Just about anyone who’s done big JVs will tell you that offline events (seminars/conferences) are the place to develop contacts with gurus, or even other internet marketers who haven’t achieved guru status. I imagine there are various reasons for this:

• The personal contact enables:
  • …you to make more of an impression.
  • …you to develop a more concrete relationship.
  • …them to get a better sense of whether you’re someone they want to build a relationship with, and to better trust their judgment about you.
• The fact that you’re attending offline events shows that you’re more committed than the average $10 a month “internet marketer”.

I’ve heard it recommended that you ask the gurus to have a picture taken with you.

And I suppose I should reiterate that you don’t want to “stalk” them. Some gurus use the time between sessions to recharge and don’t like to talk to anyone during that time. You obviously don’t want to inject yourself into the middle of their private conversations or monopolize their time. And surely you’re not going to make a good impression by slinking around 20 feet behind them everywhere they go.

Before going to an offline event, make sure you’ve got all your ducks in a row — that you’re ready to make a good impression. Have your “elevator pitch” ready (but I’ve heard that it’s best not to just launch into it, but to get into a conversation and let them ask you for it if they decide you’re “worthy”). And be confident…but don’t overdo it.

I’ll be attending Russell Brunson’s “12 Month Internet Millionaire Workshop” in February. It’ll be my first offline event. So now’s the time for me to get my ducks in a row — to make an impression as his affiliate (I’ve got a few things in the works on that front), and figure out exactly how I want to present myself when the opportunity arises. I’m also going to be thinking about how to be ready to develop other contact there — if I don’t land the marlin, I certainly plan to have a few nice salmon and tuna.

As an added bonus, the event is being held in Salt Lake City, near where most of my family lives, so I’ll have a chance to visit them while I’m in the area.