90p Admin

I'm starting another message here privately because I'm not interested in sharing ideas that someone could take back to their company and introduce themselves. Piggybacking on Mark and Peter's discussions on Summit and how it just might be the last hurrah if customers perceive it as one bit upsell sales pitch --- and Peter's suggestion to host a customer facing event -- there's a possible opportunity here that perhaps 90 Minds could get into creating some type of upgrade boot camp for customers. These could be $799-$999 money making events which takes all the do-it-yourselfers and puts them in one room for a day or two. Now I don't know if that is a two day session - but it's an idea and possible money maker. At some point we are going to be forced to re-think this business and cannibalize ourselves much like Apple does with new products that obsolete old ones. And better for our customers to attend a 90 Minds hosted event than one by a perceived less friendly VAR who then markets to them in perpetuity. I would shy away from hosting anything in conjunction with Summit for a multitude of reasons. As of now this is just an idea but either we are going to do it or one of the X3 hungry folks is going to think up the idea...

I think this is more or less what we (Peter, you, and I) were talking about at the Admin meeting at MOTM.

And I think it's a potentially great idea.

This is a more focused version of my suggestion but I'm all for it as a testing grounds to prove out customer-facing 90 Minds sponsored events. I am a bit concerned that the cheapo, do-it-yourself-ers isn't the best place to start. I'm in favor of discussing and shaping the details a bit more.

Yes but it wasn't a good idea until Wayne had it.

I could swear I've heard that response before.... Darn Secretary didn't do a very good job of documenting the side discussions. What I remember is that we had conflicting feelings about such an event. I asked if people would be more willing to invite their customers to a 90 Minds event than to Summit. I think Wayne and I said we would but I believe others were wary of the concept: 1) Partners might not be willing to have their customers face the competition (other partners)? I remember Wayne saying something to the effect that if they are, there are bigger issues the partner should be worried about. 2) Cost? Logistics? Sorry, can't remember the rest of it but that happens when you return from vacation. And I was not hiding out at the MOA Robert.... I agree with the concept although I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the pitch - Do you wish you could do your own upgrades? Come and learn from a group of savvy partners and you may not have to contact your own in the future! I know, not quite what you are suggesting....

The motion didn't pass, so you didn't have to record it.

But ALL motions should have been recorded.......

What I'm wondering out loud is a separate customer/partner facing event --- that is standalone from MOTM.

That's a great suggestion Wayne just made.

And you could potentially have these be sponsored events in some way - would have to think of how.

Early sponsor calls indicates that the face-to-face interactions have higher value than the blast type activities (webinars, emails, newsletters, etc.).

That's exactly what ITA does --- and I'm pretty open to allowing sponsors to attend and sit in the audience at sessions. I may be the only one but I find it valuable and I want to talk to them at breaks, etc.

You're not the only one.

It's also a big differentiator for value when you look at what the vendors do themselves (pool efforts on webinars) and through third parties hosting webinars. Those are all pretty much one-timers/ sales presentations.