9 Ways To Get More Out Of Attending A Real Estate Event
By JD Esajian on March 4, 2016
How can you get more out of going to your next real estate event?
Real estate events are a powerful tool for learning, connecting, and doing more deals. However, it’s really a 50/50 or even 90/10 deal. The event hosts, organizers, and speakers can put on their best performance, or their worst; and what attendees come away with, and the benefits they see in their bank accounts will at least be 50% to 90% up to them. So how can you get more out of your next real estate seminar, conference, or expo?
- Plan Your Trip Well in Advance
Whenever possible plan your trip in advance and book it. That includes airfare, rental cars, and hotels, if applicable. Even if the event hotel appears to cost a couple dollars more it can be well worth staying on site for the extra time you’ll get in and warm networking opportunities. Event hotels normally book out fast. It’s also worth finding out if the organizers have arranged discounts on these items, though they may be limited in supply.
- Get Plenty of Sleep
Get in the day before if possible. Walk the space, see if other early attendees or speakers are around to hang out with, and then get plenty of sleep so you are up early and plenty alert for when things kick off.
- Connect Before You Go
Start connecting with others that are going to the event before you take off. Invite those you know, ask who else is going, post to social with hashtags, and get the conversation and networking going early. This way you’ll have warm contacts on arrival, can meet more people, and may even get some deals in the pipeline before arriving.
- Maximize the Event for Your Real Estate Marketing
Whatever your role in the industry and whether you haven’t started yet, or already are doing 100 deals a year, make sure you leverage the event for your own marketing too. Snap photos to post later, engage on social during the event, take notes for content ideas, capitalize on PR ops, rock your own branded gear, and build lists. You may even ask about sponsorship ops to get your name out there, and get access to even larger lists.
- Know Your ‘One Thing’
What’s the one thing you are looking to learn or take away from this event? It can be hard to absorb everything, so hone in. Sometimes you won’t know till you get there, but having an idea will help ensure it doesn’t escape you. This mentality will also ensure you are prioritizing the right speakers, contacts, and exhibitors.
- Maximize Your Contact Building
Don’t just trade business cards and leave real connections to chance. Get phone numbers, email addresses, and social media handles on the spot and connect right away.
- Take Advantage of VIP Connections
Live events offer a great opportunity to connect with high profile speakers and industry experts you simply can’t get through to from a distance. Many normally have heavy layers of insulation from callers, random people emailing them, and more. Or they’ll charge thousands per hour. This is chance to chat to them for free, get one on one input, and feel them out. That can be priceless, or impossible outside of these events.
- Follow Up with Your New Connections
Building lists of hundreds of new power contacts isn’t going to help much unless you follow up. Send thank you messages right after the event while the connection is still warm and nurture those leads and relationships. Then where appropriate put them in automated drip campaigns and alerts for your new deals, etc.
- Take Action
Nothing will happen from all of the information you’ve picked up unless you put it into play. Choose one to three points, or a step by step system you picked up, and put it into play immediately the next day.
Summary
Real estate events can be powerful, but you’ll only get out what you put in, and what you purposely extract. Don’t let these opportunities slip through your fingers.