1. Make sure every person within your organization that comes in contact with a potential attendee is advised of the presentations, the date, time, presenter, and subject material. (Some of my wholesaler and manufacturer clients have me attend their sales meeting to discuss this with their sales team. I also have an exciting and information presentation for the sales team, entitled, "Cultivating Merchants that must have YOU!")

2. With every item you send to potential attendees, send something about the presentation. I provide each of clients with articles that deal with the topic.

3. Provide a vendor with the opportunity to provide sponsorship. This sponsorship can be mentioned in your pre-event material, as a part of the introduction, and by the speaker. Click on sponsorship to get details of how this can work for you. (With some of my clients, as a part of the sponsorship, I am available to visit with presentation attendees on a "one on one" basis at the vendor's booth. This is a great way for a vendor to bring additional traffic to themselves.)

4. If your event does include sponsorship, I will be glad to send material to potential sponsors to explain what the presentations are about so that they will be more receptive to your call for participation.

5. Working ahead for next year, send material to everyone telling them what they missed by not attending the just concluded event. (Again, I have available articles which do just that for you)

Does this work? Ask me how many clients bring me back time and again! It helps when you bring in a known speaker (Your attendees know me because of all of the trade publications I write for)

I believe that having a speaker as a part of your event should be a draw to increase attendance, and put attendees in a "buying mood". It most definitely should not be just an expense!

Tom Shay