"Marketing isn't always about measurable metrics, sometimes it's about creating a vibe that connects with your audience," says Kristi Gamboni, Senior Integrated Marketing Manager at TrustRadius.

In this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Jonathan Gandolf sits down with Kristi Gamboni to discuss the power of face-to-face marketing events, especially when it comes to dinner series. Kristi shares her experience organizing a successful series of executive dinners and the surprising ROI they generated. 

She explains how selecting the right venues and creating a relaxed, yet strategic atmosphere can lead to meaningful conversations and solid business outcomes. She emphasizes the importance of building relationships with both prospects and current customers, and why the “vibe” of an event can be just as crucial as the content. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How to make executive dinners a key part of your marketing strategy
2. Why the right venue can be the secret to successful B2B events
3. What makes a great event invite process that drives urgency and results

Resources:

Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/

Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.com

Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristigamboni/

Explore TrustRadius: https://trustradius.com/ 

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(00:40) Kristi Gamboni’s journey

(04:50) Choosing the right markets

(06:09) Importance of venue and cuisine

(08:50) Effective invite process

(10:46) Results from the dinner series

(11:18) Strategic partner selection

(15:00) Maximizing executive time

(16:27) Building a business case for dinners

(18:22) Handling invitations and attendees

(21:17) Unpopular opinions