Seat at the Table

B2B Marketing Trends just published an article I wrote on forming business relationships through executive roundtables.

The article is a quick summary of the major points to focus on when planning and executive a business roundtable event designed to initiative or boost relationships with propsect or customer executives.  Here’s an outline of the main points:

• The importance of editorial content.
• Host the round table at a known, quality restaurant as a good meal equals a happy attendee.
• Target executive invitees carefully and realize that not everyone is right for a roundtable
• Keep the invitations simple and professional.  I saw this speaking as someone who has been invited to too many events with advertisement like invitations and follow up calls from people who can barely pronounce the company name. 
• Consider mixing in current customers and qualified prospects.  Nothing speaks louder than a happy customer.
• Consider co-locating with an existing conference or trade show for that natural attendee base.
• Plan the right followup…as with any direct contact communications program.