NEWSLETTER FEATURE
Tricks of the Trade from Ann & Sarah
TIP FOR: DPMs
No more just going through the meeting motions... make a plan!
Looking back at the meetings you've been to in the last 2, 3, or 4 years, it's probably safe to say that there haven't been too many significant changes from one year to the next.

So when we get used to the way our meetings go, we also tend to just copy/paste our own behavior.... go to the lecture... get scanned in the hall... grab a snack.... yada yada yada.

But what if you had a plan set in place beforehand that wouldn't allow you to sit back and "go through the motions." A plan that will elevate your chances of maximizing your meeting experience and take home more relevant information that can truly impact your patient care and practice revenue? Let's do that instead!!


-SARAH
TIP FOR: Vendors
We're creating even more tools for you.... use them!
This month launched our latest newsletter series:
The Experienced Exhibitor.

For the last ten years, we (Ann and Sarah) have been immersed in the podiatric space - spending countless weekends in your shoes... on the exhibit hall floor.

We created PodiatryMeetings.com with the goal to serve the industry. This is one way we are doing that - by giving you all the information and resources we can so we can all put our best foot forward.

Everyone reading the latest newsletter has different levels of meeting experience. Wherever you are in your tradeshow journey, our goal is to help you think differently.... think positively.... and reignite your meeting motivation!

Our first edition provided featured content including:
  • Strategies for a positive virtual show mindset
  • Managing virtual show sales expectations
  • Budgeting for virtual conferences
  • Virtual/hybrid show exhibitor stats

TIP FOR: Meeting Planners
Give your attendees tasks they will be excited to complete!
I recently read an article published in the February issue of Convene Magazine.

The article, written by Don Neal, discussed several reasons why attendee participation is sometimes lacking for virtual events. One pearl I took from the article is to ā€œgive your audience a job to do and an opportunity to evaluate how well they are doing it throughout your event.ā€ This idea is not a new one. In fact, we published a Tip for DPMs, along with a downloadable checklist back in our June 2020 newsletter stating several of these general principles. Click here to review it again.

Don suggested sending three questions to attendees prior to the event, then follow up via email, text, or push notifications throughout the event to ask attendees how they are doing. The questions he suggested were related to networking, such as, Which three people would you like to connect with? What is one thing you would like to share with others during this event?

Iā€™d like to take this a step further and ask them, ā€œWhatā€™s one new product or service you would like to learn about during this event?ā€ Then, when you check in, you could ask, ā€œCan I help by connecting you to a few vendors?ā€ You could also ask, ā€œWhatā€™s one challenge you experience in your practice you hope will be addressed during this conference?ā€

The ideas here are limitless, but the objective is to get your attendees focused on tasks and goals to accomplish during the event, and keep them on pace by checking in with them.

Read the article in its entirety here: https://www.pcma.org/virtual-events-interest-declining-tips/

Pro Tip: sign up to receive Convene magazine for yourself, here: https://pcma.omeda.com/conv/main.do
-ANN
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NEWSLETTER FEATURE
Voice of the DPM
January QUICK POLL Results
Last month we asked our DPM readers:

Cat Got Your Tongue.... or Rather Your Chatty Fingers?
We want to know... why do you feel you are hesitant to use these
ļ»æVirtual Exhibit Hall Chat Tools?

Here are the results. Meeting Planners and Vendors - this is some significant information as we all plan future virtual exhibit halls!
I'm not hesitant - I actually love using the chat tools.
25%
I only want to chat with vendors I already know and/or do business with.
25%
I find the chat tools - overall - difficult to use.
27%
There's not enough time during education breaks to use the chat tools.
23%
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DPM Quick Polll
Holding your email address too close to the chest?
One of the hardest challenges for exhibitors at any event is achieving ROI. One of the ways they do that is post-show sales tactics, however, reaching out to DPMs after a show is getting harder and harder.

Show organizers typically only provide exhibitors a listing of the DPM attendee list along with their office phone numbers and mailing addresses. Unfortunately, getting past the receptionist/gatekeeper in the office is "tricky" (to say the least), and mailing materials is always an expensive crapshoot.

