What do you like to see from conference exhibitors?

[Rivka]

Over the next two months I'm going to be an exhibitor at four different homeschooling events: two smaller local information fairs (one Christian, one inclusive), a mid-sized inclusive conference, and a large Christian curriculum fair. I will be there to promote my homeschool-focused psychology practice, so my "product" is evaluations (for learning disabilities, ADHD, giftednessm etc,) and, to a lesser extent, psychotherapy.

 

I've done the inclusive conference once before, and a different local information fair once, but I am pretty new to the conference exhibiting circuit. I'd be grateful if anyone has input about what you like to see from a service vendor, or how you like to interact with service vendors.

 

My setup has normally included a large-ish sign, general brochures introducing my services, business cards, coupons for $100 off a full evaluation if booked within 45 days of the conference, and "consultation cards" - where people can give me their e-mail and/or phone to talk with me further after the conference (at no cost). For local events, I also have a handout called "Services for co-ops, groups, and umbrellas," which has information about bringing me in to speak.

 

My meager previous experience: lots of people filled out consultation cards with their contact info, and then most of them didn't respond later when I contacted them. People took evaluation coupons, but no one has ever used one. I give out lots and lots of brochures and cards.

 

What else would you recommend that I offer? Topic-specific handouts (say, on dyslexia, anxiety, ADHD, depression, etc.)? A more detailed description of what happens during an evaluation? A more personal/informal letter about the thoughts and feelings a homeschooler might have when looking for help?

 

I'd appreciate any suggestions or advice, either from fellow exhibitors or from the customer's perspective.

[Stacia]

What else would you recommend that I offer? Topic-specific handouts (say, on dyslexia, anxiety, ADHD, depression, etc.)? A more detailed description of what happens during an evaluation? A more personal/informal letter about the thoughts and feelings a homeschooler might have when looking for help?

 

All of these sound like good ideas, imo. (I especially like the ideas I've bolded.)

 

Also, do you have any recommendations you can list/post somewhere? I'm guessing people might like to see that you've successfully helped others in similar situations.

 

Thinking out loud here.... Some various questions that come to mind....

How long do your services usually take? Is this a one-time thing, ongoing, or ???? Is this something that some insurance policies will cover or is it all out of pocket? If you do diagnose something, do you continue to see the person or do you then refer them out to a specialist in a particular field? Do you have a network of people you refer to or would it be up to the parent to find that person in their local area, if needed?

[Princess Ariel]

It sounds like you've covered quite a bit already.  Personally, I like to look at the materials in the various booths and have someone available to talk to  if I have questions. I don't like being pounced upon or high pressure types (not that you are at all!)  I like it when the person operating the booth is the owner or a very  skilled user of the service or materials.  I have really disliked it in the past when I have stopped at various booths and the person there doesn't really know much about the product but is basically just a "body" manning the booth so people can look at the products! I think the fact that you are actually there in person for your own business speaks very highly of you! Maybe just take emails and send out a follow up type email after the conference to everyone as a group, kind of like a reminder and not individually unless they want that.  Sometimes I go away from conferences so overwhelmed with brochures and info that it can take a while to process it all.

Good luck!

[Incognito]

I have looked at a number of medical type booths at conferences, and the one I ended up using made it easy for me to use them.  They explained to me how it would work with my insurance, what it would cost, and they did the billing for me.  I am sure that wouldn't be as easy to do in your field of practice, but it made a difference for me.

 

Also, when I did choose someone for evaluations, the insurance was one of the biggest hoops for me to figure out on my own.  Getting the referrals I needed and then finding someone by word of mouth was how it happened for me.  I would say that if there is a way to make yourself known to referring GPs or pediatricians, that would be useful.

 

I don't know if it is acceptable practice or not, but evaluations are often intimidating and perhaps some fun games that mimic aspects of evaluations might be a draw in for people?  But I can't say I've ever seen that or it has worked on me.  

 

If you can somehow really highlight how your expertise relates well to kids in an atypical learning environment, that would be a really good selling angle.

[TechWife]

On a practical standpoint - a place to sit down! If you have the room, how about a small area rug, two armchairs and a coffee table with a larger information table off to the side? 

[kathkath]

Interactive quizzes--how adhd are you?? (Think buzzfeed?). Something to occupy kids so you can chat?

[ocelotmom]

Integrate pictures of you and your kids homeschooling into the display - make it absolutely clear at a glance that you are actually someone who understands homeschooling and is sympathetic with it, not a run of the mill psychologist attempting to reach out to a different market (or worse, someone attempting to interfere with homeschooling under the guise of helping).

[Halftime Hope]

Can you present a session on how to navigate college applications or dual credit with a child that has an LD: 1) testing or evaluations done by you or by another professional--depending on what is needed, 2) getting classroom documentation of needed accommodations, 3) getting LD-appropriate accommodations for the student from the College Board or from ACT, 4) the high-stakes testing process for kids with LDs, 5) working with the disability services office at a college, etc. 

 

I had to learn all this by "inventing the wheel", and in turn, I mentored a lot of families in my local support groups.  It was quite a journey. The info is sorely needed, and I found a lot of families struggling with "to label or not to label", and struggling with balancing the need to level the playing field for a bright student vs. being worried about whether a kid would use the label to cover for lack of discipline or adopting a victim mentality.  IME, many dads especially worry about kids being able to cope in the workplace if they've had accommodations. 

 

two cents...

[Rivka]

You guys are so helpful! I really appreciate each of these comments. A few specific thoughts:

 

Also, do you have any recommendations you can list/post somewhere? I'm guessing people might like to see that you've successfully helped others in similar situations.

