My team and I just returned from a conference in Los Angeles and had a great time. The speakers were engaging, the topics were spot on, and the networking was incredible. However, we all noticed several attendees who looked overloaded with information and were unclear about what sessions to attend or booths to visit. I felt a little sorry for them, as although they had spent money, time, and effort attending the conference, they didn’t have a good game plan.
Over my career, I have attended around 45 conferences: some as a presenter, some as a vendor, and some as an attendee. I want to share a few points I use to prepare and attend conferences that help drive value and limit the deer in the headlights look.
What is Your Goal?
Establishing a goal for attending the conference can not only provide you with a north star during planning and attending a conference, but it also can help you pick the right conference to attend. I have been surprised over the years when I run into people who tell me, ‘I should not have come to this. This is not what I expected.’ When I asked them what they wanted out of the conference, they either couldn’t articulate it clearly or stated a goal that was not the point of the conference. In other words, they were wasting their time.
Do your Homework
Once you have your goal of what you want to achieve, do your homework. See if your goals match the conference’s overall purpose and align with the topics and speakers you want to hear from. A simple Google or LinkedIn search on the keynote speakers can go a long way to determine if their experience matches what you are looking for.
Game Plan
Review the schedule before you attend the conference and use your goal to guide the sessions you want to attend. Study the agenda and add the sessions you wish to attend to your calendar app to access the information quickly. Use the app’s reminders to make sure you make it on time. Also, be sure to note detailed location information on those calendar holds. They can come in handy when you cannot access the conference application, or you are trying to read tiny directions on the third day, and all you want to do is go back to your room when you are tired.
Download the Conference App
Most conferences now have their own app with scanning, note-taking, directions, and social media connections. Download the conference app before you leave home to get notifications, access venue maps, and receive important reminders.
Plan Meetings
Do not assume that serendipity will strike when the one person you really want to meet sits next to you at the bar. If there’s someone you really want to connect with during the conference, schedule a meeting with them beforehand, invite them to dinner, plan to meet for lunch between sessions or have an early morning get-together over coffee. Some of the best learning happens in the “unofficial sessions.”
Tie Up Loose Ends at Work
Ensure all your tasks and projects are up to date so you can leave the office with a clear mind. You don’t want to worry about deadlines and be preoccupied with other work-related tasks while trying to enjoy yourself at a conference.
Network! Network! Network!
I know it can be challenging and even nerve-racking to network, but keep in mind that everyone is there to meet new people and connect. I usually set a daily goal to meet or talk to 20 people. That number can be a lot for some, but setting a goal will help push you (even if it’s for a lesser number, say five to ten people).
Digital and Real Business Cards
I am not saying you need to run down to Kinkos and print 10,000 business cards. However, make sure there is an easy way to share your information with other attendees. This can be through a business card or an app that allows you to input and save contact information. Better yet, check the conference application you downloaded. Often, they have functionality that can collect people’s information by scanning their badges.
Follow-Up Plan
You need a follow-up plan to ensure your connection turns into a relationship. A proven strategy is to send an email or message to your connections within three days of the end of the conference, citing your conversation and asking to schedule a phone meeting with them to learn/discuss more. But don’t waste people’s time. Make sure you have some value to provide them with, as that will help solidify the relationship.
Honorable Mention
– Hand sanitizer – People still shake hands.
– Strong mints – It is hard to have an enlightening conversation when all you can think about is how bad your coffee breath is. Some people swear by gum, but the sight of people spitting gum into a garbage can is a little unprofessional.
– A paper notebook and a few extra pens – Technology is amazing, but when your phone or computer dies, you have a problem.
– Battery charger – I always carry an external battery charger to charge my phone on the move.
