6 things we learned from the NAR Midyear

As a startup we’re constantly learning new things. This past week we attended the NAR Midyear Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo. We had never attended a NAR event before, so this was definitely a new experience for us.

On the trip we made some great connections and learned about some new businesses. We also learned some valuable lessons while we there as well, that we’d like to share with you

1. You never know who you will meet - Depending on the event, there may be hundreds to thousands of people attending, from all over the country. With so many people in attendance, you never know who you will meet and how they can help you or how you can help them. Creating these relationships are valuable moving forward, especially if you’re just starting out. Events can give you access to industry leaders you might not normally have access to. They’ve had experiences and gone through situations that you haven’t yet and can offer advice on how to cross that road when you get there.
2. Just Ask - People are friendly (most of them). If you have a question, just ask. At the Midyear NAR expo we asked several of the exhibitors about their booths and costs associated with it. Everyone was more than willing to answer our questions. There’s nothing wrong with being curious, people feel good about helping. Also if you’re an exhibitor, and someone asks a question, there’s nothing wrong being transparent, it can show that you’re honest and trusting company to do business with. We asked the people from ActiveRain what they thought about our pricing model, and they gave us a straight, no BS answer. Which was exactly what we were looking for.  Outside views into your business are great, especially if they’ve tried something you’re getting ready to do.
3. Don’t be shy - I’m not the type that is able to spark up a conversation with anyone and everyone, but that doesn’t mean that I will forever be this way. If you’re normally a shy person or tend to hold back, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone at these events, that’s what they’re there for. The events and trade expos are there for the sole purpose of making your business more valuable, and if you pass up the opportunity to talk to a company or person, because you feel a little uneasy, you could be missing out on an opportunity or partnership of a lifetime.
4. Preconceived Notions - When we started looking at the exhibitor list, we wrote down a list of companies that we though would fit in well with our product. Once we got to the trade show we started speaking with those companies, but we also started talking to other companies that weren’t on our list. Just because you don’t see a fit, doesn’t mean that they won’t, and even if you don’t find a fit, they may provide a valuable connection or a possible lead. You just never know. We talked to the people from IMAPP and explained our product to them on Thursday. When we walked into the trade expo on Saturday, they came up to us to give us a business card of someone they thought we could connect with. Now THAT is customer service at it’s best. What a GREAT yet simple way to stand out.
5. Follow up - So you’ve gotten all the business cards, brochures free gear from all the booths, now what? We’re currently going through and sending out emails to everyone we met, whether or not we are trying to do business with them or not. It’s a simple way to get in front of someone again once the event has ended.
6. Take notes – Bring a pen (or grab one of the many free ones) and a small notepad. If you see someone who is getting a lot of traffic or there is a company who everyone is talking to, find out what they are doing different. Take a note of what they’re doing that others aren’t, or better yet, go up and ask them why they’re getting so much traffic. Taking a small note of others now could lead to others taking note of you later.

Overall, we had a blast in D.C. and enjoyed everyone we met. We’ll definitely be back next year. If you didn’t get a chance to talk to us and would like to know more about The Picket Report, be sure to stop bywww.picketreport.com/info and take a look around!