It’s convention season (isn’t it all the time? — there’s all the time one thing taking place) so time to mud off your networking expertise and get ready to your business convention.
I’ve attended business conferences for over 20 years as a delegate and speaker, met some superb folks and discovered quite a bit.
Conferences are an effective way to spice up your skilled growth and get publicity to new concepts. It’s been so lengthy since I used to be a convention rookie so listed below are my tried-and-tested methods to maximise attending a convention.
Get convention prepared
The extra preparation you place into any occasion earlier than you go, the extra you’ll get out of it, whether or not that’s a small social gathering at work or an enormous business congress.
You make a giant funding in going to conferences so it helps to do a little bit of considering and planning about tips on how to profit when you’re there. Listed here are some useful suggestions that can assist you put together for attending an in-person skilled convention.
Earlier than you go
You already know to put on snug sneakers and take layers, proper? Convention venues might be on the cool aspect with the air con. Listed here are some extra of my prime convention suggestions.
1. Pack gentle
What do you have to convey to knowledgeable convention? My recommendation for convention success is to take the minimal quantity of stuff with you.
Take a small pocket book. I really like this Moleskin notebook however a less expensive spiral bound notebook can be a very good possibility because it lies flat in your lap whereas writing.
Any good convention organizer will present copies of slides and clean paper for notes however you wish to have one thing to write down your personal notes on when not in a session.
Don’t load your self up with pointless issues and maintain your purse small.
One exception to that rule: if you’re going to a giant occasion the place there will likely be an exhibition corridor filled with stands, pack a fold-away bag for all of your freebies and paperwork. You received’t have the ability to stroll previous a stall with out getting a bunch of leaflets (and samples if you’re fortunate) thrust at you.
Even if you’re simply going to a day of sit-down lectures, there’ll nonetheless be lecture notes, pens and firm flyers so that you can take away.
2. Cost your devices
If you’re going to take notes on a pill or anticipate to tweet dwell from the occasion utilizing your telephone, be sure that they’ve sufficient energy. Being tethered to an influence socket within the hall of a lodge is just not a very good look.
You wish to get probably the most out of the convention, so that you don’t wish to be caught on the charging station when you may be networking!
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3. Assessment the schedule
Save your self time on the day by figuring out which shows you wish to see. That is particularly essential in case your convention has a number of tracks (or streams).
Assessment the schedule. Analysis the matters or the audio system. Plan your convention day across the occasions that you just most wish to see and be ready to be versatile in regards to the others.
If you happen to don’t see something on the schedule that conjures up you, take the hour off. It’s OK to sit down within the lounge space, peruse the exhibition corridor or get to the entrance of the espresso queue whereas everybody else is in shows, so long as you continue to really feel you might be getting worth for cash from the day.
Conferences are an funding in your self and your profession. Don’t waste them.
4. Assessment the convention map
Check out the plan of the constructing, if that is obtainable upfront. It won’t be obtainable early as usually stalls change as much as the final minute. Everytime you get a brochure with the floorplan in, examine it fastidiously!
Check out the place every thing is. Look out for the scale of the rooms: the smaller the room, the sooner it is best to get there should you completely should see a selected speaker. When the room is full, you’ll most likely be turned away.
Take a look at the place the tea and occasional stands are too as usually folks go to the one nearest the principle doorways and don’t understand there isn’t any queue on the stand on the again!
5. Get enterprise playing cards (go digital!)
One essential step for getting ready for a convention is to get a enterprise card (or someway of telling individuals who you might be) should you don’t have already got them. You meet lots of people at conferences, even if you’re introverted like me and customarily attempt to keep away from small discuss!
I do know what you might be considering — who does enterprise playing cards any extra?
You don’t want many paper-based enterprise playing cards however there are typically competitions the place you drop your card in a bowl, and there are typically folks you meet within the queue or at lunch and also you wish to go in your particulars.
Pack enterprise playing cards handy out at each (related) alternative, and so that you don’t look out of contact when somebody asks for yours whereas providing you with theirs.
Mine are from Moo and they’re superb high quality and I’ve uploaded a number of photos to go on the again. They’re additionally helpful to drop into free prize attracts should you settle for the very fact you’ll then get electronic mail newsletters from the corporate eternally and a day (unsubscribe as quickly as you may should you don’t discover them fascinating – there isn’t any disgrace in simply getting into the competition for the free stuff).
When you find yourself given a enterprise card, write an outline of the individual on the again (once they aren’t trying, clearly) in order that if you get house you will have a preventing probability at remembering who was who.
If you happen to don’t get given a enterprise card as a result of, you understand, the world is digital now, you would possibly wish to make an observation some other place about what you talked about or why you wish to get in contact after the occasion.
Alternate options to enterprise playing cards
- Make your self a QR code that factors to your web site or LinkedIn profile and have folks scan that.
- Have your LinkedIn profile or web site as a shortcut in your telephone so you may rapidly open it and present it to somebody — then they’ll discover you on-line on their system.
- Let folks take a photograph of your identify badge.
6. Join with the audio system
Search for who’s going to be talking on the occasion and join with them on social media.
Make your self identified to them (not in a creepy means) and allow them to know that you may be at their discuss.
In case you have a e book by any of the audio system, pack it and ask them to autograph it on the day!
7. Examine the seller listing
Undergo the occasion data and take a look at what corporations are exhibiting. Even small occasions usually have just a few stalls — these are sometimes occasion sponsors.
If there are any corporations that curiosity you, get in contact with them by way of their contact particulars or social media to line up a while so that you can cease by their sales space.
If you happen to can’t get in contact beforehand, make your self a reminder to cease by their stand early within the day whereas most individuals are nonetheless searching or getting espresso.
8. Make a success listing
Right here’s my prime networking tip for attending a convention: put together a success listing of who you wish to meet or spend time with.
Conferences aren’t solely in regards to the shows. You’ll even have espresso breaks, lunch and motion between teams to search out your self pressed into speaking to strangers.
Chatting to them is networking (and you’ll learn right here why networking is important to your profession) so plan upfront who you wish to discuss to.
It’d sound daunting, however the different is hanging out with the colleagues you attended with and see on daily basis anyway – not a lot new to study from them. Or being the loner within the nook – nothing improper with that both, and I do prefer to construct some ‘alone’ time into my convention days, however an excessive amount of of that turns right into a wasted alternative.
Earlier than the occasion, you’ll have the ability to see the speaker listing and many individuals will likely be sharing whether or not they’re attending or not on their social media pages. Or you may simply ask if they are going to be there – electronic mail or tweet them.
Conferences are a terrific alternative to satisfy folks you’ve solely chatted to on social media and prearranged conferences like that offer you one thing to do within the breaks.
Make an inventory of the folks you wish to see and warn them upfront that you just’ll be in search of them out!
9. Put together dialog starters
OK, it sounds a bit pretend, however have just a few issues you may say to strangers. Particularly if you’re a convention introvert.
You’ll be high-quality speaking to the folks you’ve deliberate to speak to, however for the extras you end up sitting subsequent to, have just a few non-controversial issues to say.
Obtain my listing of professional conversation starters and plan your elevator pitch.
Jan Keck, a facilitator I discovered quite a bit from, advises avoiding the small discuss and shifting to deeper dialog matters, so that you’ll need to determine if that’s a greater technique for you.
10. Discover the convention hashtag
There will likely be a convention hashtag — discover out what it’s and begin utilizing it every week or so beforehand so you may join with different attendees.
The hashtag can be a helpful approach to keep up to date on final minute modifications.
11. Ebook into social occasions
Generally there will likely be pre-event social occasions, like a Fringe. These are sometimes paid-for occasions that have to be booked.
For instance, once I went to a convention in Brighton, there have been occasions the day earlier than that included yoga workshops (nothing to do with the topic of the convention, however a pleasant approach to calm down by the ocean and meet folks from the convention) and journeys to the pub.
On the PMI conferences, there are sometimes pre-event nibbles and drinks mixers within the exhibition corridor the place you can begin to socialize together with your fellow attendees. I’ve by no means needed to e book for these.
Exhibitors and occasion sponsors usually manage social occasions too. If you happen to’re a shopper of theirs, you would possibly get an invitation to an unique occasion.
12. Ebook into workshops and extras
In addition to the pre-event social occasions, there are sometimes workshops and convention pre-meetings the day earlier than or the day after. These promote out rapidly because the periods are sometimes aimed toward small teams.
They could be formal occasions, or they could be led by influencers, trainers, exhibitors or anybody else who desires to make the most of the truth that quite a lot of business persons are in the identical place and it’s a very good alternative to run an off-conference session.
Ebook into these (and pay) upfront so that you don’t miss out.
13. Obtain the convention app
The occasions I’ve been to lately have had a convention app, and it has been good. It retains the dialog on subject and off Twitter/X so it’s multi functional place.
If there may be an app, get it. I additionally like that the app I used on the final convention despatched me alerts in regards to the periods I used to be signed up for.
Choose what periods you wish to go to and the app will warn you when they’re beginning — useful if you’re chatting away to somebody or nonetheless consuming lunch.
14. Keep shut — however you don’t have to be within the convention lodge
Some time again I went to a convention in Toronto and I wasn’t staying within the convention lodge. It was a bit bizarre, having to stroll again to my lodge every night, however I received a less expensive room and a wider vary of meals choices.
Typically, I do want to remain within the convention lodge as it’s simpler to get to the occasions, most individuals keep there so that you’ll have the ability to chat, and also you don’t have to fret in regards to the single-woman-travelling-alone stroll again when the day finishes.
In Fort Value I didn’t keep within the convention lodge for the PMI occasion there, and it appeared shut sufficient to stroll on the map, but it surely completely was not.
There have been no pavements (do folks stroll much less within the US?) to the venue and it was means too scorching. I received a taxi on daily basis but it surely was nonetheless cheaper than if I had paid for the convention lodge.
In case your employer is paying, I’d advocate asking to remain within the occasion location. Take advantage of early chicken charges and take your train package for the lodge gymnasium or spa!
On the day
OK, you’ve arrived on the occasion. Examine in with the convention group. Accumulate your badge, discover the bogs and occasional and take your coat to the cloakroom. Remind your self of your convention objectives: why you might be right here and what you wish to study.
Prepared now? Listed here are the issues I do to benefit from the convention expertise.
15. Put on your badge
Make it simple for folks to start out a dialog with you. Put on your identify badge with satisfaction. Social conditions are sometimes awkward sufficient as it’s and the badge may help you join extra simply with others, and them with you.
Ladies, put on a neckline that’s applicable for folks taking a look at your chest all day if it’s the kind of badge that pins on.
Professional Tip: In case your badge is on a lanyard take into account tying a knot in it to make it shorter so it doesn’t dangle spherical your center. That’s a tip for brief folks like me 🙂
By no means pin your badge to your waistband – nobody will have the ability to see it which makes it tougher for them to start out conversations with you.
16. Edit your badge
It’s OK to take your badge out of its plastic holder and write one thing on it. I’ve added my Twitter deal with (@rebelsguidetopm) to many a convention badge. If the main points in your badge are fairly meaningless, add one thing else, like your division.
Write huge although, these badges are onerous sufficient to learn as it’s.
The purpose of displaying your identify badge is to make it simple for folks to start out chatting, and for them to see if they’ve something in frequent with you. A lot of the good thing about conferences is within the casual networking.
17. Give out your contact particulars with care
You’ve made your QR code (or packed your bodily enterprise playing cards), so use them. However don’t drive them on folks. My rule is that if somebody asks for my contact particulars then I’ll hand them over.
I don’t supply my particulars routinely to folks I meet within the lunch queue as a result of I do know that if it was me I wouldn’t wish to obtain them.
That is additionally the place I inform folks to keep away from the gross sales pitch as a result of — urgh — simply don’t. If you happen to’re invited to share extra data, go forward, however don’t assume folks need it.
Have your telephone obtainable too so you may snap an image of their identify badge after which look them up later to attach on LinkedIn.
18. Work by your hit listing
You need to have made an inventory of the exhibitors you wish to see earlier than you left house. It saves you beneficial time if you arrive, particularly if the exhibition flooring is giant.
Now’s the time to go and go to the stands of the businesses you will have highlighted.
First examine that they’ve really turned up. I usually do a sweeping tour of the exhibition corridor to see who’s there, then I can plan who to return to. Use the ground plan in your convention program to tick off the stands you will have visited.
If you happen to’ve organized to satisfy anybody on the convention, tweet or textual content them to allow them to know that you just’ve made it and to verify particulars.
I’ve despatched somebody a selfie earlier than in order that they knew who they had been in search of – occasion rooms might be fairly crowded so make it as simple as potential for somebody to search out you within the convention atmosphere.
19. Bail out of the improper shows
You’ve chosen your periods and also you’re sitting in a presentation. The speaker begins and… you understand that that is nothing such as you anticipated.
It’s not pitched on the proper degree for you. You aren’t going to study something. Or the speaker is speaking about one thing actually fascinating however in a supply type that’s going to have you ever asleep within the subsequent 5 minutes.
Rise up. Stroll out. Audio system are used to it and received’t take offense. You’ve made the funding to come back to a convention and also you owe it to your self to get probably the most out of your expertise. That doesn’t embody sitting by talks that aren’t your factor.
Discover one other speaker in one other room and sneak in on the again!
I used to search out it actually awkward to go to conferences, however over time I’ve picked up some tips and suggestions that make it a lot simpler. If you happen to battle to community at occasions, I may help. Book a call with me and we are able to discuss any undertaking administration {and professional} profession challenges you might be having.
20. Jot down your key takeaways
I used to suppose folks had been impolite once they didn’t search for on the presentation, however lately as a speaker it’s frequent to look out on the viewers and see all of them on their telephones.
Some folks even convey tablets to jot issues down on. I prefer to suppose that once I’m talking at occasions it’s as a result of they’re writing down their key concepts from my discuss, not Facebooking their buddies. However I’ll by no means know!
Ideas for attending digital conferences
I attended a digital convention from an AirBnB as a result of I wished to deal with it, and it was working on Canadian time and was tremendous late for me. Listed here are some fast suggestions for attending digital occasions.
Plan the identical means: Be sure you know what time your periods are on and which of them you wish to dial into.
Handle your power ranges: Digital occasions are tougher in your power as there may be nothing round you to maintain you going. You’ll get distracted by life and emails, so plan for that, particularly if the occasion is just not in your personal time zone.
Use the apps and connection instruments: Take part within the chat, do all of the gamified workouts even when they appear lame, tag and share and ask and reply questions. It retains you engaged and that may provide help to study and optimize your convention expertise.
Digital occasions will not be noisy gatherings so are a very good possibility should you really feel such as you couldn’t deal with attending an occasion in individual.
Convention FAQ
What’s the gown code for knowledgeable convention?
Examine your becoming a member of directions. Most will likely be sensible informal. You would be in an air conditioned constructing to take a sweater or wrap in case you might be chilly.
What ought to I convey to a convention?
Convey a pocket book and a few pens, enterprise playing cards, an inventory of who you wish to meet or stands you wish to go to, your telephone and charger and a giant smile!
What do I do after attending a convention?
Comply with up with the folks you met. Ship out LinkedIn invites if you wish to be in contact with them. Compile your notes from periods and share key learnings together with your group.
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