By Simon Colley, on behalf of CT Business Travel.
Attending an industry conference or exhibition is always a valuable experience. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn tips for improving your business or performance in your role, make new contacts and come back to the office feeling a real buzz for whatever it is that you do. But just turning up isn’t always enough for getting the very best out of what a conference has to offer attendees. By planning ahead and thinking strategically, you can really reap the maximum benefits of attending an event.
1. Prepare
Spend some time looking through the event website, as you’ll be able to see the agenda and decide which talks or workshops are most relevant to your business or role. There’s often information available on the website about which individuals will be speaking, so you can really get a good idea of which talks will be most beneficial for you to attend.
It’s important to make sure you know exactly where the venue is and the best way to get there ahead of time. Working this out beforehand will minimise your chances of getting lost or struggling with parking, which could cause you to miss out on something important. Also, take a few minutes to think about how you’ll introduce yourself to people. Conferences are an excellent opportunity to sell yourself and your company, so having an informal concise “pitch” can be very helpful when you’re meeting a lot of people throughout the day.
2. Consider upgrading
Depending on the event you’re attending, there is sometimes an upgrade or VIP option available. This tends to come at an extra cost, but it’s worth looking into. Paying for a VIP pass can include some really valuable perks, such as fast check in, priority parking, an exclusive freebie bag or access to specific workshops. You’ll sometimes gain access to VIP receptions or lunch with keynote speakers, where you’ll get face-time with them and the opportunity to ask questions.
3. Network and follow up
It’s certainly no secret that networking with valuable contacts is one of the best benefits of attending conferences. However, if you don’t follow up on the conversations that take place in some way, what’s the point? It’s all well and good exchanging business cards with other attendees or speakers, but it’s vital that you follow up with contacts after the conference with a LinkedIn request and personal message, invite for lunch, or even a phone call. Without following up, you won’t be developing continued beneficial business relationships.
4. Use social media
Social media is a powerful tool for businesses, and this certainly applies at conferences. Make sure you check in to the event and upload photos to your profile of what’s happening throughout the day, making use of hashtags. This could easily put you in touch with other attendees that might become valuable contacts, and if the event is trending, it might get your business in the spotlight.
It’s also worth joining any groups or discussions on social media in the days leading up to the conference, as you can begin to establish contacts beforehand.
5. Work the booths
While gaining industry knowledge and making new contacts are usually the main aims of attending a conference, it’s also worth exploring the new technology, services and products available in your industry.
Most conferences and exhibitions also have a vendor or sponsors section where companies offer products, demonstrations and freebies. Spend some time seeing what the booths have to offer and if anything could be of benefit to your business. If you’re able to take any ideas back to the office, or something that could be a truly valuable tool for the company, it’s an added bonus.
6. Don’t check out at the end of the day
Just because the scheduled talks and events have concluded, it doesn’t mean the day is really over. Sometimes there is an after party, or even just unofficial drinks with groups that have formed throughout the course of the event. Attend these when possible, as it’s extra networking time and a chance for introductions to more people from individuals you have met throughout the day.
It’s also a great time to share things you’ve learned, and maybe even pick up some information about the talks you weren’t able to attend due to schedule conflicts. If you did miss something that sounds really interesting, be aware that slides and videos are typically uploaded to the official website, so you can catch up on anything you weren’t able to attend throughout the conference.
