I'm a southern mama, CEO, educator, and podcaster with some big-city type dreams.
Living proof that all you need to succeed is good dry shampoo, a love for coffee and some serious grit.
Get your coffee ready and cozy up because today, we’re having one of those bestie chats. You know the deal – no notes, just me going off the cuff and giving you an up close and personal look at what’s been happening inside the Virtual Assistant Studio, as I give you a behind-the-scenes look at the Make Your Mark conference.
If you’ve been following us for a while, you know that we’ve been exploring new and exciting marketing strategies. I’ve always been curious about the inner workings of marketing and business strategies, so I thought, why not give you a backstage pass to our recent experience as conference sponsors for Jordan Gill’s Make Your Mark Conference? This officially marked our debut into the world of conference sponsorship, so let’s dive into what motivated us to take the leap and what the results were. Let’s jump in!
Over the summer, I decided to take a step back—not like a full-on break from the business, but more of a pause to figure out how we could run things even smoother. My grand plan? Shift into this visionary role. My goal was to transition into more of a visionary role, which, let me tell you, is easier said than done. It’s been a gradual process, and let’s just say I’m still adapting to this new role.
During this transition, we also realized the need to expand our team and also make some strategic decisions about where to focus our efforts as we head into this last quarter of the year.
So, I put on my growth-mode hat, ready to explore smart ways to expand our reach and make a real impact. In business, you’ve gotta be open to testing out new strategies, even when you’re not sure how it’s going to play out.
The whole mindset of ‘try, fail, learn, pivot’ is something near and dear to my heart when it comes to business. Yes, it’s important not to change strategies too often, but testing out new approaches and being able to adapt can lead to some pretty remarkable outcomes, even if they don’t quite match up with your original game plan.
As we brainstormed fresh marketing strategies for the Virtual Assistant Studio, we divided our focus into three categories: entrepreneur clients, influencer clients, and podcasting clients. These categories helped us tailor our marketing efforts to suit the specific needs of each group.
Our main goal? To bring potential clients into the Virtual Assistant Studio while increasing our visibility in the market. While we’ve been steadily growing, we noticed that there were so many potential clients out there who weren’t aware of our existence.
This realization presented us with an opportunity to tap into a pool of untapped potential clients.
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Our strategy revolved around two primary approaches: direct interaction with potential clients and leveraging the power of referrals. Referrals hold immense sway in the world of business. Think about how many times you’ve tried something or made a purchase based on a friend or family member’s recommendation.
Referrals have this incredible network effect, and that’s a core driver behind our strategy. We dug deep into how we could not only directly meet potential clients but also engage with people who had their own networks of potential clients.
Meeting people face-to-face, even if it’s just for a short chat, gives us an opportunity to build trust and establish rapport, something that can sometimes be trickier to achieve online. That’s why we decided to hit the road and attend high-level conferences as a way to connect with potential clients in person.
When it came time to pick the perfect conference to sponsor, we had a checklist of essentials in mind. Our mission was clear: find an event that not only aligned with our ideal client profile but also had that special ‘wow’ factor. Well, let me tell you, the Make Your Mark conference hosted by the one and only Jordan Gill ticked all the boxes and then some.
First off, it was a hybrid event, meaning it mixed both in-person and virtual components, offering flexibility. So, for someone who couldn’t travel or had budget constraints, they could purchase the virtual ticket and still access all the value while interacting virtually.
Second, Jordan Gill herself is an established business owner who focuses on high-level strategy. Her audience consists largely of seasoned entrepreneurs, making it the perfect match for our services. We wanted clients who had a clear strategy and the budget to invest in virtual assistants.
Additionally, the conference was capped at around 200 attendees, making it more of an intimate setting where we could genuinely connect with everyone. Although some might view this as a limitation, we saw it as a unique opportunity to build meaningful relationships.
As much as I love the online space, there’s something really unique about getting to talk to somebody in person, even if it’s for five minutes and it’s a casual conversation because you can immediately build trust with someone. You’re able to see them in person, shake hands with them, and build rapport.
To make a splash at the conference, we went all out on branding and aesthetics. Our goal? Create a booth that attendees wouldn’t forget, something that would grab their attention, prompt them to snap photos, and share their experience on social media.
Now, given that the conference was in Dallas, Texas, we thought, why not embrace the spirit of the Lone Star State? So, we went with a cowboy disco theme – playful and totally on-trend. Picture vibrant colors, cowboy hats, disco balls, and eye-catching decorations, all decked out with our Virtual Assistant Studio branding.
We didn’t tackle this on our own, though. We partnered with DFW Floral Wall, a Dallas-based company specializing in event installations. They brought our vision to life, and let me tell you, it was a fantastic feeling. Instead of being tied up trying to create the entire installation myself, I could freely mingle, and let’s be honest, mingling is absolutely priceless.
As the saying goes, “Your net worth is your network,” and in the business world, it’s all about connections and nurturing those relationships.
Such a fun story. Our flight from Atlanta to Dallas ended up being quite the adventure. What was supposed to be a smooth ride took an unexpected turn with parking struggles and a nearly missed flight. We circled the airport for what felt like an eternity, but finally snagged a parking spot just in time. The saga continued when the flight went from a simple two-hour trip to a four-hour ordeal in the air thanks to an unexpected storm. Let me tell you, it got a little nerve-wracking up there, but the good news is we made it to Dallas safe and sound, even though we were fashionably late for our landing.
On a brighter note, during our trip, we had the chance to meet some of our amazing team members who are based in Dallas. We’ve been working together for quite a while, connecting daily on Slack, but this was the first time we met face-to-face. It was an absolute highlight of the trip. We shared a wonderful brunch, prepared for the conference together, and even had the pleasure of meeting their adorable little ones. It was such a fantastic experience that I’m now looking forward to planning a team meetup for everyone in 2024.
The conference itself was two days of learning, networking, and inspiration and was so much fun! Our decision to sponsor the Make Your Mark conference was an exciting step for the Virtual Assistant Studio. We met some amazing people and learned a ton about what worked and what didn’t in our strategy. It was not only a fun experience but also an investment in valuable connections. Sometimes, you can’t put an immediate price tag on these relationships, but they’re worth their weight in gold.
When we calculated the investment, we didn’t just focus on immediate client returns. We understood that the benefits might take time to materialize. It’s about building a network and learning from the experience. We’re confident that this approach is a viable marketing strategy for our business, and while we might make some tweaks next time, it was genuinely enjoyable and brought fresh perspectives to our team.
This experience really drove home the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone, giving new strategies a shot, and forming those meaningful business relationships.
If you’re thinking about expanding your horizons and growing your business, why not explore some unconventional strategies or consider attending industry conferences?
So, as we wrap up this episode, I want to leave you with this thought: In the world of business, growth often surprises us from unexpected places. So, enjoy the journey, don’t be afraid to try new things, and keep in mind that every connection you make could be a stepping stone to your next big success!
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