I am not marketing or PR specialist and I do not know names of all business event types, but I used to be in many events, many, I mean really a lot, around the world and used to attend many types of events. Some of them are conferences, some of them are congresses or forums, some are exhibitions or pitches and events related to startups, related to entrepreneurs and investments and investors, think-tanks or roundtables, and all of them are good, at leas for networking.
But I am not talking about that.
When I say type of event, I mean not format of event, but reason why people are attending that event and one must think twice to choose right event. It is important to learn why organizers are organizing event, do they have clients and trying to help them to sell their products, services, or maybe event is organized by one company to rise influence and capitalization of company, or it is event to help clients to have promoted brand and show up in the market, do exhibiters are trying to find clients or business opportunities, are their companies new or old company, do they want to outsource or trying to find company to get outsourcing? And so on and so forth.
I used make wrong decision during my first business events, I remember when i used to be in exhibition to find partners and clients for my company, but what I got is lot’s of business cards of sales managers of well known companies and brands who are there just to give information about their services and spread new marketing materials (in many cases those who are in boots are not even working for that company, they are just professional exhibitors who are helping companies to have good presentation during event).
Sometimes organizers call their even B2B or B2C or B2G or even B2B2C, but not always they are true. In most cases during business events companies are trying to find clients and do not have option of business development or new collaborations with other companies.
Maybe it will be good idea to make a worldwide standard, for example to put stickers (circles in different colors), kind of distinctive sign, each of which will mean type of event and reason why they are organizing it. Especially today when online events are common, easy to register and participate, it is still not easy to choose right event and best option will be to know in advance which event to choose and I am sure, it will be easy to put small circles with colors in all marketing materials and add big value to any event.
Even more, maybe it will be good idea to give participants some special stickers as well (for example squares with colors)? For example, if they have red square, then they want to sell or get investments, if they have green square, then they want to be partner or invest, etc.
Such signs will be extremely useful, especially during networking and break sections and especially in big exhibitions or crowded events(I used to be in exhibitions which had more than 50 halls and each of which used to be bigger than football field.
In any cases I enjoy attending good events, especially when networking section with great intellectuals, business people and professionals are available.
