I attended the 2019 Southeast Homeschool Expo in Atlanta for the first time?as a retired home educator.

I?m not sure if homeschoolers ever ?retire? but this time I went with no approaching school year in my planner.

?It was bittersweet, to be sure.

I went specifically to meet vendors with whom I?d become acquainted via email over the past few months. And, yes, to reminisce.

Lessons Learned

I came away from the event with 5 interesting insights. And one spectacular oversight.

Exhibitors and visitors at the Southeast Homeschool Expo

The Expo was a hive of activity.

I was able to people-watch and see so many different emotions on the faces of the home educators attending.

Excitement

Anticipation

Confidence

Insecurity

Frustration

Determination

Every homeschooler there had a different story to tell.

As marketers, we must adjust our approach for each emotion so that we provide the exact solution our customer needs at that moment.

Demographics are only one small part of the whole marketing picture.

The more involved the vendors, the more people visited their booth.

Of course, not all booths offered riveting presentations, but even the simple booths attracted multiple visitors at a time when the exhibitor was genuinely friendly and engaging

As Mark Schaefer says, ?The most human company wins.?

The workshops I attended were informative and entertaining.

Some in the audience listened intently, others furiously scribbled notes.

The presenters shared their stories and wisdom, answered questions and offered advice.

A willingness to freely share information can bring loyal followers who then become avid promoters of our brands.

When I later saw a social media post from an Expo exhibitor, I was driven to comment.

I thought it was exciting to be able to interact real-time and be a small part of their event.

Promotion is vital, but?

...responding to comments as quickly as possible is even more important to give followers a sense of community and belonging.

Every single encounter at the Expo was an opportunity. 

Gathering information.

Sharing ideas.

Making new friends.

Learning new things.

Not one moment was wasted, whether I was actively speaking with a person or simply listening to a presentation.

Even though I?m no longer teaching my own, I was able to place my finger squarely on the pulse of the homeschool market, both in Atlanta and beyond.

And one other thing?

So not comfortable

I forgot the sage advice to wear comfortable shoes. 

Despite that, I managed to make do with bandages, sheer willpower, and a firm commitment to follow the footwear guidance?next time.

 

I heard from several homeschool sources that July is an especially busy time for vendors. And I?ve learned that August 15 marks the peak time for online searches for ?back to school.?

As you?re winding down from your whirlwind July and heading into the home stretch of August, may you exceed your goals as you sail into September.

And definitely reach out if I can help you. Contact me today and let?s chat!