So you’re registered for a conference and you’ve booked your hotel and travel plans! Now what?
Preparation isn’t close to being done. Conferences can be very overwhelming, especially for first-time attendees. One of the most important aspects of preparing for a conference is to create a solid game plan and stay organized, or you won’t get as much out of it. The key components to every conference is to make connections and get educated. I have five easy steps to help you achieve success for every conference you attend this year.
- Check out the sessions and speakers
- Build your schedule around the most important speakers and what will have the most value for you and your company.
- Speakers for IRCE
- Affiliate Summit East Agenda
- Remember to bring materials to take notes.
- In addition to sessions, be sure to also make time for the exhibit hall and other networking opportunities where you can invest time interacting with other attendees.
- Look at the list of social gatherings and parties after hours and go to a few – this is a great way to meet people in a laid back, fun atmosphere.
- Know who is going to be there
- Check out the list of companies that will be in attendance and highlight where they will be exhibiting on a map.
- Prepare a list of questions you’d like to ask particular companies.
- Take notes on business cards
- It helps to write down notes on the back of the card after your conversation to help you better remember people you meet – this will help you create personalized follow ups and organize all the cards you receive.
- Store your all business cards in a safe place.
- Ideas for business cards
- Put your day to day work aside for a couple days
- If you spend all day working on your laptop during the conference, you will miss out on opportunities to network and connect with others.
- Setup an auto reply email and change your voicemail to let people know you will be gone, so it won’t serve as a distraction.
- Have a presence on social media
- First, make sure you follow the conference organization on Twitter, Facebook, etc. to be aware of any changes to the schedule and for reminders of what to do – they often create specific accounts with tips and advice for conference goers throughout the day.
- Let your followers know that you will be in attendance and use the official hashtag of the conference, it’s another great way to make connections.
There are many tips and recommendations on how to make the most of each conference, but it starts with careful planning and organizing. Once the conference is over and you’ve made new friends, treat yourself to a fun night on the town!
Leave A Comment