BoneChat

16 pearls of wisdom from BoneChat discussion "How small ortho can OWN a medical conference." Watch/Listen here -    • BoneChat #108 - How small ortho companies ...  

Big thanks to the panel - Alyssa Huffman Raymond Cloutier Doug Hawkins Jessie Dionne

1/ Core Philosophy: Relationship Over Revenue
Booth is Secondary: Days of buying a booth and waiting for leads are over. It's mainly a home base to direct pre-met contacts.

2/ After-Hours Value: Real business post-5 PM in dinners, happy hours, networking for deeper talks.

3/ Educate, Don't Sell: Surgeons hate sales pitches. Focus on clinical value, education, complex cases.

4/ Strategic Planning & Budgeting: Select Regional Meetings: Smaller ones are better—more personal, appreciated sponsorship, less overshadowed by big corps.

5/ DIY Budget Hack: Buy cheap hardware (e.g., TVs from Best Buy) instead of renting from venue; dispose or donate to save thousands.

6/ Pre-Event Prep: Success ties to prep like pre-scheduling with KOLs and distributors, not relying on walk-ups.

7/ Innovation & Creative Splashes: Innovation Row Concept: Push for societies like NASS to offer low-cost rows for low-revenue firms (under $30M).

8/ Collaborative Megatrons: Non-competing small firms pool resources for joint events or protocols for holistic surgeon solutions.

9/ Stand Out via Gimmicks: Shared tactics include: Batman-style green ceiling lights to guide to booth. Lanyards doubling as phone chargers. Hiring golf pro for 5-min lessons.

10/ Bouncer strategy: Velvet rope and guard around one product for mystery/demand.

11/ Operational Tips & Pitfalls: Stay Whole Time: Don't leave early; last-day attendees may be top leads.

12/ Public Professionalism: Careful on shuttles/elevators—avoid negative talk about surgeons/competitors; you never know who's nearby.

13/ Note-Taking: Record met contacts' details immediately; conference haze causes forgetfulness.