With the advent of technology that allows us to have video conferencing, it can be hard to decide whether to have a face-to-face meeting these days. Sometimes you just can’t replicate being in the same room with someone, and it is advantageous to make the trek for a meet-up.
Ask yourself the following questions when trying to determine whether to take on the expense of all that travel. And when you’re traveling for business it’s always a good idea to add some travel insurance to cover any possible hangups that arise.
Will It Help Close the Deal?
If meeting in person will mean the difference between closing the deal or not, it is definitely worth the trip, even if it involves international travel. In his book Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill talks about the power of the Mastermind created by meeting up in person and working towards a common goal. In this regard, a business trip can be priceless and well worth the planning and follow through it involves.
Will It Save Money?
It can be hard to determine whether or not a face-to-face meeting will save you money in the long run. Weighing the costs versus the benefits is something that can often only be determined after several months of contact. Run the numbers to see if you can save money by meeting in person and hashing things out in one go rather than inefficient back-and-forth communication through email, phone, or video chats.
Will It Save Time?
If you have a lot to convey and have tried other means of communication, perhaps an in-person meeting is in order. Remember that time is money and if you’re spending too many man-hours on a project you could put those resources to better use by getting those brains together in the same room and wrapping the project up.
Does the Client Expect It?
If a client is large enough you may have to meet in person to woo them. Larger clients will often require an in-person meeting before they’ll do business with a new company, and they will not fret much over the costs involved. If you want to look like you can handle a big firm you’re going to have to act the way a big firm acts.
Will You Need to Meet Often?
If an in-person meeting is just a one-time thing it may be easier to pull the trigger on all that travel. But if it will need to happen on a regular basis you may want to look into alternative ways to communicate, like screen-sharing video conferences, phone calls, or instant messaging. Or perhaps one meeting together can create the foundation, and then you can continue on with other methods.
Sometimes there’s just no getting around an in-person meeting with a new or established client. When you finally decide to make the business trip, make the most of it and it’s sure to be worthwhile and profitable.
