Day conference costs and expectations
Discussion
How much do you pay and what do you expect for your money? What experiences have you had with paid day conferences/seminars?
I am involved in helping organise a small 'day conference' (30+ people) with a university at their premises. They seemed to pluck a figure of £300 a head out of the air as the day delegate rate and then suggested a fairly standard university day of presentations and demos. The audience is marketing and HR people, the speakers are expert but not exactly household names so it won't instantly resonate as something they should go to.
The day planned basically involves a morning of lectures from people in tweed jackets with leather arm patches/and or tee-shirts and an afternoon of demonstrations of the use of a particular new product research method (software). I feel that as the method is new potential delegates will want more than a few lectures and a demo on software that effectively we are trying to sell to them, to justify a day away from the day job and £300 in hard cash.
Maybe I just have high expectations but if I had paid £300, got up early, perhps stayed overnight the night before and travelled to get there I would want a guaranteed 'take-a-way' from the day. As we don't have an 'A' list academic as keynote to reassure them we are worth listening to, and the fact that a good part of the afternoon is showing off our product I have suggested we give then their first X live uses of the software for free (it is a metered product) as an incentive so that they are in effect guaranteed something. It would cost us nothing more than some admin time to set up. I have also suggested we allow other versions of the software to be on display (competitors but less able versions) so that they don't think they are paying just to be sold to as a captive audience. Frankly I am loathe to rack off a group of potential customers just because the uni want to make a profit and would rather pull the plug and do it myself elsewhere (although they do have the computer lab with 30+ machines) than risk a flop.
Would you pay £300 to listen to some people who might have something of interest to say to you and open up new ways of working, or does it have to be more tangible before you stump up?
I may be over estimating the expectations, what would you normally get for £300?
I am involved in helping organise a small 'day conference' (30+ people) with a university at their premises. They seemed to pluck a figure of £300 a head out of the air as the day delegate rate and then suggested a fairly standard university day of presentations and demos. The audience is marketing and HR people, the speakers are expert but not exactly household names so it won't instantly resonate as something they should go to.
The day planned basically involves a morning of lectures from people in tweed jackets with leather arm patches/and or tee-shirts and an afternoon of demonstrations of the use of a particular new product research method (software). I feel that as the method is new potential delegates will want more than a few lectures and a demo on software that effectively we are trying to sell to them, to justify a day away from the day job and £300 in hard cash.
Maybe I just have high expectations but if I had paid £300, got up early, perhps stayed overnight the night before and travelled to get there I would want a guaranteed 'take-a-way' from the day. As we don't have an 'A' list academic as keynote to reassure them we are worth listening to, and the fact that a good part of the afternoon is showing off our product I have suggested we give then their first X live uses of the software for free (it is a metered product) as an incentive so that they are in effect guaranteed something. It would cost us nothing more than some admin time to set up. I have also suggested we allow other versions of the software to be on display (competitors but less able versions) so that they don't think they are paying just to be sold to as a captive audience. Frankly I am loathe to rack off a group of potential customers just because the uni want to make a profit and would rather pull the plug and do it myself elsewhere (although they do have the computer lab with 30+ machines) than risk a flop.
Would you pay £300 to listen to some people who might have something of interest to say to you and open up new ways of working, or does it have to be more tangible before you stump up?
I may be over estimating the expectations, what would you normally get for £300?
As with anything you sell, you need to outline the benefits.
If you think you can sell the benefits for £50, then that should be the price. If you think you can sell them for £500 that that should be the price.
To be frank you would have to give me some really compelling reasons to sit in a uni listening to a lecture (again..). I certainly wouldn't pay for it!
However, if the lecture gave me a tangible benefit worth X then as long as I trust the advert and deal then I would pay Y.
Is the point of your day to make money from the day, or really to sell your product. If it is the second, then why not make the lectures free? As an added incentive, a discount for people that come and place an order?
If you think you can sell the benefits for £50, then that should be the price. If you think you can sell them for £500 that that should be the price.
To be frank you would have to give me some really compelling reasons to sit in a uni listening to a lecture (again..). I certainly wouldn't pay for it!
