Ed. note: Most recent in a series. Read the prior installment here.
In our last article, we explored how gathering and utilizing feedback can enhance your CLE presentations. Now, it’s time to look at the next critical step: providing additional resources that deepen your connection with attendees.
Think of this as the afterparty — a continuation of the initial success that allows you to solidify and expand your network.
By offering valuable takeaways and continued engagement, you turn a single presentation into an ongoing dialogue that strengthens your professional network and opens doors to future opportunities.
Creating Valuable Takeaways: More Than Just a Handout
Attendees appreciate when they walk away from a CLE with more than just a notepad full of scribbled notes. Supplementary materials can reinforce your key messages and provide ongoing value long after the session ends.
• Developing Rich Content: Consider creating whitepapers, comprehensive slide decks, or recorded sessions that expands on the points covered in your CLE. These materials serve as reference guides that attendees can revisit, ensuring your insights stay top of mind.
• Tailored Resources: Personalize the takeaways to your audience. For instance, if your CLE covered a broad topic, offer specialized resources that delve deeper into specific areas relevant to different segments of your audience. This targeted approach demonstrates your understanding of their needs and positions you as a valuable resource.
Offering Consultations: Turning Interest into Action
Not every question can be answered during a CLE, and some attendees might have unique situations that require more personalized advice. Offering one-on-one consultations is a powerful way to provide this tailored guidance while deepening your professional relationships.
• Invite Continued Discussion: At the end of your CLE, invite attendees to reach out for further discussions. Offer brief, complimentary consultations to help them apply what they’ve learned to their specific circumstances. This personal touch not only reinforces your expertise but also builds goodwill and opens the door to potential client relationships.
• Structured Follow-Up: Create a structured follow-up plan with specific timelines and objectives. Schedule these sessions promptly and use them as an opportunity to explore how you can assist them further, turning initial interest into ongoing collaboration.
Staying Top of Mind: Keep the Connection Alive
The key to a successful follow-up strategy is staying connected. By keeping in touch with your attendees through regular updates, you ensure that they remember you long after the CLE has ended. Consistency is key — regular communication helps keep you at the forefront of their minds when they need expertise in your area.
• Newsletters and Email Updates: Send out periodic newsletters or email updates that provide valuable insights, updates in your field, or even upcoming events. This not only keeps you on their radar but also reinforces your role as a thought leader in your area of expertise.
• Leverage Social Media: Engage with your audience on social media platforms like LinkedIn. Share relevant articles, comment on industry trends, and participate in discussions that matter to your network. This active presence helps maintain the relationships you’ve started during your CLE.
Setting the Stage for Ongoing Impact
Providing additional resources is more than just an afterthought — it’s a strategic move that turns a single CLE into a sustained relationship. By offering valuable takeaways, personalized consultations, and staying in touch through regular updates, you ensure that your impact extends far beyond the initial presentation.
In the next two articles of this series, we’ll explore how to leverage your CLE content for broader impact and the importance of staying connected with your audience. We’ll dive into strategies for repurposing your presentation into articles, blogs, and social media posts, ensuring that your CLE continues to serve as a cornerstone of your professional relationships.
Creating Valuable Takeaways:
✔️ Develop comprehensive materials like whitepapers or recorded sessions that reinforce your CLE content.
✔️ Tailor resources to address the specific needs of different audience segments.
Offering Consultations:
✔️ Invite attendees to follow up with one-on-one consultations for personalized advice.
✔️ Implement a structured follow-up plan to turn initial interest into ongoing collaboration.
Staying Top of Mind:
✔️ Use newsletters and email updates to maintain regular contact and share valuable insights.
✔️ Engage with your audience on social media to keep the conversation going and build your professional presence.
By implementing these strategies, you’ll turn your CLE into a lasting connection that continues to grow and benefit your practice long after the session ends.
Sejal Bhasker Patel is a Rainmaking Consultant and Author of Rainmaker: Unleashed — a sharp, strategic playbook for attorneys who don’t fit the traditional mold. She’s the founder of Sage Ivy, a consulting firm that works directly with law firms and attorneys to turn relationships into revenue — without selling their soul. Her work is blunt, tailored, and built on one core belief: Authenticity isn’t a liability — it’s your strongest competitive edge.
www.sageivyconsulting.com
The post The CLE Afterparty: Keeping The Conversation — And Connection — Going appeared first on Above the Law.
