Summer Networking: 3 HOT Ideas for Success

Posted in Marketing | Posted by Impact Partnership

Summer Networking: 3 HOT Ideas for Success

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This month, we have been discussing various ways to keep busy during the summer, which tends to have a bit of a slow-down in advisor’s practices. Below is a list of ways to network and get your brand in front of people that may not be familiar with it. Some of these ideas may seem “unconventional,” but they say that “life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” Get uncomfortable and unconventional and see what it does for your practice.

Sponsor community events.

The summertime is full of local races (5K, boat races, etc.) and other community events. Why not sponsor these events in your community and get your branding out there? Sponsorships can vary in dollar amounts and can get your brand/company name on the back of a t-shirt or on a banner, depending on the event.

Since most races have swag bags for each participant, you can use these events as opportunities to put company brochures or other branded items in the bags. If you go the route of a branded item, get with your marketing manager to think of items with a “shelf life,” like a lens cleaning cloths or webcam covers. For additional ideas, you can also check out this blog post on 5 Unique Promotional Products Your Clients Will Remember.

Rent a booth at local festivals.

Summertime is festival season, so take advantage of it by renting a booth or table at a popular festival in your area. Similar to sponsoring a community event, this is a great branding play and an opportunity for you to get out and meet people in the community.

For this event, branding is key; make sure you have a banner, tablecloth, branded giveaways, and a stack of business cards to pass out. I also recommend wearing a branded polo shirt at the event as well. If you have office staff that can assist with this event, get them branded apparel as well so that everyone looks like a unified team. You only have one chance to make a first impression!

Target dream clients at boat, RV, home improvement, and garden shows.

Looking to get in front of high net-worth individuals but don’t want to do a dinner seminar? Think outside the box and rent a booth at a local boat, RV, or home and garden show. Typically, attendees of these shows have disposable income and are in a higher tax bracket — your dream client, right?

Need an idea on how to draw these show attendees to your booth? Be creative and offer something of value. Set up a putting green at your booth and give away a round of golf at a nice, local golf course. If golf isn’t up your alley, have an interactive game at your booth where the prizes can vary from a book giveaway to a free portfolio review or consultation.

But remember! Before giving anything away, check your state’s Department of Insurance, FINRA, or SEC gifting guidelines, or talk to your compliance team for more information.

Ready to get your brand out into the community? Call your marketing manager today to brainstorm ideas on how to make this the most successful summer yet.