We just have enjoyed a couple of long days at the Capital Region Business Expo.  Thanks to all of those who were part of the event – and a particular thanks to all of those people behind the scenes who make the expo a reality – including the great venue management/function team at the National Convention Centre.

The feedback to the event, since bumping out last night, has been positive.

Our presenters, in particular, have been telling us that they found the audience of attendees really threw themselves into getting the most out of the event.  Most of our exhibitors too reported that though they would have liked to see more people attend, that they have managed to generate some quality leads.

From our experience, the true outcome of the event can’t be known for months afterwards – and only after all the people who have exchanged details, talked about business, found out about local products and services, follow up – consistently – and really establish those business relationships.

So, if you were an attendee – who do you plan to follow up with?  What did you learn from the presentations and from the exhibitors that you are now going to apply to your business?  Is there still help, advice, products or services that you are still looking for?

If you were exhibiting – it is because of you that our attendees would be there for the two days – and at no cost.  So, what product and service did you want to make sure that they have access to, from you, in the future?  How will you be following up at the event?  What are the key benefits that you can provide to your customers?

The Expo might just be a quick day and a half of promoting, networking, learning – but as members of the Capital Region business community, the opportunity to promote, engage and share continue – every day.

Use this blog as a way of joining that on-going conversation.

Bambi Gordon
Event Organiser
Regional Events Australia

Well at the time of writing this post – it did feel like I was Michael J. Fox in back to the future.  After I have written this post.  I will take a screenshot of it, paste the screen shot in my presentation, upload the presentation into slideshare, embed the link back into the original post and I’m done.  No wonder the Doc. had grey hair, I am just writing a simple blog, he turned a Delorian into a time machine!

So, here’s the presentation about how we created this blog and the presentation that goes with it.  Blogging can be a very useful addition to your marketing tool kit and used properly can create trust, relationships and a whole lot of new customers for your business.

If you want any more information on threesides or about getting Todd to speak at one of your events, please visit our website - I’d love to talk with you.

What did a ladder, a toilet roll and a tin of spaghetti have in common??.

Rod Hattch from Wisdom Learning presented the first workshop of the Capital Region Business Expo 2008 and it really got the minds ticking of the attendees.  Rod presented on a topic close to every business owners heart – Innovation.  Creating improvements in business through innovative thinking and implementing it in our businesses.  Why then if it is close to our hearts do we put it to the end of the list, and sometimes right into the too hard basket when it comes to running our businesses?

Innovation, Rod explained, was about creativity and action to develop something new or improved in your business.  That comment got me thinking – what have I done in my business lately to create improvements?  What have you done lately?

Rod and his ladder, TP and Spaghetti

Rod and his Wisdom team ran an exercise in developing new ideas for your business and promised to come up with 5,000 ideas in 5 minutes. As the clock ticked over the pressure was on for our small but energetic group!  After the three groups finished the Green Calculator came out and it turns out we had some real achievers and knocked out 18,375 new ideas.

All we needed to do was develop a list of products, a list of packaging options and target markets.  From these lists connections were created and some new innovative ideas started appearing like the equations on the chalk board in ‘A beautiful mind!’

18,375 ideas and all of them gold!

It was a great presentation and got me thinking about what I could be doing to create small changes in my business?  Rod’s presentation is below along with some photos and video from the session.