In the ever-evolving world of marketing communications, it’s great to step away from the screen for a few hours and immerse yourself in an in-person event. In this blog, we delve into the recent events we’ve been to, and the untapped potential that can come with incorporating events into your marketing strategy. Whether it’s a local trade show, an industry conference, or networking sessions, these gatherings provide a range of opportunities to connect, learn and grow. 

We’ll discuss how these experiences foster valuable relationships, provide industry insights, and ultimately accelerate marketing efforts. 

As marketing professionals who work across a variety of industries, we’ve attended a countless number of events, and have always found they are a great way to glean valuable industry insights, build meaningful connections, deepen relationships with existing contacts, and showcase our expertise to our wider networks. Here’s a round-up of the most recent events we’ve attended: 

Rail Live 

In June, we attended this year’s Rail Live, an annual affair that brings together professionals, innovators, and thought-leaders from across the rail industry. As we work with many clients within the rail community, Rail Live enabled us to meet more of our audience, and gave us a fresh insight into the current market landscape. The event served as the perfect platform for attendees to connect with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge technologies, showcase their expertise and foster collaborative opportunities. 

If you plan to focus on expanding your business within a certain sector, it’s always worth spending time in researching the best events and expos to see which ones will bring the most value.  

We shared a longer blog about our experience at Rail Live last month, so have a read to learn more.  

Business in the North 

Last week Jen, Content Development Manager, and Amelia, Senior Comms Exec, headed into central Leeds to Business in the North Expo at 34 Boar Lane.  

Those at the event were such a lovely bunch! We had our own stand amongst a range of other SMEs and local organisations.  

We had some great conversations with fellow SMEs in the region, and it was so interesting to hear from speakers on topics from AI to TikTok. 

This event was ,focused regionally, rather than sector-specific, so it served as a great opportunity to interact with a cross-section of businesses within the region that spanned industries and professions. It was hosted by In Business and The Northern Affinity – organisations that are seasoned pros at connecting people.  

Rolling Stock Networking & RIA Showcase  

Amy and Laura attended Rolling Stock Networking as part of the Railway Industry Association’s (RIA) exciting Small Business Showcase. This was a great event for showcasing the industry’s small businesses as well as   helping to connect likeminded companies with one another  

As always, it was a pleasure to see friendly faces, old and new, and discuss how marketing communications and PR support can help businesses thrive within the transport sector and beyond.  

We hope this blog provided insights into the benefits of attending events and the value it can bring to your business.  

Next in the pipeline is a blog all about virtual networking, so sign up to our newsletter to gain early access, and stay tuned to see where the Hey Me team heads next!