Ideally, email addresses are the best way to directly contact you - the DPM. But shows organizers don't provide this delicate information outright or often not at all.

We want to know...
In these new days of virtual- well, everything - are you more open to allowing show organizers to give your email address to vendors in a post-registration spreadsheet?
PROVIDE YOUR ANSWER BELOW - ALL ANSWERS ARE KEPT ANONYMOUS!
I am open to having organizers provide my email address to exhibitors.
I am open to it, but I want to sign a consent form first.
If I want an exhibitor to have my email address, I will provide it personally.
No. I feel this is an invasion of my privacy.
How Patients Really Find You in 2021

Join us and Podiatry Content Connection
for a special webinar event.

In this webinar, you will learn the secrets to improving patient search experience.

Tuesday, March 2nd | 8:00pm EST

NEWSLETTER FEATURE
Voice of the Vendor
January QUICK POLLS Results
Last month we asked our Vendor family:

Moving Forward - Hybrid Meetings & Virtual Halls
If you have the option to participate virtually when you are also signed up for an on-site booth space, will you likely partake?

Here are the results. Meeting Planners take note!
Yes, I have enjoyed the virtual exhibit hall experience.
24%
No, I only want to exhibit on-site moving forward.
41%
Yes, but only if the virtual exhibit hall is included with the on-site exhibit fee.
35%
Vendor Quick Poll
Where are all those travel funds going?
It's been a long time since most of us have been on the road for a meeting. It's definitely been frustrating, but it's also created a major financial shift in dollars being saved (that were usually spent on flights, hotels, and meals).

We want to know... how are you utilizing the dollars saved from lack of meeting travel?
PROVIDE YOUR ANSWER BELOW - ALL ANSWERS ARE KEPT ANONYMOUS!
We've been putting the money into more virtual events.
We're saving the dollars for future on-site events.
We're using the dollars toward different marketing initiatives.
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90-Day Meeting Outlook
Click below to see events calendar for the given month:
Who's On-Site?

We know the on-site to virtual changes are continuously happening. According to the current information at hand, the following upcoming meetings are scheduled to have an in-person event!
TRAVEL ALERT |COVID-19 NEGATIVE TEST PROOF

Effective January 26, 2021, the CDC will require all air passengers entering the United States (including US citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days.

Airlines must confirm the negative test result or proof of recovery for all passengers two years of age and over prior to boarding. Airlines must deny boarding of passengers who do not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery. Read more on the CDCā€™s website.
Ratings Alert!
The following meetings for March - May, 2021 have been reviewed/rated by either a fellow DPM or Exhibitor on the survey pages of PodiatryMeetings.com.

Check out ratings below and provide your own feedback for these meetings and others you have attended in the last year!
Help us share more feedback!
ļ»æTake a survey and participate in podiatry meeting progress!
OUR VIRTUAL EXHIBIT HALL IS GROWING
Welcome Dia-Foot
Dia-Foot offers the largest selection of diabetic shoe brands and styles, to match your patientā€™s specific lifestyle needs. We manufacture our own PDAC approved diabetic inserts, offer our Pure Stride line of footcare products for patients in pain, provide PPE supplies for podiatry offices and offer Practice Solutions to support providers participating in the Therapeutic Shoe Program.

NEED DOUBLE DIGITS?
Check out the meeting list below which, according to their official websites, provide 10+ CECH.

The meetings listed below take place from March - May 2021.

NOTE: Details regarding podiatric meetings listed in this newsletter and on PodiatryMeetings.com may not be complete nor are they guaranteed accuracy. Please visit each meetingā€™s official website or contact each meetingā€™s organizer for official, complete details and registration rates.
31+ CREDITS

NEED CREDITS NOW?
Don't Forget About Your On-Demand Credit Opportunities
ļ»æprovides physicians and industry partners with valuable reviews, ratings, and testimonials in an effort to enable both of these parties to make stronger, informed decisions about which Podiatric meetings, conferences, seminars and trade shows to budget for and attend in the future.

PodiatryMeetings.com features information about upcoming podiatry events, vendor information, meeting and traveling tips, and more!

Contact us by hitting "reply" or email us directly at BeHeard@podiatrymeetings.com