Simple Steps to Prepare for Attending a Business Conference or Event
by: Stephanie Chandler
Most of us have experienced post-conference procrastination at some point in our lives. This is what happens when you return from an industry event full of inspiration and good intentions, only to let your ideas, contacts, and notes end up in a pile somewhere never to be seen again. Fortunately there are some simple steps you can take to avoid post-conference procrastination, and it starts by making the most of your time at the event.
Following are some strategies to help you get the most value from your next conference experience.
1. Pack the Essentials
Spending several days at a conference can be demanding on your time and energy. In addition to the regular items you pack for a trip, here are some essential items to bring along: at least two pairs of comfortable shoes, clothing that can be worn in layers for varying temperatures, bandages for blisters, pain reliever such as aspirin, breath mints, more business cards than you think you will need, marketing collateral (fliers, postcards, etc.), a notebook, and several pens.
2. Set Your Intention
Before you go to an event, consider what it is that you want to accomplish while you're there. Are there certain people that you want to meet? Is there a topic you want to learn more about? Do you intend to generate new leads for your business? By defining specific goals for the event, everything you do during your time there will better align with those goals.
3. Prepare to Learn
Whatever money you invested in attending the event can be earned back in multiple if you soak up the lessons you learn there. You will probably sit through many presentations, and some of it will feel overwhelming. But absorb as much as you can and then return home to put what you've learned into action.
4. Keep Notes Organized
There are usually hotel scratch pads everywhere, but don't use them! Instead, capture your notes in one place--preferably a notebook of some kind--so that you can refer to them later. There's nothing worse than returning home from an event with brilliant ideas jotted down on cocktail napkins and random scraps of paper. And unless you have a bionic memory, write everything down. It all starts to run together after awhile and you will forget the details. Take good notes and you will be quite glad that you did when you want to reference them months or even years later.
5. Abandon Your Friends
If you want to get the most out of a conference experience, then catch up with your friends after the event and act like you're there alone. This way you can strike up conversations at every turn--on the elevator, sitting in a classroom, and at meals. You never know who you're going to meet that may have a connection for you, and you won't know until you make the effort.
6. Make New Friends
After you've bid farewell to your friends, challenge yourself to meet new people at every opportunity. This doesn't have to be awkward or complicated, simply smile and extend a handshake while you introduce yourself. You can also strike up a conversation by asking things like, "Are you enjoying the conference?" or "What did you think of that last speaker?" Once the ice is broken, ask, "What do you do?"
7. Keep Track of Contacts
You're probably going to collect a lot of business cards and by the time you return home you're likely to forget about the conversations you had with each person. So as you meet people, copy their contact information into your notebook along with talking points from your conversation so you can remember it later. This way you will have a master list of all the people you met and can easily refer to it later.
8. Make Time to Follow Up
The majority of people you meet at an event will not take the time to follow up when they get home, even if they want to. It's human nature, which can conspire against good intentions, especially upon return to the daily demands of life. If you want to keep the doors of communication open with the people you meet, then schedule time to follow up when you get home. Whether by e-mail, hand-written note, or phone call, simply making the effort will have an impact because so few people bother to take this crucial step. You never know what kind of alliances can be formed simply because you took that small extra action.