We have all seen the direct mail pieces offering a luxurious steak dinner to in exchange for sitting through XYZ’s presentation. Maybe you have even tried this method yourself, and that’s okay! The downfall in offering a meal at your event is people will feel pressured into a next step only because they received something for free. That isn’t the type of uncomfortable environment you want to create and likely won’t result in an ideal client. The goal is for the attendee to feel that they enjoyed the presentation, learned a few things, and genuinely liked you and your philosophy. Now that they learned about who you are and what you do, they want to engage with you. Instead of a full meal, most of our clients opt to provide light refreshments such as water, coffee, soft drinks, and/or tea. Small bakery items or finger snacks can also add a nice touch, and are relatively inexpensive.