However, if the lecture gave me a tangible benefit worth X then as long as I trust the advert and deal then I would pay Y.
Is the point of your day to make money from the day, or really to sell your product. If it is the second, then why not make the lectures free? As an added incentive, a discount for people that come and place an order?
JustinP1 said:
As with anything you sell, you need to outline the benefits.
If you think you can sell the benefits for £50, then that should be the price. If you think you can sell them for £500 that that should be the price.
To be frank you would have to give me some really compelling reasons to sit in a uni listening to a lecture (again..). I certainly wouldn't pay for it!
However, if the lecture gave me a tangible benefit worth X then as long as I trust the advert and deal then I would pay Y.
Is the point of your day to make money from the day, or really to sell your product. If it is the second, then why not make the lectures free? As an added incentive, a discount for people that come and place an order?
Possiblt so although I think they have to pay something to avoid them bookinmg places and not turning up.If you think you can sell the benefits for £50, then that should be the price. If you think you can sell them for £500 that that should be the price.
To be frank you would have to give me some really compelling reasons to sit in a uni listening to a lecture (again..). I certainly wouldn't pay for it!
However, if the lecture gave me a tangible benefit worth X then as long as I trust the advert and deal then I would pay Y.
Is the point of your day to make money from the day, or really to sell your product. If it is the second, then why not make the lectures free? As an added incentive, a discount for people that come and place an order?
A decent hotel would do a day delgate for £50 a throw, then just the computers to set up. At £300 a head for 35 people I could pay the hotel and buy 21 lap tops. How about a free lap top (not really everyone has one)!
Brown and Boris said:
JustinP1 said:
As with anything you sell, you need to outline the benefits.
If you think you can sell the benefits for £50, then that should be the price. If you think you can sell them for £500 that that should be the price.
To be frank you would have to give me some really compelling reasons to sit in a uni listening to a lecture (again..). I certainly wouldn't pay for it!
However, if the lecture gave me a tangible benefit worth X then as long as I trust the advert and deal then I would pay Y.
Is the point of your day to make money from the day, or really to sell your product. If it is the second, then why not make the lectures free? As an added incentive, a discount for people that come and place an order?
Possiblt so although I think they have to pay something to avoid them bookinmg places and not turning up.If you think you can sell the benefits for £50, then that should be the price. If you think you can sell them for £500 that that should be the price.
To be frank you would have to give me some really compelling reasons to sit in a uni listening to a lecture (again..). I certainly wouldn't pay for it!
However, if the lecture gave me a tangible benefit worth X then as long as I trust the advert and deal then I would pay Y.
Is the point of your day to make money from the day, or really to sell your product. If it is the second, then why not make the lectures free? As an added incentive, a discount for people that come and place an order?
A decent hotel would do a day delgate for £50 a throw, then just the computers to set up. At £300 a head for 35 people I could pay the hotel and buy 21 lap tops. How about a free lap top (not really everyone has one)!
If what you are offering is really a sales pitch or a spin on that, then you may have to live with that people may not turn up. The problem is that you run the risk that by for example making a charge to protect yourself, you turn away people who would have come.
What are the figures like? I mean if people/businesses use your software is it hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands of pounds we are talking about. Getting people to pay £300 would offset a lot of your costs for setting up the day. The problem is that for £300 people want something really substantial, and if they are paying that will expect it. Therefore if the afternoon is seen as a product sell, then people may feel a bit short changed.
JustinP1 said:
Brown and Boris said:
JustinP1 said:
As with anything you sell, you need to outline the benefits.
If you think you can sell the benefits for £50, then that should be the price. If you think you can sell them for £500 that that should be the price.
To be frank you would have to give me some really compelling reasons to sit in a uni listening to a lecture (again..). I certainly wouldn't pay for it!
However, if the lecture gave me a tangible benefit worth X then as long as I trust the advert and deal then I would pay Y.
Is the point of your day to make money from the day, or really to sell your product. If it is the second, then why not make the lectures free? As an added incentive, a discount for people that come and place an order?
