Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has probably been a while since you last embarked on a whirlwind business trip to an exciting destination. The good news is that as travel restrictions slowly ease around the globe, the prospect of traveling for business purposes is becoming more and more realistic once again. You will probably be wondering how to make the most of the trip if you are planning on jetting off to a different country with the goal of roping in a new international client. Here are some tips.
Make Sure You Travel With The Right Marketing Materials
Most business professionals recommend packing light when embarking on corporate travel. However, while you certainly shouldn’t pack your entire wardrobe, it isn’t advisable to skimp on the marketing material that you bring along.
High-quality printed marketing materials, such as company brochures and business cards, can make it endlessly easier to grab and hold a potential client’s attention. Bright, attractive imagery can also make the world of difference when explaining a concept, especially if there is somewhat of a language barrier hindering communication.
Take your time designing these marketing materials so that they tick all the boxes regarding the specific message and value-adds that you are hoping to get across during your trip. Remember that the actual design of the materials is just as important as the content contained within them.
Plan Ahead
There are bound to be delays when traveling in a post-COVID world, so be sure to plan ahead in relation to all aspects of your trip. Endeavor to arrive at the airport a good few hours before your flight is due to depart and try to leave your hotel earlier when heading to a business meeting. You never know what safety protocols you will be faced with along the way or how long they could take to complete.
Use Your Time Wisely
As long as you ensure that you have enough time to spare, the delays associated with post-COVID travel can work in your favor. When waiting at the boarding gate, or standing in a socially-distanced queue to check in to your accommodation, you can grab the extra minutes to check and answer your emails, make a quick phone call to touch base with your team back at the office, or brush up on your presentation ahead of your meeting.
Schedule Meetings Before You Leave
You can make the cost and effort of the trip worthwhile by working hard to schedule as many meetings as possible during those few days that you will be away. Ensure that your potential clients agree to set up a specific date and time so that you can be confident that they won’t let you down at the last minute. It also helps to send through a digitized version of your marketing material ahead of time so that they can get a general idea of what you are offering before you chat face to face. As already mentioned, don’t forget to present them with a printed version of this material to help seal the deal!
Enjoy the process of getting back to business in the way that you know and love!
Featured photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels.
