We are having GREAT turn-out for our NSITSP meetings, webinars, and group discussions. If you haven’t joined them yet, be sure to check them out. Whether you’re a paid member or not, you can browse to nsitsp.org and go to Meetings/Upcoming. We had over eighty people register for the recent panel on CMMC.
But how do YOU participate? We’ve had a number of people reach out because they want to be presenters on our webinars, meetings, etc. Here are some notes that we hope you’ll find helpful.
First – We’d like you to be a paid member. This is a professional association. Membership for individuals starts at $125 per year, and companies start at only $150 per year. So you can afford it. And it helps us as an organization.
Second – There’s no selling on our events/meetings. So, if your entire reason for presenting is to sell, we’re not the right forum for that. Many people have something to sell, and we’re realistic about that. In this forum, the best approach is to offer valuable information. This raises your status as an expert. And, since you’ve got an audience, there is opportunity for prospecting. You’ll get your chance to post a headshot, bio, and contact information.
Third – It’s very helpful if you participate as a member. Attend meetings. Get to know people. Add value in committee meetings. Ask questions. Offer information. In other words give first! Then, when you have an idea for a great webinar or discussion panel, talk to the committee (especially the committee chair). Note that this is exactly the same advice I would give you for participation in social media groups and online forums. Don’t assume that dropping in and spamming the group will go over well.
Fourth – Don’t get mad if a competitor is on a panel. That’s the reality of the business world. And since you’re not buying advertising space, our forums are really a place for you to participate in the “marketplace of ideas” on equal footing with everyone else. Your participation will be most effective when you are sincerely interested in helping everyone in our industry improve how we run our businesses, how we show up in the marketing, and how we improve our skillsets.
Finally, a note for vendors. We LOVE our vendor partners. Most of them – by far – have never asked if they can host a webinar or even be on a panel. Given the fact that vendors contribute $2,500 or more, we do give them the opportunity to step up, as long as they follow our simple guidelines. But, as you can see from the last three years of recorded events, the NSITSP is not just another place where vendors throw us money and get a paid webinar spot. There are plenty of opportunities for that in the IT space. We want (and have) vendor partners who are interested in the long-term health and professionalism of our industry.
I hope these notes are helpful. If you have any questions, post comments here or in our forums.
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