Creating AnnArbor.com’s 1st B2B Expo
What would attract business people to a “Business to Business†expo?
That was one question facing my colleagues and myself at AnnArbor.com as 2010 started.
The group sitting around the table had worked in Ann Arbor’s business community for years, most of us had attended the previous incarnation of the B2B expo organized by the Ann Arbor News and none of us had been involved with the planning of those events.
So we honed in on a few key drivers that we thought would make a good event:
1. Ensuring that vendors really did have a B2B message. We all love consumers. But for many products and services, the message is different when selling to a business.
2. A great location – and thanks to Washtenaw Community College, we nailed that one very early on!
3. Networking opportunities.
4. The chance to find a “value add†for attendees to help them work better.
We think we found a winning mix with “Business 2 Business Expo 2010,†AnnArbor.com’s first B2B event designed to benefit both exhibitors and visitors.
The event will be Wednesday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Morris Lawrence Building of WCC.
The displays will be an engaging mix of local business. And a list of seminars give guests the opportunity to learn many valuable tips from experts – all day long.
Best of all: They’re free!
I’ll be on one panel (“Media Made Modernâ€), and others will focus on franchising, search engine marketing and understanding business retirement plans.
Put the date on your calendar and plan to swing by. Bring your staffs. Spread the word.
There’s really nothing to lose by learning more about B2B opportunities in Ann Arbor.
Paula Gardner is the Business Director for AnnArbor.com, covering commercial real estate and development, residential real estate and other business news, and supervises all of the content in the Business Review category.
@PaulaGardner