Why do you attend a business event?

The purpose and format of business events has changed now. Most often I see organisations use events as a selling tool. With this changed attitude for events I would like to know your views, which events do you attend and why?

Business events were historically hosted purely for networking. It was an allocated time and space for people to come out of their hiding from behind their desks and meet their peers, talk about their challenges, share their successes, learn something from others experience and more often than not validate their ideas and go back to work next day feeling more confident about themselves. Often, people would uncover synergies/complementary strengths and that would lead to new relationships, new business and growth in general.

The format of events has changed now. Most often I see organisations use events as a selling tool. With this changed attitude for events I would like to know your views, which events do you attend and why?

can say for myself, jelly beans, free pens or mobile chargers don’t attract me. It needs more than that to get me out of office or miss family time. Although a good meal in the offering could change my mind. But that’s just the foodie in me talking! I attend for all the historic reasons listed above. I also find face to face interactions really valuable in world where most of us are like in the picture!

I have copied two invites for marketing events I have recently attended below. Please share which one would you attend and why. If you would rather attend none, I would like to hear your views as well (replace the X’s and Y’s with your individual challenges and industry) –

Event 1 invitation says – Come and join us to explore the practicalities of implementing X technology for your industry. This will transform your business or the way you do business. It will hosted in Top-Notch Hotel and you will have the opportunity to win an iPad mini.

Event 2 invitation says – We are hosting a lunch session for you to network with your peers and Y industry experts to discuss the X challenge that is bothering us all. You will have the opportunity to share experiences, learn from your peers and take back options of how you can resolve X challenge in your business. It’s local to you and hopefully you will find the couple of hours you take out of your day really useful.