Industry events are great opportunities to network, learn, and grow your career. But how can you make the most of them and avoid wasting time and money? Here are some tips to help you plan, prepare, and follow up on your next industry event.
Before you register for an event, ask yourself what you want to achieve from it. Do you want to meet potential clients, partners, or mentors? Do you want to learn new skills, trends, or best practices? Do you want to showcase your work, products, or services? Having clear and realistic goals will help you choose the right event, budget your time and resources, and measure your success.
You make the most of industry events by knowing your goals. When you know your goals you know what you want to do and why when you’re at these industry events.
Once you have selected an event, do some homework on the speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees. Find out what topics they are covering, what problems they are solving, and what value they can offer. You can also use social media, blogs, podcasts, or newsletters to get to know them better and start building rapport. This will help you identify who you want to connect with, what questions you want to ask, and what impression you want to make.
You never know when you will have a chance to introduce yourself, your company, or your project to someone who can help you advance your career. That's why you need to have a concise and compelling pitch ready for any occasion. Your pitch should explain who you are, what you do, and what makes you unique. It should also be tailored to your audience and your goals. For example, if you want to land a new client, focus on how you can solve their pain points and deliver value. If you want to find a mentor, highlight your skills, achievements, and aspirations.
If you want to make the most of an event, you need to take initiative. Arrive early and stay late to give yourself more time to network, explore, and learn. Have a plan for what sessions, booths, and people you want to meet. Be flexible and open to changing your plan if something more interesting or valuable arises. Participate actively by asking questions, sharing insights, offering feedback, and joining discussions. Be friendly and approachable with a smile, eye contact, positive body language, and attentiveness. After the event, follow up promptly with personalized messages to thank the people you met and suggest ways to stay in touch.
This is just so critical but can also be quite difficult for many people. Being "on" for hours, aiming for your "target" meetings while being open to meet-ups, and trying to be present in chaos can be challenging. My key is to take breaks from the action to check my to-do list, review who I've been in touch with, and if I'm missing any targets. These breaks allow me to recharge, stay focused, but also be present for those meet-ups that weren't planned but could be really helpful if not just enjoyable. Check your list, take care of your body, and know that even a two-day conference is a marathon.
Finally, don't let the event be a one-time thing. Take some time to reflect on what you learned, what you achieved, and what you can improve. Write down your key takeaways, action items, and feedback. Then, apply what you learned to your work, projects, or goals. You can also share your insights and experiences with your colleagues, peers, or online communities. This will help you reinforce your learning, showcase your expertise, and build your reputation.
Most people will know the industry events that will benefit them. If you are a buyer attending to learn skills, the pathway is clear: simply tell the vendors what you need. If you are a seller selling yourself, looking for a job or looking for consulting work, you should be aware that the vendors are there to sell things. You can’t waste their time and they probably won’t give it to you anyway. Develop a short line that will grab their attention and get them thinking. For example, “If you could use someone to increase the sales of your ABC product, my research shows this product is superior to all of your competitors like products. I have worked with several companies who use such products and I could easily persuade them to switch over.”