That was the week that was...

I really don't get out much, even though I preach that networking and relationships are key in our market. You will see and hear this on my radio show, in my books, articles and blog posts.

And it's true- this is a relationship-driven market.

This past week, October 9 through October 13, was an exception  for me, and it illustrates why we- you and I - need to get out more.


Monday at 7 AM I got the newsletter out, and had a few client calls during the day. I also worked on LinkedIn for GovCon, my next book. And I walked 5 miles.

Tuesday I was out the door at 6 AM heading downtown to 1101 K Street, Bloomberg Government HQ, for an Army budget briefing coinciding with the AUSA conference. Good information, good networking, and ideas and guests for two upcoming radio shows.

Three of my main criteria for me going to an event of any kind are:

    - who is the producer?
    - will there be good information?
    - will there be good networking/

BGov delivered on all counts.

Several client calls during the day back in my home office in Columbia MD. I got in a 2 mile walk.

Then out the door again at 3 PM to go to the 20th anniversary party of SpeakerBox, one of my favorite PR firms. I've known Elizabeth Shea for a long time and I do not make an afternoon rush hour appearance in Virginia often. Though the 2 hour return drive to Columbia was not fun, I would do it again for Shea.

Once again, great networking.

Wednesday I was out the door before 6 AM again on my way to the Renaissance on 9th Street for the Washington Technology HHS IT briefing. I attended this last year and once again Nick Wakeman and WT delivered solid information with presenters, panels, and great networking.

I got in a 3 mile walk that afternoon.

Thursday I slept late (6 AM), walked 5 miles and had lunch with a guy I met through LinkedIn, Vincent Goldsmith. Although we live maybe 10 miles (max) apart and have been connected on LinkedIn for nearly 7 years, we had never met.

I found Vincent's profile when I was doing research for a company that wanted to do business with CMS.  Nearly every person I found was connected to Vincent, whose headline reads: "CMS Program and Capture Management - feel free to connect with me. I'm looking to expand my CMS network." Need to explore CMS? Vincent is your guy.

I have used (with permission) Vincent's profile in several of my LinkedIn training classes and it will be featured in my next two books (I'm doing one on building a subject matter expert platform, too, and Vincent is definitely a CMS SME).

I had a few client calls and wrote for a few hours.

Friday I was out the door once again before 6 AM heading for Reston and the 2017 GAIN conference. This was the 2nd annual Government Marketing University conference and I was the first speaker after the keynote.

Speaking after a keynote can be an iffy proposition. If the keynoter knocks it out of the park, you have a hard act to follow.

Sales guru John Asher keynoted and was quite good. I will let those who attended judge my performance, but lots of people asked for my slides - always a good sign. 

During my presentation  I was able to reference information I picked up at BGov, WashTech, and I talked about Vincent. I love when a week comes together like that!

This event surpassed my event criteria and would be worthwhile for every marketer in the public sector:

    - producer has credentials and track record
    - event provided great information
    - networking was second to none

I saw lots of people I don't see often, met several new people, and enjoyed each presentation. And I got to speak!

Need to find some events to attend? Take a look at GovEvents, Kerry Rea's great web site. Kerry and GovEvents were at GAIN and I don't get to see her often enough.

And I kept seeing Larry Rosenfeld...maybe it was something I ate.

This week I am speaking at 2 private events, one for CEOs and one for BD professionals, and I have a few private presentations before the end of the year for company sales meetings, but no more public speaking.

However, I will be attending three events in November you should consider.

Nov 2, Market Connections Federal Media and Marketing Study briefing, anther great venue for GovCon marketing, sales and BD professionals.

Nov 6, the DISA Industry Forecast

November 16, the 4th annual immixGroup Governemnt IT Sales Summit

Even if you don't get out much, you should find events that educate and provide great networking.

Look for me out there and say hello. I am the man in black.

Please share your favorite venues for information and networking here in the Comments.

(I try to walk 3-5 miles every day and have lost 40 pounds in the last year.)

GovTips

GovTip of the week:
There are thousands of government contractors on LinkedIn. Many of these are open to connecting with other contractors directly and through the groups on LinkedIn. Listen to the free audio on using LinkedIn for B2G at http://www.governmentmarketmaster.com/sampleaudio.html


There are a ton of events, emails, blogs, podcasts and other "information" sources that only seem to regurgitate readily available info. Many of these venues still get it wrong, mangling the facts, adding opinion as fact, or worse, perpetuating market myths.

Since 1991, I have produced over 120 events (seminars, conferences, summits, in-house sessions and more) to provide real, actionable information on doing business with the government. When I don't know something, I find those who do, experts like Steve Charles (a sales and contracting expert and EVP at ImmixGroup), Courtney Fairchild (GSA expert and president of Global Services, Inc), Max Peterson (Federal sales expert and VP, Civilian, Dell), Bob Davis (business development expert formerly of CACI and Accenture), and many others.

Many of these people have presented at Amtower & Company events, some have been featured on my radio show (noon Monday, Amtower Off Center, 1500 AM in DC, archived and simulcast at http://www.federalnewsradio.com/ ).

And now we are accumulating the vast majority of this information at http://www.governmentmarketmaster.com/ . This is a paid member site, but the cost is low and there is new information every month - podcasts and webinars.

Take a look.

End-of Week Wrap, Free ebook and New CD Programs

Aside from having a cold this week and taking a few naps, the week was fairly productive.

Although I missed the ASBC (http://www.theasbc.org/) Business Over Breakfast Wednesday, I did speak the the Coalition for Government Procurement (http://www.thecgp.org/) MAS Bootcamp that afternoon to a group of 30 or so. And it was a really good event.

I did attend the ASBC quarterly State of the ASBC meeting Friday, and the ASBC Board of Advisors meeting after the general session. There was a great group of 65+ for the general members-only session.

And I made it into Washington Technology with Angela Dingle of http://www.exnihilo-mgmt.com/ . If you'd like to see the article, go here - http://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2009/02/02/survival-guide.aspx

And on the home page of this blog, somewhere to the right of where you are now reading, I have a free ebook called Diving in the Deep End: The Top Things a CEO Needs to Know Before Entering the Government Market. This is a free ebook - you don't even have to give me your email address. Contributors to this ebook inlcude
Michael Balsam of http://www.onvia.com/
Judy Bradt of http://www.summitinsight.com/
Steve Charles of http://www.immixgroup.com/
Lisa Dezzutti of http://www.marketconnectionsinc.com/
Courtney Fairchild of http://www.globalservicesinc.com/
Michael Keating of http://www.govpro.com/
Bob Lohfeld of http://www.lohfeldconsulting.com/
Robert Silverman of http://www.reachsolutions.com/
Guy Timberlake of http://www.theasbc.org/
and I'd like to thank each of them.

Finally, we have finished producing our two latest audio programs and we will have those available to ship next week. The first, The Ulitmate Jumpstart Program for Getting PR is a 5 CD set with me being interviewed by Guy Timberlake for the first 4 CDs, and by Glenn Garnes of http://www.perfectnetworker.com/ on the final CD. Why interview me on this? Over the past 14 years I have appeared in about 200 publications and over 150 web sites and ezines. I have also been interviewed on over 50 radio stations (including web radio) web around the country, and in Canada and the U.K. I know how to generate publicity and show you exactly how I do it.

The second program is a 2 CD set called The Ultimate Jumpstart Program for Social Networking, where Glenn Garnes again interviews me on my use of LinkedIn. Cjheck out my profile on LinkedIn and see what I am up to in social networking.

If you can't wait until next week to place an order, email me at markamtower gmail com.

Have a great weekend, wherever you are! Vaya con dios!