I was reading a post on LinkedIn yesterday, talking about AI, and suggesting that one of the fallouts from it is that in the very near future, we won’t know if what we see and hear online or in apps is ‘real’ or was created by AI. Because of that, Marc Cuban – billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks – is predicting “an explosion of face-to-face engagements, events, and jobs.”
Well, that sure seemed to be the case last week at The Quirks Event in New York. I heard that registered attendance was over 1,800… making it the largest event in the insights industry! Every session I attended was packed… no empty rooms. And there were all kinds of handshakes & hugging going on… old industry friends reconnecting and genuinely happy to see each other.
And it was the same for me… I got to reconnect with a bunch of current clients, some former clients and coworkers, and lots of my “industry friends!” Not only was I able to conduct some good business there, I had a great time, too.
I don’t know if Marc Cuban is right – though, he’s a pretty bright guy – but I do agree with him on this. To that end, if face-to-face is in our future (and personally, I really hope it is), I want to make two recommendations:
First, start planning for ‘in-person’ client and prospect visits (sales calls). Phone calls and Zoom calls will always have a place, but nothing enhances and accelerates a buyer-seller relationship like sitting down together, face-to-face, and chatting over a cup of coffee.
Secondly, consider attending or exhibiting at some of our industry’s top events:
- The Quirks Events in New York, Chicago, London and more
- The Insights Association’s Corporate Researchers Conference
- TMRE – The Market Research Event
- Greenbook’s IIeX North America
Take full advantage of both of these face-to-face strategies to meet real people, have real conversations, conduct real business and develop real relationships.
By the way, this article was 100% written by the real Steve Henke. You believe me, right?