Hey there,

IBS is three weeks away. Some of your members are going. Most aren’t.
Either way, here are seven simple things you can do starting this week to help your members get real value from the show.

These quick actions make your association more valuable to both groups—and position you as a proactive, member-focused leader.

Help attending members avoid overwhelm by giving them a plan. Try this email:

Subject: Going to IBS? Focus on these 3 things
Body:
"If you're heading to IBS, it's easy to spend three days wandering the show floor. Here's how to make it worth your time:

Reply and let us know what you're hoping to find this year."

Why it works: Gives members direction—and makes you their guide.

Instead of letting members bump into each other randomly, send this:

"Going to IBS? Reply and we’ll organize a quick breakfast or dinner meetup with fellow [Your HBA] members."

Set a time and location (for example: Tuesday, 7:30 a.m., [restaurant near convention center]).

Why it works: Creates intentional connection and makes the association feel more valuable.

Include the majority who won’t attend with a short email:

Subject: Not going to IBS? What should we bring back?

Body:
"If you’re not attending IBS, let us know what you'd like to hear about:

Reply and we’ll make sure to gather insights you can use."

Why it works: Makes non-attendees feel seen and included.

Set up a shared Google Doc titled “[Your HBA] IBS 2026 Notes.”
Include sections for:

Share it ahead of time and invite attendees to drop in notes.

Why it works: You crowdsource useful content, and members help each other.

If you're attending, share quick updates via email or social.

Example posts:

Day 1: “Spotted a great new product today: [short description]. Worth checking out.”
Day 2: “Hosted a breakfast with five members. Great discussion about [topic].”
Day 3: “One surprising takeaway from the show: [short insight].”

Why it works: Builds connection and shows you’re working on behalf of all members.

Structure your post-show email like this:

Subject: IBS 2026: What We Learned (And What to Do Next)

Include:

End with a call to reply with questions.

Why it works: Turns the show into a tangible deliverable that proves value.

Schedule a 30-minute breakfast or lunch with members who attended.
Ask them to share one thing they’re planning to implement.

Why it works: Helps attendees apply what they learned, and gives non-attendees value too.

Most builders go to IBS, get inspired, and return to business as usual.
Your job isn’t just promoting conferences. It’s helping your members get value from them.

The same principle applies all year long. Your members need:

That’s exactly what Builder Playbook provides. Two ready-to-send articles each month, complete with summaries and social posts, designed to help builders grow.

Want to see how it works? Just reply and I’ll send over a sample package—no pressure.

Or feel free to borrow this IBS plan. If it helps your members succeed, that’s a win either way.

Talk soon,
Timothy Dahl

P.S. I’ll be at IBS all three days and live in Las Vegas. If you'd like to meet for coffee and hear how other HBAs are using licensed content to increase value (and non-dues revenue), reply and let’s set something up.

Timothy Dahl
Founder, Builder Playbook
LinkedIn