 

This is always a little awkward for psychologists. We're not supposed to ask clients for endorsements, because it might be hard for them to say no. We can use freely offered endorsements, though. I have a former client's mother who made an effusive post to a mailing list about me and said I could quote it wherever, so maybe I'll pull out a quote or two from that. (My favorite line from it: When I explained my findings, "it was like a whole factory of candles lit up at once.")

 

Maybe just take emails and send out a follow up type email after the conference to everyone as a group, kind of like a reminder and not individually unless they want that.  Sometimes I go away from conferences so overwhelmed with brochures and info that it can take a while to process it all.

Good luck!

 

I keep thinking that I should have a mailing list for exactly this reason, and send out, say, quarterly newsletters with short, informational articles that would also serve as a reminder that my practice exists. So people could sign up to have a personal consult OR just to be added to my mailing list. The trouble with that is carving out the time to actually create the newsletter.

 

On a practical standpoint - a place to sit down! If you have the room, how about a small area rug, two armchairs and a coffee table with a larger information table off to the side? 

 

On the one hand, I love this idea - at least for the event at which I have a full booth space. (Events at which I only have a table prohibit anything that doesn't fit on the table.) On the other hand, when I went to the previous conference, I sometimes had an issue with someone opening the floodgates and confiding all of her frustrations, fears, experiences, etc. for 10+ minutes, while I watched other people give up waiting to talk to me and walk away. I imagine that problem would be compounded if I had comfy chairs! As it was, when they were just standing it was easier for me to say, "You know, your story really deserves more time than I can give it in the middle of a conference. Why don't you fill out a consultation form, and we can continue this later in private?"

 

...And yet. I had such a strong positive visceral response to the picture you set up in my mind. I think it would really help promote that feeling of connection.

 

Integrate pictures of you and your kids homeschooling into the display - make it absolutely clear at a glance that you are actually someone who understands homeschooling and is sympathetic with it, not a run of the mill psychologist attempting to reach out to a different market (or worse, someone attempting to interfere with homeschooling under the guise of helping).

 

I love this idea! I quickly figured out that when I'm meeting homeschoolers, the first 30 seconds of my spiel has to include that I'm a homeschooler. "As far as I know, I'm the only psychologist in America who specializes in homeschooling families. I do that because I homeschool my own kids, and I understand how uncomfortable it is to go see a mainstream professional - because you don't know if that person is even going to get what you're doing." Otherwise, you're right, people are a little suspicious.

 

I'm picturing an image with two sections: "Licensed psychologist..." with pictures of me working with kids (not actual clients, obviously) "...Experienced homeschooler" with pictures of me teaching my own kids and maybe leading a co-op class.

 

Can you present a session on how to navigate college applications or dual credit with a child that has an LD: 1) testing or evaluations done by you or by another professional--depending on what is needed, 2) getting classroom documentation of needed accommodations, 3) getting LD-appropriate accommodations for the student from the College Board or from ACT, 4) the high-stakes testing process for kids with LDs, 5) working with the disability services office at a college, etc. 

 

I do have a talk that I give on that subject, "ADHD, LD, and College Bound: Helping Your Alternative Learner Prepare for College." I'm not speaking at any of the events this year, though.

 

Thanks again for the suggestions! It looks like I should make some fact sheets, prepare that new poster, and bite the bullet and actually find the time to do a newsletter.

[TammyS]

 A more personal/informal letter about the thoughts and feelings a homeschooler might have when looking for help?

 

 

 

This.

 

I would put info in with a little bit that reassures them that you aren't anti-homeschooling and that your first and primary recommendation isn't going to be an automatic "well, stop homeschooling" answer. 

 

I know that for some people stopping homeschooling may well be an answer, but I know lots of families that will not seek help/counseling because too many people we know have been told that stopping homeschooling is the answer to all the problems.  Lots of counselors just seem to get hung up on homeschooling as THE source of friction/issues and can't seem to work past it or work with the family's desire to continue.  One woman I know was told by her counselor that she would work with it, but every difficulty was met with, "yeah, but if you'd stop homeschooling then you could do XYZ".

[readinmom]

Perhaps you could include some success stories, or endorsements from parents/clients.  (I know confidentiality is key)

 

Something that would influence me as a client would be what your services offer versus the public school system.  

 

Good luck at the conventions!  

 

 

[Dmmetler]

One thing that you might want to have at hand (not necessarily in print) is to know what programs people are most likely to want to apply to and need specific tests for, and be able to say "Yes, I can do an evaluation that will include the tests required by X for Y $", which includes X sessions for testing, Y sessions with parents for interpretation, and a written report filed with Z. I can write additional letters/paperwork in support for Q$ each time.

 

It's amazing how hard it is to figure out up front how much it's going to cost to get your kid evaluated for a program that you're already 99.9% sure they're qualified for (but you don't have those exact documents to check those boxes) so you can decide if it's worth the financial expense to do so. 

 

 

 

[73349]

For me, it would be essential that whatever brochure/business card/etc. you gives me lists a web site where I can sit down and read through all the details when I have time at home--everything about what evaluations entail, what they cost, insurance, etc.

 

I agree with PPs that it should be clear from several feet away that you are a homeschooler yourself.

[SebastianCat]

I don't know if this is even possible, but could you provide very generic samples of what a parent could expect to receive if they engage your services for an evaluation?   Not necessarily as a handout, but maybe inside a notebook, where you could show a parent, "this is the type of report you can expect to receive after an evaluation for _____ (ADHD, giftedness, LDs, etc.)?"   As a homeschool parent of children with both gifted and ADHD tendencies (but never formally evaluated or diagnosed), that would be helpful.    For my family, we've never pursued evaluations because we've always felt that "labels" probably wouldn't give us any additional information or strategies that we don't already know, but if your services were to either (1) provide new information or (2) give us new strategies for dealing with those labels, I'd consider spending money for evaluations.