Booth or Bust: Navigating the Conference Circuit as an Entrepreneur/Author

In the world of entrepreneurship and authorship, one of the most challenging decisions revolves around participating in conferences or expos. Whether it's weighing the financial investment against potential gains or considering the impact on visibility and networking, entrepreneurs and authors often find themselves at a crossroads. Amber and I have been honoured to have a booth at the American Library Association Conference (in Chicago), as well as Reading for the Love of It (In Toronto) in the past year.

Conferences come with a hefty price tag, often ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars for attendance, booth space, accommodations, travel or workshop presenting opportunities. As Canadians, we also have to take into the account the currency exchange rate, which can increase the cost by over 40%. For entrepreneurs like us, this can be daunting. Each time we consider a submission, we have to carefully evaluate the return on investment (ROI) in terms of book sales, brand exposure, and networking potential.