What I learned from Attending Over 500 Business Conferences (PART 2)

How to Maximize the Benefits of Attending a Business Conference

In Part 1 of this series, I spoke about Preparation. Now it is time for the fun part: Attending the Conference.

Many people are not properly taking advantage of the benefits that the conference has to offer. They attend a few panels, maybe speak to a few close colleagues, and if they are lucky, are able to make one or two meaningful connections.

Check out my tips to get much, much more out of your next business conference:

1. Vlog and Live Stream About It. Vlogging and Live Streaming are relatively new means to share information with an audience. Like news reporting, it involves filming yourself speaking to the camera, but is done by everyday people. It can also be done with as little equipment as a cell phone and a small $20 tripod. Download my vlogging equipment list here. If you vlog and live stream during the conference, you drastically increase your chances of visibility at scale because many people will be following a large conference hashtag. It is very easy to vlog and live stream but if you prefer, you can hire a local video company to meet you at the event and do it for you. Many video filming and editing services are popping up in cities everywhere as a result of the increased demand for B2B video. Your dream client may be following the event news and could see you covering the event.

2. Stay Healthy. Keep hydrated and get enough sleep during the conference because conferences are exhausting. You won’t make a good impression if you are red-eyed and tired. Avoid alcohol since you'll want to be in your best shape early in the morning. For extra precaution, bring some vitamin C tablets that dissolve in water to supplement once daily.

3. Prepare the Perfect Conference Bag. After attending many conferences, I have a few tips on what to bring with you during the day. Check the conference rules since some don’t allow backpacks. A light-weight bag is a good idea since you may not get to return to your hotel room until late. Inside my bag, I carry:- two portable battery packs to recharge on-the-go, -one wall outlet extender with 2 USB power ports and 3 AC outlets, - a reusable water bottle, a light-weight mobile vlogging set, - a small cosmetic bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, a mini-deodorant, a few bandaids, aspirin, a small travel size lint roller, and stain remover spray, -a pen and notepad, -business cards, -small packs of almonds or a protein bar and -makeup since I am often on-camera.

4. Dress The Part. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes! It is usually hot inside most conference halls due to the number of people in one place so dress accordingly. I like to have Instagram-worthy clothes to stand out since later it is easier for people to remember me. Having a signature item for your personal brand is a clever thing to do. Even in more conservative industries, you can find one element to stand out like wearing a polished suit yet having crazy socks or wearing chunky, oversized necklaces, or a memorable tie. Being playful is a sign of creativity, self-confidence and that makes you more likable to your clients.

5. Network like a Pro. Have your story ready to tell people who you are and what you do in ideally 60 seconds. You may be a master of all trades but we all have short attention spans and are meeting many people during the conference so focus on one specialty they can remember you by and which is relevant to the conference. Skip the fancy titles and try to keep it simple, especially if you aren’t 100% sure whom you are meeting and they may not know your jargon. Avoid acronyms, which are a big turn-off. Don’t thrust business cards at anyone, ever. After your introduction, ask them about themselves, then decide if you want to offer them a business card or stay connected via Linkedin. Get comfortable with letting people know your goals. Example: I’d like to speak at this conference next year or I’m starting a podcast next June. You’d be surprised how many people will help you via introductions and advice if they know what you do and you just ask clear questions. No fancy trickery. Be simple and direct! Invest in a nice graphic artist and good print shop for your business cards. You only get one chance to make a good impression so make sure your business cards stand out. One bonus tip: you can also have a small branded giveaway item for special clients or new leads you meet like a company decal, phone pop socket, or even a few branded t-shirts. Especially if you only see your clients in-person once a year, bring them a small gift. They will surely appreciate it. Exceptions are in certain industries like Finance where executives are not allowed to accept them. Otherwise, most clients will be touched by such a kind gesture.

6. Meet the Speakers. Try to shake the hand of the speakers and even get a photo together. Trust me, it is worth it. Sit at the front near the stage so you can get in-line first. Bonus points if you ask them how is best to stay in touch with them and make it clear what you want. Be mindful of their time. It is not the moment to enter into a major discussion as other people are waiting to speak with them too usually. Don’t forget to post about it right away online and tag the speaker you just met with a nice compliment.

7. Be a Good Student. Take notes during the conference to summarize a few key takeaways at the panels you attend and post them in the afternoons on your blog. In-between, you can send out short tweets all day long with one-line quotes of speakers, for example. Make sure to tag the speakers so that, among other things, you never, ever pass off any business knowledge as your own by mistake. I’ve seen that happen when someone innocently photographed the conference slides and posted them without any credits. Bad idea.

8. Have Fun! Conferences are amazing places and you should enjoy them. If you are uncomfortable, bored, or tired, you won’t get the benefits of attending the conference. Plus, maybe you are at the wrong conference after all or you just brought the wrong shoes.

9. Follow Up. Let everyone get back into the business groove and then send a series of follow-up emails to try to schedule calls with your targets. Ideally, you should reach out the following week but never on a Monday. If you took a photograph with a speaker, include it so they remember you but make sure it is a low-resolution file under 3MB. Be short, to the point, and respectful of not making any asks in the email, just requesting a 30-minute call to discuss your industry needs, a partnership, etc. The more specific you are about the nature of your request, the more likely you will be to receive a ‘yes’. Make sure to tell them how much you enjoyed meeting them in-person. Kindness has always opened doors for me in business.

CONCLUSION

I hope my conference tips were helpful. All businesses should include conferences in their marketing and sales strategy. If your brand is big enough, you may also consider hosting your own conference. One thing is sure: with the right conference strategy, you can see a tremendous return on investment. Now, I’m off to prepare for my next conference! If you want tips how to prepare, read my first article PART 1.

I write about Entrepreneurship, Small Business, Social Selling, Mindset, and Life Hacks. Sign Up for my Newsletter if you care to.