📢 Level Up Your Conference Game: 4 Key Areas of Success
Tower Optical Binocular View from Manhattan’s GE Building. Source: Wikipedia.
Lessons learned on the road. Simple & actionable strategies to maximize your conference time.
DYK there are 6,970 tradeshows in the United States? And the numbers continue to rise year over year. Why? The answer is simple: in-person meetings hold an unparalleled advantage over virtual interactions. With over 70% of communication being non-verbal, there’s a depth of connection that virtual meetings often miss.
Having traversed numerous conferences in the past 12 months, from intimate gatherings to massive events with tens of thousands in attendance, here are 4 Key Areas of Success.
#1 General Insights & Set-up:
Update Your Professional Profile: LinkedIn remains the go-to platform for professional networking. Ensure your profile is polished and up-to-date. If you have a website, make sure it’s tight. Throw up a quick landing page if you have the resources to do so. Be prepared to continue the conversation after the event.
Don’t rely solely on conference apps: I often stand out with Linktr.ee: Utilize Linktr.ee [it’s not just for social media influencers] to create a memorable digital presence. Here’s mine for the upcoming Connected Health & Fitness conference in Los Angeles: Linktr.ee/jeffmard.
Leverage Your Client Relationships: Invite them. Ask them how you might help them. Or if you’re the client, tell your partner you are going. Send the agenda and ask if there are any sessions and/or partners of interest.
Have a Wing Man/women: Even if your colleague is not going, find out who from your network will be there. Being at a conference w/no connections can be lonely. But it doesn’t need to be.
#2 Strategic Targeting:
Focus on Niche Conferences: Meaningful relationships often stem from smaller, niche conferences. Many have said the riches are in the niches. It’s true.
Create Your Top 10 Targets List: Be intentional about connecting with key individuals. Strategize ways to encounter them organically.
Timing Considerations: At the beginning of a conference, prioritize education and take your time to learn. Avoid rushing into networking. I’ve found that the most meaningful conversations tend to occur towards the end of a conference when people who are genuinely there to learn remain onsite.
Practice Makes Perfect: It’s ok to not talk to your ideal targets at first. Rehearse what you might say. Get the kinks out. Be comfortable with your pitch.
AM vs. PM: While many emphasize networking at parties and after hours, I typically avoid that window. I’m a morning person, and so are most of the people there to learn. Get to breakfast early and be in your zone of confidence.
#3 Intangible Strategies & Hacks:
Craft your origin story to resonate with your audience. Be authentic. Be relatable. Especially to the conference thematic. Be open to new experiences.
Maximize session engagement by sitting up front, taking notes, and actively participating. Don’t half-ass it. However, avoid “crashing the stage” after a talk. Find out if the presentation will be shared.
I’ll often launch Otter.io on my phone to make sure I capture everything said.
Engage with conference organizers. Especially if you’re interested in speaking. Behind their calm facade, organizers are often overwhelmed. Offer to run a workshop, join an executive round table. Make their life easier. Invest in others.
Engage with the investor community. I’ve found tremendous value by learning how they invest and what they look for. Taking a more holistic approach to an industry is excellent way to create value. And learn.
#4 Post-Conference Engagement:
Create original content tied to industry trends. Have some ideas prepared before the event and gather information that might be useful for you. I’m NOT talking about long articles. It could be a simple LinkedIn post, a TikTok video, or a post on Instagram’s Threads.
Utilize social media platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram to amplify your presence. Follow the conference hashtags in advance and see who is talking about the event. It’s a great way to connect pre-event and avoid the app.
Take detailed notes and initiate follow-ups with new contacts. Notion.io is a great hub for data collection, and the search function is wicked good.
I’m working on a longer-form document to help my network make the most out of their conference expenditure. If you’d like to learn more, LMK and I’ll add you to that private distribution list.
Remember, the goal isn’t to sell but to foster meaningful conversations. Nobody goes to a conference to buy something. They go to learn, network and evolve. Nurture connections and focus on the post-conference follow-up for lasting impact.
