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Let’s be real—if you’re still the one creating all the content, ansVirtual summits have become a powerful tool for entrepreneurs looking to grow their audience, increase visibility, and boost revenue. In a recent episode of the Your Community Strategist podcast, host Rachel Starr interviewed Julie C. Butler, known as the Summit Queen, who specializes in helping coaches confidently host their first summit.
With over 15 years of business experience and a track record of successful summit hosting, Julie shared valuable insights about summit strategy, particularly focusing on what to do after your summit ends – an often overlooked but critical phase for maximizing your summit’s impact.
The Power of Virtual Summits
Julie’s journey to becoming the Summit Queen began in 2022 when she hosted her first virtual summit to address an audience growth gap in her business. That initial summit attracted 1,900 attendees and grew her email list by approximately 1,500 people. This success led her to host more summits and eventually pivot her business to focus on teaching others how to create successful, high-converting virtual events.
What makes virtual summits so effective? According to Julie, they provide multiple benefits:
- Rapid audience growth
- Increased visibility and authority
- Revenue generation through summit tickets and follow-up offers
- Valuable networking opportunities with speakers and attendees
- Post-summit collaboration possibilities
Post-Summit Strategy: Don’t Leave Money on the Table
One of the most valuable insights Julie shared was about what to do after your summit ends. Many summit hosts experience a sense of relief when their event concludes and fail to capitalize on the momentum they’ve built. Julie emphasized that this is a critical mistake.
Key Post-Summit Actions:
- Thank your attendees and speakers
Show appreciation to everyone who participated, as these relationships are valuable for future collaborations. - Nurture your new email subscribers
Julie revealed that 42% of her business income comes directly from people who attended her summits. The key is consistent follow-up and relationship building with your new subscribers. - Collect feedback through surveys
Gather insights on what worked well and what could be improved. This feedback helps refine future events and can provide valuable testimonials. - Launch a follow-up offer
Your summit attendees are warm leads who have seen you in action. This is the perfect time to present them with a relevant offer.
Building Meaningful Connections Through Summits
Beyond the tactical aspects of summit hosting, Julie emphasized the importance of relationship building. Her approach to prerecording interviews with speakers allows her to build deeper connections with each expert. These relationships often lead to podcast invitations, speaking opportunities, and collaborative partnerships.
For her upcoming summit featuring 50 speakers, Julie is innovating by hosting dedicated networking events for speakers instead of traditional expert panels. This approach recognizes the value of speaker-to-speaker connections and creates opportunities for future collaborations.
The Future of Virtual Summits
As Julie noted, “Summits are the new normal.” With their increasing popularity, standing out requires thinking outside the box. Some trends and considerations she highlighted:
- Pre-recorded sessions offer flexibility for global audiences
- The importance of unique elements that differentiate your summit
- Adding value beyond just content (networking, community building)
- Being mindful of summit frequency (quality over quantity)
Key Takeaways for Summit Hosts
Whether you’re planning your first summit or looking to improve your next one, consider these insights:
- Plan adequately
Julie recommends giving yourself 3-6 months to properly organize a summit. - Focus on quality over quantity
It’s better to have 500 of the right people than 2,000 random attendees. - Nurture relationships
The connections you make with speakers and attendees can lead to ongoing business opportunities. - Don’t neglect post-summit strategy
Follow-up is where much of the value of hosting a summit is realized. - Innovate and differentiate
With the increasing number of summits, finding unique elements is crucial.
Conclusion
Virtual summits remain a powerful strategy for business growth when executed thoughtfully. The real magic happens not just during the event but in how you leverage the connections and momentum afterward. As Julie’s experience shows, summits can become a consistent source of new subscribers, collaborations, and revenue when you approach them strategically.
Are you planning to host a virtual summit? What strategies will you implement to make the most of the post-summit period? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Connect with Julie:
Julie C Butler, Owner of Julie C Butler and Host of The Business Brilliance Growth Podcast, is a Virtual Summit Coach and an Amazon best-selling author with over 15 years of experience in business. She helps coaches on the other side of 40 confidently host their first virtual summit—so they can blow up their email list, 10x their visibility, grow their authority, and make more money.
She’s here to guide you every step of the way, making sure you share your expertise with the world, create lasting impact, and accelerate your business success—without the overwhelm!
FREE WEBINAR: How I Grew My List by 1450+ in 30 Days: The Power of Virtual Summits: https://juliecbutler.com/1450
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