One of the best ways to reach hundreds of thousands of potential customers within a matter of five to six hours is to attend one of the country’s African American festivals. This is an excellent time of year to take your business on the road and set-up shop at three to four festivals. There are festivals that target specific types of businesses.
Cultural Book Festivals Authors Can Attend
African American Heritage and Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival are two of the largest festivals held in Maryland. The African American Cultural Festival is held in September of each year at the Courthouse Square in Towson. The event includes entertainment, food and other business vendors, local talent and local history. It is a family event aimed at strengthening community unity. A board of directors works diligently to secure entertainment, gain vendors, etc.
The African American Heritage Festival is held in late-June. It is a family celebration of history, culture and art. It is typically held at OriolePark in Camden Yards. Prior musical guests who performed at the festival include: India Arie, Mint Condition and Faith Evans.
Other festivals and African American cultural events that allow businesses to have face-to-face contacts with thousands of potential customers are the Caribbean Carnival and Festival, Kunte Kinte Festival, and the annual Juneteenth celebration. But that is not all.
Take Your Creative Business National
If you want to take your business national and reach customers from all states (this is a huge win if you are establishing your online presence), you can attend the many other African American cultural festivals that take place around the United States. You can find a listing of some of the largest African American Festivals at: http://www.blackrefer.com/happenings2.html. Black Business Directories often include a list of cultural festivals you can take advantage of.
Additional festivals held around the country include:
- Harlem Book Fair (qbr.com)
- Queens Book Fair (queensbookfair.com)
- Brooklyn Book Festival (http://www.brooklynbookfestival.org)
- Arts Sanctuary Writing Fairs (artsanctuary.org)
- National Black Book Festival (nationalblackbookfestival.com)
- Los Angeles Black Book Expo (labbx.com)
- Book TV Book Festival Listings (booktv.org/book-fairs.aspx)
- Book Expo America (bookexpoamerica.com)
- Chistell Book Events (chistell.com/upcoming_writing_book_events.htm)
While attending a cultural festival make sure you bring free newsletters, copies of recent press releases, business cards, flyers, and sign-up sheets. As people pass your vending booth ask them to sign your sign-up sheet providing their name, email address, city and state. This allows you to begin to build a relationship with these potential customers. People like being thought of. This is a timeless and effective way to build new customer relationships. It works!
Find out about Long Walk Up and Spiral at www.chistell.com
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