A Materials’ Shortage Can be Hazardous

How many of you realize at the last minute that you have no marketing materials to hand out at an upcoming event? Am I the only one with my hand raised?

Today, I’m prepared for an early morning speaking engagement. Everything’s in place except for one thing: my postcards, listed all of my Web sites associated with today’s topic, are unavailable.

How did this happen? Many sales arrived in my office last week, and that depleted the postcards I keep available to either hand out at events or include with orders.

Thankfully, there’s a backup. Last year I ordered business cards with the same, though condensed, message as the postcards. When I encourage the audience to visit me online, they’ll take away something in hand to remind them where to find follow-up information.

This dilemma has taught me a valuable lesson:

Add notice in my calendar, one month before an event, to ensure that handout postcards are plentiful.

Determine if additional materials need duplication, and send the sheet(s) electronically to the nearest printer.

I share this with you because the best of us (and that’s you, too) can overlook ordering marketing materials in time for a trade show, speaking engagement, or conference.

This will occur less frequently, or not at all, by scheduling a materials’ check a month before each event.

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