Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/873071
" Every year I stress the importance of quality plans and targets rather than quantity — you don't want the FMS to be a 'make work' exercise that has no value." — Cara Backman, Franklin Empire, Inc. S tr o n g R o o t s , S tr o n g B r an ch e s #ADSTRONG | AD Today 2017 | 67 continued from page 64 and lean on the other members," he advised. "The partnership within AD is remarkable — even though different members technically compete against each other, there are so many regions of the country covered that you can easily contact a member who's not in direct competition with you every day and ask them how they went about organizing their Field Marketing Summit. It could save an awful lot of learning curve early on by going to others who have done it," he said. Encore Wire's Spurgin recommends making sure "that there's a main point of contact at the distributor with whom you can share notes and develop a solid follow-up plan." Finally, Keeney Manufacturing's Fox suggests capitalizing on resources made available in the network. "Visit my.ADHQ.com, learn what you can from the website, ask members what they expect from manufacturers attending Summits, get to know the Sales Stimulator Programs (SSP) and determine how your company can support/activate them. At that end of the day," Fox concluded, "you're working with your representatives and members to ensure all of your mutual success!" Check out www.adfms.com to find vital tools for planning, executing, and following up on your AD Field Marketing Summit. Planning 101: Having a solid plan makes it easier to get the most out of an AD Field Marketing Summit, so we've made it simple to get organized, mind your milestones, and know what you should be doing every step of the way. You can review milestones on the Planning Timeline, with suggested tasks as your meeting date approaches. You also have access to comprehensive Planning Resources, which can be printed or downloaded to your computer or mobile device, putting important insights and information at your fingertips. Toolkit: We've assembled the resources and templates needed to enhance your meeting at every step, from pre-event promotion to post-event follow up. From invitations to signs and name badges, you'll find resources to make every aspect of your meeting shine. Industry Calendar: Get synchronized and avoid scheduling conflicts. This calendar is an open line of communication between AD members and suppliers in all the industries we serve. It allows you to see when others in your industry have planned their AD FMS events, making it easy to avoid scheduling conflicts with popular supplier partners. It also allows suppliers to see what events are happening so they can make plans to attend. Share your event dates, or use this calendar to help pick the dates of your next event. Post-Event Resources: It's all about the follow-up and follow-through! Some of the most valuable aspects of an AD Field Marketing Summit are just beginning when the event ends. Well-planned follow-up is a crucial part of ensuring that the plans made during an event are put into action. Use these tools to organize your event follow-up and make sure everyone stays motivated and aligned. AD FMS MICROSITE