G&A Marketing Shares 3 Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a Staffed Event Provider

Sept. 11, 2009 - PRLog -- Think all staffed event comapnies are the same? You may be surprised...

In reality, not all staffed event companies are alike. As marketing budgets continue to shrink, it’s more important than ever to ensure the event company you choose is truly bringing you value.

So what should you be looking for if all event companies are different? Here are 3 simple questions to ask any staffed event company to help determine the best fit for your dealership.

1)       How does the staffed event company plan to reach the best potential customers in your market?

Disregard the “one mailer fits all” mentality. Look for companies who can provide a well balanced marketing mix. TV, radio, inserts – they all appeal to different consumers and will be beneficial in helping you drive quality traffic.

In addition, make sure the companies you’re considering have a variety of ad themes to keep your message fresh. When discussing their ad theme options, keep in mind that whatever they produce will need to be compliant by your state’s AG regulations. Responsible event companies will stay apprised of compliance regulations in your area and should be able to produce a written agreement detailing who will be held responsible should something go wrong.

2)       How does the event company hold their teams accountable before, during and after a sale?

Since the success of your event is often directly related to the quality of the event sales team, it is essential to make sure each team member is being held liable for his or her actions. Look for companies who take pride in hiring people of character. This means each member of their event sales teams should adhere to a strict code of ethics and be subjected to routine background checks and drug screenings as a term of their employment.

On a similar note, ensure the sales team who will work your event is exclusive to the event company you’re dealing with. If sales teams or individual sales people are “floating” from one company to the next, it can be difficult to know who you can rely on after the sale.

Also make sure the event company will be responsible for properly licensing their team before they work your event. Many states are tightening their grip on sales license regulations, which means any improperly licensed sales people could cost you your sale.

Lastly, have the staffed event company document how they will be involved in the chargeback process. The event company should only get paid when you get paid.

3)       What is the event company’s training and improvement plan?

If the event company you are considering is not committed to continuously improving their own staff, you can’t expect that they will be committed to improving yours. Look to partner with a company that uses continuous training and improvement procedures with their staff and the dealership staff to help create success.  

In the end, asking questions like these will help weed out the event companies who don’t respect your best interests, and help you make an educated decision that will prove to be profitable and value-added.

For more tips on chosing a staffed event partner that is best for you, please contact Matt Baker at 800.688.1370 or at mbaker@gamarketing.com. To learn more about G&A Marketing, please visit us on the web at www.gamarketing.com.

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G&A Marketing, Inc. is a sales promotion, staffed event, advertising, training and consulting company providing used car, new car and RV dealerships with cutting edge solutions to increase traffic, maximize gross profit, and improve performance.