Three Ways to Ensure Sales Conference Success

ballroom with podium There are two kinds of meetings: important ones and really important ones. And considering that your entire sales team may get together only once a year or more, the sales conference is often the highest-profile meeting you plan.

So it’s got to be good. (No pressure.)

By focusing equally on three main components of the meeting—the theme, content and venue—you’ll greatly increase your chances of a successful event.

Tip: Include some sales people on the planning team to engage your audience and ensure that your content and agenda hits the mark.

First Things First

Before you dive into any planning, answer these questions first:

  • What are we trying to accomplish with this meeting? (Share new product information? Celebrate jobs well done? Both? More?)
  • How do we want our sales people to feel afterwards, and what do we want them to think or do differently? And will there be a measurable return on the investment we make by taking the entire sales team off “the front lines” for two or three days?

Once you’ve answered those questions—and that may take time and discussions might be lively—you’re ready to begin planning.

Focus #1: Setting The Right Theme

Choosing a theme begins with reflecting the state of the business and the morale of the sales force. What kind of year has it been? What changes have the company and employees experienced?

“If things are going well, that’s the perfect time to lighten the tone and have some celebratory fun in addition to rolling out new products or training sales people,” recommends Laura MacIsaac, CMP, director of sales for Monona Terrace. “Some companies have recreated game shows or inducted people into a hall of fame where everyone gets a humorous award, or even rolled out red carpets and snapped pictures,” she says.

If the company’s performance is short of celebratory, consider limiting the party-type atmosphere and instead rally the troops around a common theme: getting back to basics and increasing sales. Giving your sales people information on how to refocus can infuse your team with a newfound energy. “You can also consider hiring a motivational speaker to inspire sales people who may feel overworked or burnt out,” says MacIsaac. “Focusing on the future and its possibilities can help your team turn the corner.”

Regardless of the meeting’s theme and its tone, make sure the slogan is easy to work into speakers’ presentations and to print on keepsake items, such as, “What Legends are Made Of” or “Ready, Set, Grow.”

Tip: After you’ve brainstormed slogans, gather a group of sales people and those who support them and, with an open mind, listen to their reactions to the ideas. Adjust as needed before you settle on a theme. 

Focus #2: Delivering the Right Content

Even if you’re planning on scheduling in social time—which is important for building teams and morale—you still need to deliver other valuable content that helps your sales people succeed.

“We’ve seen that the best sales meetings blend ‘meaty’ information with lighter moments,” says MacIsaac. She adds that the best sessions aren’t just typical PowerPoint presentations either, with overstuffed slides and tiny print. “No one enjoys sitting through lengthy presentations like that—especially when your audience is extremely busy. You’ll lose them fast,” she says. “Keep your sessions short, efficient and on point, and use different media, such as video or audio to keep the format fresh,” she advises.

Make sure your meeting includes:

  • A state-of-the-company update on the health of the company—not sugar coated, but realistically presented.
  • A state-of-the-competition report or sessions to inform sales people what they’re up against.
  • Presentations or roundtables to discuss shifts in industry trends.
  • Training on your company’s new products or services.
  • Information about how your customers see your products or services—the good, bad and ugly.
  • Skill
  • Motivational moments, delivered by guest speakers or video clips.

To increase the shelf life of your sales meeting, place all your content online via a password-protected extranet or FTP site so that your sales people can reference the materials throughout the year.

Tip: To help your sales people continue to build skills, give them a book or a webinar link at the end of the meeting so that the learning doesn’t end when they head home.

Focus #3: Picking the Right Venue

You could have an inspiring theme with rich content, and the meeting could still flop if the venue falls short. Look for a conference center that considers and values:

Read more about planning sustainable events here.

A Lot of Work? Yes, but It’s Worth It

You already know how labor intensive it is to plan a good sales conference. But also know that your efforts help your sales people discover renewed pride in your company and infuse that “let’s go!” inspiration for a winning year ahead. They’ll also think back to a productive meeting that helped them grow as a professional and deepen personal relationships. To a sales person, that’s a great investment. To an event planner, it’s a job well done.

Want to discuss hosting a sales conference at Monona Terrace? Contact Laura MacIsaac, CMP, director of sales, at lmacisaac@mononaterrace.com or 608-261-4016.