Possiblt so although I think they have to pay something to avoid them bookinmg places and not turning up.If you think you can sell the benefits for £50, then that should be the price. If you think you can sell them for £500 that that should be the price.
To be frank you would have to give me some really compelling reasons to sit in a uni listening to a lecture (again..). I certainly wouldn't pay for it!
However, if the lecture gave me a tangible benefit worth X then as long as I trust the advert and deal then I would pay Y.
Is the point of your day to make money from the day, or really to sell your product. If it is the second, then why not make the lectures free? As an added incentive, a discount for people that come and place an order?
A decent hotel would do a day delgate for £50 a throw, then just the computers to set up. At £300 a head for 35 people I could pay the hotel and buy 21 lap tops. How about a free lap top (not really everyone has one)!
If what you are offering is really a sales pitch or a spin on that, then you may have to live with that people may not turn up. The problem is that you run the risk that by for example making a charge to protect yourself, you turn away people who would have come.
What are the figures like? I mean if people/businesses use your software is it hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands of pounds we are talking about. Getting people to pay £300 would offset a lot of your costs for setting up the day. The problem is that for £300 people want something really substantial, and if they are paying that will expect it. Therefore if the afternoon is seen as a product sell, then people may feel a bit short changed.
I think potentially these organisations would be spending about £5k a year if they took up use but some are public sector and will go to the opening of a bag of crisps if there is a day out and a fre lunch in it and they don;t have to pay so I think there wil be a charge of some sorty.
Brown and Boris said:
JustinP1 said:
Brown and Boris said:
JustinP1 said:
As with anything you sell, you need to outline the benefits.
If you think you can sell the benefits for £50, then that should be the price. If you think you can sell them for £500 that that should be the price.
To be frank you would have to give me some really compelling reasons to sit in a uni listening to a lecture (again..). I certainly wouldn't pay for it!
However, if the lecture gave me a tangible benefit worth X then as long as I trust the advert and deal then I would pay Y.
Is the point of your day to make money from the day, or really to sell your product. If it is the second, then why not make the lectures free? As an added incentive, a discount for people that come and place an order?
Possiblt so although I think they have to pay something to avoid them bookinmg places and not turning up.If you think you can sell the benefits for £50, then that should be the price. If you think you can sell them for £500 that that should be the price.
To be frank you would have to give me some really compelling reasons to sit in a uni listening to a lecture (again..). I certainly wouldn't pay for it!
However, if the lecture gave me a tangible benefit worth X then as long as I trust the advert and deal then I would pay Y.
Is the point of your day to make money from the day, or really to sell your product. If it is the second, then why not make the lectures free? As an added incentive, a discount for people that come and place an order?
A decent hotel would do a day delgate for £50 a throw, then just the computers to set up. At £300 a head for 35 people I could pay the hotel and buy 21 lap tops. How about a free lap top (not really everyone has one)!
If what you are offering is really a sales pitch or a spin on that, then you may have to live with that people may not turn up. The problem is that you run the risk that by for example making a charge to protect yourself, you turn away people who would have come.
What are the figures like? I mean if people/businesses use your software is it hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands of pounds we are talking about. Getting people to pay £300 would offset a lot of your costs for setting up the day. The problem is that for £300 people want something really substantial, and if they are paying that will expect it. Therefore if the afternoon is seen as a product sell, then people may feel a bit short changed.
I think potentially these organisations would be spending about £5k a year if they took up use but some are public sector and will go to the opening of a bag of crisps if there is a day out and a fre lunch in it and they don;t have to pay so I think there wil be a charge of some sorty.
I have found out that public sector are rather more generous with their spending. Indeed, at some times of the year they are actively looking to spend money!
Maybe have a set rate, but to tell the private sector clients who may have tighter purse strings that they can get a 100% or 90% discount if they book by X date.
bga said:
Brown and Boris said:
Anybody know of a London conference venue which might also have IT facilities for 20 people to go online?
I have used Regus and I think MWB for exactly this sort of thing. They will likely try to pillage you on the Internet connection.Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff