The open-source conference season can be a challenging time, especially if you have a full schedule or if you find these events intimidating. Several options might make the conference season more enjoyable, though, and there are ways to derive more value from the time you spend at these events.
1 Prepare
Proper preparation is key. You can take advantage of all the opportunities that a conference has to offer.
Plan your transportation and make all travel and accommodation bookings in advance. You should also check the weather to ensure that you are comfortable and well-dressed.
Formulate your objectives for the conference—is your priority to gain knowledge, expand your network, or find good seats at the keynote lectures?
If you know that you will attend a conference, register early so that you can save with early-bird specials. An early badge pickup at the event also helps you skip the long queues.
2 Identify Key Sessions
When you know what you want to achieve with the conference, identify the key sessions that you would like to attend.
You should also select back-up meetings that you can attend if a session is full. If you don’t want to miss a session, visit the previous sitting in the same venue to ensure you’re there at the start of the next one.
Find out beforehand if there will be recordings of sessions that you want to attend—an excellent way to catch up sessions that you’ve missed.
3 Network
A conference is an ideal place to meet new business connections.
Opportunities to network with other attendees include breakfasts, lunches, evening functions, and Birds of a Feather sessions.
If you attend a conference to meet new clients, take promotional conference giveaways with you that you can use as gifts. Logoed bags, lanyards, stress balls, calico bags and other items are ideal gifts, as your recipients will be able to use these products every day and keep your business name in mind.
If you know beforehand who will attend a conference, give these potential clients personalised items and increase your brand recognition. A customised product also gives you a valid reason to contact a prospect at a conference.
4 Take Care of Yourself
Attending a conference can be exhausting. You may also eat unhealthily, get too little sleep, and increase your intake of sugary drinks. During the day, these deviations from your healthy habits can affect your ability to absorb new information and create professional first impressions.
Ask the conference organisers or other attendees to recommend healthy dining options in the area. You should also make sure that you get enough sleep at night.
TIP: In the mornings before the sessions start, go for a walk or get some exercise at the hotel gym to increase your focus for the rest of the day.
5 Follow Up
After the conference, you may have a lot of catching up to do at work, but following up the connections you made at the conference is critical.
You don’t have to discuss the details of your meetings but tell them that it was nice to meet them. In the future, they will think of the value you can offer and make contact.
A conference is an opportunity, not a distraction—prepare well and leverage the network.