Let’s face it…
When you’re working for someone else, it’s really, really hard to ASK to spend their money.
Especially when it comes to attending a conference.
The ticket cost, airfare, hotel, and other expenses start to add up in your boss’ head before you can mutter the words, “Can I go?”
The absolute WORST thing you can say to try to persuade your boss is, “It will be a great experience…”
What’s going to ultimately win is the ability to prove your experience will positively affect the bottom line.
Although I’m sure they care about your life experiences, what’s going to ultimately win is the ability to prove your experience will positively affect the bottom line.
Speaking of experiences that positively affect the bottom line…
Today, we’re sharing with you 3 ways to convince your boss to send you to a conference.
So whether you’re writing a request letter or pitching the idea in-person during your next one-on-one with your manager, this post will give you the blueprint to prove to the decision makers that your presence at Traffic & Conversion Summit 2019 will be one of the best decisions they make all year.
Even better, we’re giving you a template letter to swipe (no opt-in required) that will get the conversation started when you’re ready to make your case.
Let’s start with…
1. Focus on the Business Benefit
When you’re writing your request letter or pitching the idea to your boss, be sure to include how your organization will benefit from the event.
How do you do that?
Tell them what makes this event unique and WHY that matters to your company.
For instance…
Traffic & Conversion Summit is more than your typical “Rah! Rah!” pump-you-up conference.
It’s the largest marketing event in North America, focusing on the latest in digital marketing.
It’s 3 days of actionable strategies and content. In fact, DigitalMarketer has a strict “no theory” policy when it comes to their sessions.
You’ll learn tactics that you can take back to the office Monday and implement immediately.
Our goal is to provide the best content in the digital marketing industry.
Period.
After attending, you’ll have something to “show” for it… and we’re not talking about a hangover!
We’ve spent every day since Traffic & Conversion Summit 2018 testing so we can present our best findings and strategies at our 10th annual event in 2019.
It’s not outdated, run of the mill, big-idea concepts…
You’ll learn tactics that you can take back to the office Monday and implement immediately. ← This is important to your boss.
Most importantly, industry experts who actually DO this stuff present each session—our focus is on strategy, not fluff. So you’ll be learning from the best.
2. Describe How You’ll Get the Most Out of the Event
Remember to present the conference as an opportunity for your organization at every point in the conversation. It’s your job to illustrate the value this trip will deliver.
So do your homework.
In your pitch, work these benefits into your letter or conversation…
Top 3 Reasons to Attend Traffic & Conversion Summit 2019
- I’ll sharpen my skills. I’ll learn to think strategically about digital marketing strategies, which will help me streamline my workflow and allow me to work more quickly and efficiently—saving time and money.
- I’ll learn from the experts. Traffic & Conversion sessions are taught by the best in our industry. I’ll attend sessions that are directly related to the job I do and hear real-world case studies that will help me develop solutions to meet our company’s current challenges.
- I’ll learn more about the digital marketing industry. At Traffic & Conversion Summit, we’ll explore the latest digital marketing trends and tactics and how our company can stay on top of these trends to remain relevant and valuable.
You should also touch on the power of networking.
Traffic & Conversion Summit brings together thousands of professional marketers, from small business owners to agencies to CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.
And if you’re looking to take your marketing to the next level, what better way than by rubbing shoulders with the smartest marketers in the room?
You’ll meet over 5,500 peers who are also passionate about digital marketing. In every session and in every conversation, you’ll be collecting new ideas for working smarter—ideas you can bring back to the office the very next day.
You’ll also have the unique opportunity to speak one-on-one with DigitalMarketer staff at the DM booth and at official cocktail parties. We would love to hear what you’re working on in your business, how we can help, and how we can ensure that you get the most out of your time at the event…
3. Determine the Expenses
Price out your travel expenses BEFORE presenting this idea to your boss. It will show that you’re prepared.
Now, you don’t have to include all the expenses for the event in your request letter, but be prepared for your boss to follow up on the cost of the trip as a whole.
So don’t only know the ticket price of the event, look into the cost of the…
- Hotel
- Plane ticket
- Transportation
- Food
…and have an estimate for the trip as a whole.
If finances are a concern for your boss, it’s time to budget travel.
Travel doesn’t have to be expensive!
Instead of staying at the event hotel, use sites like Airbnb to book a private room in San Diego or to rent someone’s house or apartment. This is usually much cheaper than staying in a hotel.
Or, if you’re a DigitalMarketer Lab member, ask to split a room with another member in the DM Engage Facebook Group.
Not a member of DM Lab?
Our greater DigitalMarketer community is also a fantastic resource to find inexpensive places to stay.
Check out the Traffic & Conversion Summit Facebook Page to connect with other attendees and find room share and rental opportunities.
Use sites like Jetradar to book cheap flights to San Diego. Luckily, San Diego is usually pretty easy and cheap to get to from most cities in the US.
For commuting through the city, there are several rideshare options that are cheaper than taking traditional taxis everywhere. Download the apps for Lyft, Flywheel, or others to save some money.
How does all that sound? Now, you’re ready to start the conversation. You just need to…
Write Your Request Letter
To help you get your request approved, we’ve put together this template request letter you can customize and send to your boss. Be sure to fill in the details and adjust it to your own voice and company culture.
And don’t forget to swipe the letter template here.
Subject: A Plan That Will Positively Impact [Your Company Name]
Hi [Your Boss’ Name],
I would like to go to DigitalMarketer’s Traffic & Conversion Summit on February 25-27, 2019, in San Diego, CA. Attending will have a positive impact on our business. Here’s why:
T&C is the largest marketing event in North America, focusing on the latest in digital marketing. And it’s more than your typical “Rah! Rah!” pump-you-up conference. It’s 3 days of actionable strategies and content. In fact, DigitalMarketer has a strict “no theory” policy when it comes to their sessions.
I’ll hear from marketers and business owners who’ve actually done it, gaining insight from keynote speakers like Daymond John, Dr. Robert Cialdini, Dave Asprey, Mari Smith, and [List Speakers You’re Excited About].
And this is why I’m really excited—to go to T&C and bring that knowledge back to our company. To bring back a plan that will have a positive impact on our business that we can start implementing on the Monday I return.
Plus, with 5,500+ attendees every year, the event will also give me a unique opportunity to connect with thousands of other marketers, business owners, agencies, and the DigitalMarketer team at nightly networking events. I’ll be able to exchange ideas and get solutions to the challenges our organization is facing.
Right now, they’re running a promo and T&C tickets are $895. If we jump on it now, we can save $1,700—that’s the price of another ticket plus food… basically pays for [Name of Coworker You Want to Join] to go, too!
I’ve also estimated the total cost to attend—from travel expenses to food—which I can send your way if you’re curious.
T&C is a worthwhile investment. I will be able to discover new ideas, create meaningful connections, and learn new skills that I can apply in my day-to-day work and help move [Your Company Name] forward.
What do you think?
[Your Name]
This could be the next big “thing” that accelerates your career.
