Are you uncertain of what to do after attending a conference that was loaded with valuable information? Let me help you by sharing recommendations based on personal experience that helped me get the best return on my investment and move the needle towards what I wanted to accomplish being in attendance.
Attending a conference can be a valuable experience when aligned with your goals, but it's crucial to make the most out of it by taking some post-conference action items. Here are 10 of my recommendations for attendees:
- Review and organize your notes: Take some time to go through your conference notes and organize them by key takeaways, action items, and contact information of people you met. This will help you retain the information and prioritize the most important points.
- Follow up with new contacts: Reach out to the people you connected with during the conference. Send personalized emails or LinkedIn messages to express your gratitude for meeting them and solidify the new relationships you've built.
- Reflect on what you've learned: Take some time to reflect on the insights and knowledge gained during the conference. Consider how you can apply these learnings in your work or personal life to improve your skills or processes.
- Implement actionable ideas: Identify specific ideas or strategies from the conference that you can apply in your work or projects. Set a timeline for implementing these ideas to ensure you don't forget or procrastinate.
- Share knowledge with colleagues: If you attended the conference with colleagues or team members, conduct a post-conference meeting to share key takeaways and discuss potential action plans for your organization.
- Provide feedback to organizers: Offer constructive feedback to the conference organizers. Let them know what aspects you found valuable and any suggestions for improvement. Your feedback can contribute to making future conferences even better.
- Engage on social media: Join the post-conference conversation on social media platforms using the conference hashtag. Share your key takeaways and connect with other attendees to keep the networking momentum going.
- Review and explore resources from the conference: Many conferences provide access to presentation slides, videos, or additional resources after the event. Take advantage of these materials to reinforce your learning and explore topics in more depth.
- Set new goals: Based on what you learned at the conference, set new goals or revise existing ones. Create a plan to achieve these goals, and consider how the insights gained can positively impact your career or business.
- Plan for the next conference: If you found the conference valuable, start planning for the next one you'd like to attend. Look for early registration discounts or save the date notifications.
Remember, the post-conference phase is as important as attending the event itself. By taking these action items, you can turn your conference experience into tangible outcomes and maximize the benefits of your participation.