over a sandwich than over a desk.
Top Ten Rankings
The very best thing about going along to an Internet Marketing seminar is that it will give you the tools to have the pleasure of seeing your website ranking on the front page of Google. Ultimately that's what Online Marketing is all about and we're all fighting for those same positions, so educating yourself as much as possible will give you the best chance to come out ahead.
Excellent Way to Research Your Industry
Market research in all businesses is vitally important for success. However, research can be boring and tedious, to say the least.
On the flip side, the amount of information that can be used for market research absorbed either purposely or without planning while at a seminar can make up for an entire 24 hours of researching on the internet. Effectively many minds put together can give you information and research tips you may never have thought of.
For example, a market researcher in the digital marketing sphere may not have thought about using VPN software to scrape and research market data in a foreign country. By using tools like VPNs, the marketer can now reach into markets overseas and spot marketing threats and opportunities.
Brainstorming with Others Outside of Your Own Business
It is extremely easy to view your business, its marketing strategies, and brand image from within your firm. Digital marketing seminars can help you find out what others think of your brand. All you need to do is ask the right questions. Try to get brand perception from those that already know your business and from those that are only just learning about it from you.
You can apply the same strategy by introducing your current marketing campaigns to some of the other attendees. In the end, you can get instant feedback from people that are not part of your business who are willing to be critical, which in other words means they are willing to provide you with constructive feedback.
Learn About New Technology
Lastly, one of the worst things that can happen to you as an experienced digital marketer is to have the attitude that will end up giving you the nickname ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’. Always be willing to learn and adapt with the times to stay ahead of the game.
For example, if you get stuck in the habit of using software/tech that you are comfortable with when there is a new software program or app that can save you and your colleagues time, your business could end up falling behind competitors.
Here’s a tip – blockchain tech within the digital marketing space could be the future!
Worst still, you could end up falling behind your competition which is those vying for a promotion to the next level above yours.
Summary
At first, the thought of a seminar may seem boring, old school, or a waste of time. However, when you weigh up all the positives of attending, then you really should start to pencil at least one internet marketing seminar per month.
If you can fit more in then great. Before you attend make sure you have a list of goals written down. You can make sure you have preset questions for people that you meet there, and when the opportunity arises you can fire away and start fishing the answers you need to improve your career and your business.