Focus in FY25: Do I Need to Attend Conferences to Get Federal Contracts?

Here is another recent question from a small business to help you Focus in FY2025... and prioritize.

Q: Do I need to attend conferences ("play the game") to get Federal contracts?

A: No. There is a lot of FOMO when it comes to a new year on this platform following the GovCon space. 😱 You'll soon start to see selfies taken from venues in the Beltway and Sunbelt. You'll hear stories of great presentations and meeting people face-to-face.

What you won't hear is anyone say they won a contract by shaking a hand at a conference. (But if you have, congrats, you are a unicorn in this marketplace.)

Why?

Because no one Government official can make those decisions in a vacuum. Federal contracting is a team sport and everyone has their role. And nothing is done without approvals, authority, and accountability. So don't worry, you aren't missing out on contracts directly by not attending.

Network within your means to the target audience for the entry point(s) into the Federal marketplace you've chosen. And that doesn't require travel and expense accounts.

Start right here, on LinkedIn. I'm no LI expert but I know what has worked for me...

✅️ Talk about what you know.

✅️ Share stories related to your expertise.

✅️ Occasionally share "human stuff" (not too personal, please... save that for FB or IG).

✅️ Be kind (...that is, unless you need some space from someone who wants to repeatedly and/or publicly makes it known that they aren't that in to you. Or maybe they like to "borrow" your content as their own. Then you use that unfollow, "disconnect", or block button all you want, okay?)

✅️ And most of all...be YOU, boo.

Open your network and follow people that resonate with you. See who they are connected with and hit the buttons to follow and connect.

▶️ Start conversations.

▶️ Comment on others.

If you want or feel you need a conference experience, pick one or two and budget for them. 🛫 🚨(Psst! I've got a list of these events. You can find the link at fedsubk.com/library.)🚨

Conferences can connect you with potential partners, primes/subs, and give you the chance to talk to a Govvie (but only quickly). But you can do that EVERY DAY here with a connection, comment, or DM.

And consider this...

Outside of a conference, the chance of being just another face in the crowd is drastically reduced. The interaction becomes more memorable and meaningful because there are no distractions.

It's not about where you go, it's about how you connect! And that's your call to make, literally. ☎️