Ever since I read that business owners should spend at least 40 percent of their time on marketing, I've kept an eye out for interesting opportunities to promote my business.
For example, I signed up to be an exhibitor for three days at the first-ever "Women's Life Expo" in Portland this past weekend. I had no idea who or how many women would come, but since many of my clients are women, and the promoters had given me the opportunity to give a presentation each day, I decided to make the investment in time and money.
I kicked my design skills into high gear and created a "room in a booth", complete with a couch, hassocks, soft lighting and a gorgeous arrangement of French tulips. I stuffed hundreds of mesh bags with French lavender as the requisite "give away", and a memorable way to promote my annual women's retreat to Provence.
When Friday arrived, I moved into my booth and was excited to experience the world of Expo exhibitors. By day's end on Friday, having spent most of the time commiserating with vendors about the paltry number of visitors, I considered packing up and going home to reclaim my weekend.
But, I had made this commitment and decided to stick it out, hoping for a larger crowd on the weekend. While Saturday was more brisk with people coming and going, it was far from what I had hoped as far as attendance at my presentations and opportunities for conversation about Provence or career counseling services.
Since it was the first of its kind in Maine, I don't think there was any way I could have known in advance how effective the Women's Life Expo would be for me. But, perhaps I should have thought twice about committing myself to a second Expo without having experienced the first. The first ever "Boomer Expo" takes place May 2,3,4, and considering the burgeoning number of boomers and their interest in reinventing themselves, I'm hoping the experience will be rewarding for me and those who attend this Expo. How about visiting me there?
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Upcoming events featuring or sponsored by Heart At Work
April 12 Yarmouth Wellness Fair, 10-2pm Yarmouth High School
April 19-May 10: Saturday Career Workshop Series with Amy Jaffe
Details: http://www.barbarababkirk.com/amy.html
May 2,3,4 - Boomer Expo, Portland Sports Complex, Barbara will give a talk on Reinventing Yourself in the Second Half of Life.
May 8: HR Conventionn at the Samoset Resort in Rockport: Barbara and Amy Jaffe, will co-present a workshop: "Averting Quarterlife and Midlife Crises in Your Workplace: 5 Key Retention Strategies".
May 17 & 18: Your Second Half Of Life: A Unique Couples Retreat facilitated by Barbara and Doug Babkirk - Danforth Inn, Portland, ME
September 21-27: Barbara's annual Women's Retreat in Provence. Now accepting registrations.
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