i agree that it could be a bit worrying, but then if you are following your client around people will see that they are your client and will likely be a bit more sneaky.. its an interesting concept, i think just the offer to send them along would be enough to give them confidence that you want them to learn. maybe providing specific notes provided might be enough.

I would NEVER plug anything, shameless or otherwise, without completely believing in it myself….and yes, this year we are sending our clients and vendors to SEM conferences.

you can check the format to see, http://www.imspringbreak.com (shameless plug) – i dont think there any of the speakers are going looking for clients (i maybe wrong, but i know the majority are not). thats more of a learning experience – which dont get me wrong SMX and SES are also – but i personally would *never* get approved for conferences if I told the pres. of my company that i was simply going there to learn and share information. i actually don’t think the majority of speakers who work would get approved – “Hey Mr Boss, I am going to a conference to share information that I have learned and acquired on YOUR time and I am not going to speak to anyone who may be a potential client”.

ok here’s the question. if I write a blog post about sending my clients to scary or im spring break to see you speak cuz u rock boi, how would you feel about that? would you want the conference to get the business cuz it rocks? btw, i’d like to meet your sister…bet there’s no lame sauce there.

why would i send clients to places where speakers PAY to attend in hopes to GAIN more clients?

Am I supposed to follow them around and point them away from anyone who tries to speak to them – kinda like bringing your little sister to a nightclub for the first time?