How to Present Your Products at a Training Conference

Even teachers need to be taught. Training conferences provide a chance for training leaders and learning professionals to get a look at the latest techniques, strategies and tools for instructing workers in a variety of public and private sectors. The attendees at a training conference are eager to enhance their careers and willing to invest in products and services that will improve their development and learning programs.
For companies that specialize in learning technologies and other skill-building offerings, a training conference is a golden opportunity to reach industry-leading clients. It’s important to learn how to showcase your products to the talent development professionals at training conferences.

Learning Professionals at Training Conferences

The learning opportunities available at the top training conferences draw a variety of different development, learning and performance professionals, from the ground floor up to executive suites. At the most popular training events, these are the job titles and roles commonly in attendance:

• Chief learning officers and senior training officers
• Chief technology officers
• Curriculum managers
• Human resources directors
• Training directors
• Educators and Instructors
• College administrators
• Performance consultants
• Presenters and speakers
• eLearning directors, managers, designers and developers

If these jobs fall within the target audience for your products and services, exhibiting at a learning conference will likely be a worthwhile investment for your company. But no matter their job title, the attendees at these events will be in search of ways to make their learning and development programs more efficient and effective.
In addition to targeting specific positions and job titles, make sure the attendees will be interested in the type of products and services you provide. Here are just a few of the categories that the guests at training conferences will be interested in:

• Assessment and evaluation
• IT training
• Leadership training
• Learning portals and online learning libraries
• Sales training
• Training Delivery
• Training Outsourcing

Industry Leaders Exhibiting at Training Conferences

At training events, the attendees aren’t the only industry leaders on the expo floor. You will find many high-profile companies exhibit behind booths at the top training conferences. Take a look at a sampling of the key players in the learning and training field that have exhibited at events such as the Training Conference & Expo, ATD International Conference & Exposition, and Learning Solutions Conference & Expo.

• Adobe
• AllenComm
• The American Management Association
• American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP)
• Area9 Lyceum
• Center for Creative Leadership
• Center for Leadership Studies
• Gomo Learning
• GP Strategies
• HP
• The Ken Blanchard Companies
• O’Reilly
• VitalSmarts
• Wilson Learning

The Top Learning Conferences in the United States

When deciding which training and development expo is the right fit for you, start by researching the largest and most popular industry events. These conferences are guaranteed to attract influential attendees and presenters. Take a look at their exhibitor list, educational sessions, guest speakers and other offerings to see what the top tier of training conferences are using to draw major industry leaders.

Training Conference & Expo

Every year, Training Magazine’s Training Conference & Expo is a major destination for industry-leading learning professionals in the training conference industry. Boasting prowess in “powering the human side of business,” the so-called “train-the-trainer” event has been running for more than 40 years now. The show’s website says it specializes in skill-building content for both online and instructor-led training.
The Training Magazine network also runs the more specific conferences TechLearn, focused on training technologies, and GamiCon, featuring the latest in the gamification of learning.

ATD International Conference & Exposition

Held each spring, the Association for Talent Development’s annual conference features not only an impressive list of industry-leading exhibitors, but also a star-studded lineup of speakers that has included the likes of Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Seth Godin, and more. Visitors to the show will find about 10,000 learning and training professionals and more than 400 exhibitors, more than 300 educational sessions.

Chief Learning Officer Symposium

Organized by Chief Learning Officer Magazine, the biannual Chief Learning Officer Symposium, or CLO Symposium, is aimed at the top learning and development executives. The show was first launched in 2004 and offers learning opportunities about the latest trends in the training field, as well as chances to connect with the field’s movers and shakers.

Learning Solutions Conference & Expo

Look to the future of learning and development at this conference with more than 100 sessions, workshops, and hands-on demonstrations. The event is held in March and features dozen of exhibitors, as well as a VR Learning Lab. the Learning Solutions Conference is presented by the eLearning Guild, which also puts on the tech-focused DevLearn Conference & Expo in October.

Exhibiting at a Training Conference

Training conferences present superb opportunities for companies offering the latest learning and development products and services. But you won’t simply be able to set up a booth and wait for new clients to flock to you.
The competition on an expo floor is fierce, and you’ll need to prepare in order to see results from an appearance. Here’s how to present your products and attract prospective clients at a training conference.

• Prepare a pitch. These are learning professionals, after all. They know how to distill a big topic to its essential elements — you should do the same with your products and services by zeroing on a unique selling proposition.  
• Simplify your message. You only have a few seconds to capture a passerby’s attention on the trade show floor. Your booth’s messaging should convey one basic idea that conveys the advantages of your offerings.
• Get interactive. As any learning professional knows, information is often best absorbed through hands-on experience. Prepare live demos, schedule workshops and allow the visitors to engage directly with what you’re selling whenever possible.
• Go with what you know. Guests will respond to real-life anecdotes about how your products have enhanced clients’ businesses. Get specific about actual results, rather than talking hypothetically about your offerings’ benefits.

Shipping to a Learning Conference

Now that you’re ready to showcase your learning products and services at a conference, it’s time to figure out how to ship your exhibit materials to the event. R+L Global Logistics has you covered.
The company’s dedicated trade show team has decades of experience guiding shipments to industry expos and events. Whether you need advance warehousing or direct-to-site trade show freight shipping, R+L Global provides personalized service and competitive pricing. Learn more today by calling 866-415-8986 or using the chat feature.