Decide how the contact information gathered from the show will be divvied among the staff and who will be responsible for follow-up calls, says Jennifer Brooks of Image 4.
Create spreadsheets with email addresses to do monthly e-blasts. Send marketing information to your leads. To not use information you gathered at show is a big mistake, Brooks says.
Wait a few days to make follow-up calls and then arrange to meet with prospects, Abbott says. Do research on Google about each prospect before calling, so you can sound and be more knowledgeable.
Keep the contact information gathered to send pre-show promotions and invitations for next year's show, Brooks says.
Landing the Best Airfare Deal
Getting stuck in the middle seat on a flight is bad enough without wondering, did your neighbors pay less than you for a better seat? With the plethora of travel sites offering deals, it should be easy to find a low-cost flight to that important meeting in New York, right? So why do so many people feel shortchanged? We asked Scott Milne, president of Milne Travel American Express, with NH offices in Keene, Manchester and West Lebanon for advice on landing the best airfare.
Shop around airports: Depending on your location in NH, compare the costs of flying out of Logan Airport in Boston, Boston-Manchester Regional Airport, Portland International Jetport in Maine, or Burlington International Airport in Vermont. Do the same with your destination airport as regional airports often offer more competitive prices than larger ones. If you are in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and need to go to New York, there are fares out of Burlington for $118 roundtrip. In Manchester that would be a $220 ticket, Milne says.
Book early: This is a time-honored rule. The further you can plan ahead and lock down your price, the better off you are, he says. Book at least 14 days in advance.
Consider disloyalty: Just because an airline has traditionally offered you better deals in the past does not mean they are still the best deal. Shop around.
Be flexible: The more flexible you can be in terms of dates and times of arrival and departure, the more options you will have to lock into
lower prices.
Do your homework: Don't assume online deal sites have the best deals. Milne says airlines are not putting all deals on deal sites, which he says are seeing a decline in business. So check individual airlines as well.
Shop airlines: Sticking with one airline helps if you are a frequent flyer (25,000+ miles a year) and can earn perks such as preferred coach seats, reduced baggage fees and carrier upgrades. Otherwise, explore your options.
Beware of combined airfare/hotel deals: While this is popular on many deal sites, Milne says businesses can often negotiate a better hotel deal separately and directly with the hotel itself. Also, airfare and hotel combos often come with more restrictive cancellation policies and higher penalties for cancelling or changing a reservation, Milne says.
Avoid flying around the holidays: Need we say more? Prices tend to be higher during holidays and school vacation weeks.
Current Issue - May 2024