Lexpert Magazine

LEXPERT MAGAZINE | MAY 2018 65 | COLUMNS | MARKETING Donna Wannop, LLB, MBA, is a practice develop- ment coach who has worked exclusively with the legal profession for over 30 years. Reach her at donna@donnawannop.com; www.donnawannopcom. BY DONNA WANNOP It is also important to know what positions and responsi- bilities typical delegates hold within their organizations; if they are not decision-makers or influencers in selecting law firms or counsel, their busi- ness-development potential will naturally be restricted. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BEING THERE To maximize your return on investment, execute a three-phase plan for before, during and aer the event. > Preconference Planning: Review the del- egate and speaker list in advance, identify specific individuals you are interested in and conduct research on those of interest, look for points of connection that exist be- tween you and/or your firm and those you hope to connect with, and contact those individuals in advance to with a view to ar- ranging a time to meet). > At the Conference: Participate in ses- sions and social events, network, keep track of whom you meet and what you have learned about them, make decisions about who to follow up with, and record any ideas that you have related to those you meet. > Post-Conference Follow Up: Follow up with those you met at the conference (and follow up with those you hoped to meet but didn't) and find ways to maintain an active and ongoing connection with them. PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN A BIG WAY It goes without saying that there is little to be gained from a business-development standpoint by attending a conference and keeping to yourself, or sticking closely to other members of your firm. To take full advantage of your attendance, you must be highly engaged in connecting with people you know and those you don't know. Attend events outside of the substantive educational sessions, and, if possible, par- ticipate in a conference in ways that will enhance your visibility and profile. is may include joining committees that plan and organize the conference, or securing a spot as a presenter. ONE-TIME ATTENDANCE ISN'T ENOUGH One of the best ways to benefit from con- ference attendance is to attend the same conference every year. One-time connec- tions tend not to bear fruit, while relation- ships developed over time, with multiple points of connection, are more likely to lead to work. As conferences typically at- tract the same people year aer year, each time you attend you will see more familiar faces and be able to build on what you have already established. BE PATIENT — RESULTS COME OVER THE LONG TERM It is highly unusual for work to flow direct- ly and immediately from a single confer- ence attendance. As discussed above, devel- oping relationships with others is long term undertaking, and regular conference atten- dance can go a long way toward helping you develop solid relationships with others who you might not otherwise have occasion to connect with or spend time with. In conclusion, don't make the mistake of thinking that a conference is a waste of resources if you don't come back to the office with a new file or two. ought- fully planned and executed conference attendance can be a highly effective and productive part of your business develop- ment plan. Or, how to make conference attendance an effective and productive use of your time, energy and resources GIVEN THE WIDE array of approaches to business development available to to- day's lawyers, many may wonder whether conference attendance will provide a good return on investment. Although conferences provide oppor- tunities to connect with a large number of people in a short period of time (and may also be used toward continuing legal educa- tion requirements), they can also require an outlay of resources that can be significant. And, of course, time spent in attendance must also be considered in terms of its im- pact on billable hours. But even when financial costs are high, the benefits of attending can be more than enough to outweigh the costs provided that one uses the right strategy and approach. KNOW WHO WILL BE THERE e single most important consideration in deciding whether to attend a conference for networking and marketing purposes is who will be in attendance. A business case can only be made for at- tending if the other attendees are members of one of your target markets. is may include individuals (and entities) who are clients or potential clients, or who have ac- cess to potential clients and can influence the choices of those potential clients. Getting the Most from Conferences PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

• Cover
• front
• big