Who Are Your Customers

Chuck Zimmerman

FEMA ConventionOn our panel this afternoon here at the FEMA convention was Joe Baitinger, FarmMarketiD.

Joe was here to talk about database marketing. He talked about the importance of developing your customer database and using it. Too often companies tend to collect data and let it sit unused. I like the way he called it a perishable commodity. What good is having thousands of prospective client contacts if you don’t use them. Joe talks about how important it is to know who your customers are in a very segmented industry.

Listen to Joe’s summary of his presentation: fema-06-baitinger.mp3

Joe sent in his PowerPoint presentation. You can access his slides here: Joe Baitinger Presentation

Ag Groups, Audio, Equipment

Your Agriblogger At Work

Chuck Zimmerman

FEMA ConventionWhile I was presenting today Connor Flynn got a picture.

See how I make the AgWired community part of the demonstration? You are a great audience, thank you very much.

I know we’re going to see more and more blogging in the agribusiness world. I should have collected the url’s of the blogs that people in our audience have. When I got started on this about 2 years ago most people didn’t even know what a blog was much less have one.

Hey, it only makes sense.

Post Update:
Just to clear up any confusion . . . That’s Connor’s Apple notebook in the picture. Yours truly is still a PC guy. Although I’m keeping my options open.

Ag Groups, Equipment

Ready To Represent You

Chuck Zimmerman

FEMA ConventionIt kind of sounds like a law firm doesn’t it?

It’s just our Marketing Communications Strategies & Tactics session this afternoon at the FEMA convention.

I’ll have some pictures, audio and powerpoint presentations from each of my co-panelists as soon as they email them to me.

We had a full room of people for our session and lots of good questions. Many of them had to do with blogs and the software that we would recommend.

You may know my choice: WordPress.

Ag Groups, Equipment

He’s Incoming President

Chuck Zimmerman

FEMA ConventionSo if Jim Wessing is the outgoing president of FEMA, who’s incoming?

He’s Richard Heiniger, Hemisphere GPS. Jim got introduced at the beginning of today’s general session here at the FEMA convention.

Later this afternoon I’m on the panel of a breakout session on “Marketing Communications Strategies & Tactics.” I’m going to be using these posts in my presentation. Hey, they’re even better than PowerPoint slides don’t you think?

I’m sure all the folks here will want to be in the Ramsey Room here at the Hilton at 2pm to see what we’ve got to say. It should be interesting.

Ag Groups, Equipment

Jim Wessing Opens General Session

Chuck Zimmerman

FEMA ConventionJim Wessing, Kondex Corporation, is the president of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association. At least until the end of the day.

Jim got the morning general session started today.

I’m hoping to catch up with him later today for a short interview.

By the way, the FEMA convention also has members of FEWA, Farm Equipment Wholesalers Association and AIMRA, Agricultural & Industrial Manufacturers Representatives Association here with them.

Ag Groups, Equipment

Morning General Session

Chuck Zimmerman

FEMA ConventionThe final day general session is in progress.

In the early part of the session attendees will hear from David Goldsmith.

His presentation is “You Can’t Begin Without A Product: New Product and Service Development.” The room was pretty full by the time it started.

From what I’ve learned there are about 425 members here at the convention.

Ag Groups, Equipment

Get and Send Messages

Chuck Zimmerman

FEMA ConventionSince we’re all about communications I had to take a picture of this message center.

It’s out in the foyer area in front of the registration counter.

One of the things you get when you register is a number that identifies you. It’s used as a mechanism to send you a message using this computer.

That’s about all I know about it at the moment. I’ll look into it further and update this post if I have more to offer.

Ag Groups, Equipment

The Center of Communications

Chuck Zimmerman

FEMA ConventionOne of the first things I ran into here at the FEMA convention was the communications center. It’s a big room with lots of tables so you can meet up and have a nice chat which a bunch of folks were doing.

In it you’ll find things like this Information Center which lists companies who’s services FEMA endorses.

There’s also an interesting set of boards listing members and who is here representing the company. It even has a place for their room number if they care to share it. I don’t think I’ve seen that before.

Ag Groups, Equipment

Getting Started at FEMA

Chuck Zimmerman

FEMA ConventionWhat’s the first thing you do when you go to a convention? That’s right.

I got into Minneapolis yesterday evening. It was kind of drizzly and cool. Better than snow and ice. The weather should be nice here by this afternoon and it looks like we’re going to have a midwest warmup for a couple days.

The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association convention has been going on for several days but I couldn’t get here until today. I’ll try to have several posts for you and a couple of interviews as time allows. I’ve also got several great meetings lined up as well. It’s going to be a busy one.

Ag Groups, Equipment