How to have a Successful Briefing with me

Briefings are a core part of being an analyst, this constant input fuels me with new ideas, examples, and vendors to recommend to our vast client base in our inquiry calls, speeches research reports, and even blog posts.

I want you to be effective and efficient in your communications, although keep in mind that each analyst may have their own preference.

Thanks to all who have requested briefings to meet with me, here’s a few things to know that’ll help you to quickly communicate your value proposition to me, so I can best understand your company. First of all, see this list of the dreamteam, in many cases, I may not be the right analyst to cover your company. In most cases, I’m limiting my briefings to 30 minutes rather than an hour, if you can’t communicate your value in that time, we’ve other issues to consider. Powerpoint slides are good, but only as a supplement for discussion, allow me to ask questions, I can learn far more when it’s a dialog. Rushing through your presentation just to make sure you hit each slide isn’t going to do you –or me– any good, I can read slides on my own.

Lately, my schedule has gone awry, (my lack of blogging is one indicator) and I’m on average 30 days out for most briefings. I’m very unlikely to blog about your announcement for a few reasons: 1) I leave that for the smart bloggers with far more traffic and press folks to break news, but I’m happy to provide them with 3rd party quotes 2) In most cases, I just don’t have the time. With that said, I’ll likely link to an announcement from Twitter if I think it’s relevant (so be sure to include URLs).

As an analyst, I serve the Interactive Marketer at Enterprise class companies, and I primarily focus on social media, with a primary focus on social networks, communities, widgets therefore, on a briefing, I’m going to filter your company that way. I’ve been getting quite a few briefing requests, I hope this helps you to understand how to best approach me.

I really look forward to learning about your company, I hope these suggestions help make your time –and mine –efficient and effective.