I’ve been to my fair share of conferences, especially in the past two years. Â Coming off a conference last weekend and two more on deck this month, I’m well-versed in the three days of networking, long days (breakfast to cocktail hour), and balancing the swag bag with my massive normal bag. Â Here are some tips I employ to conquer a conference:
– stash business cards in your name tag, for easy reach –
– input notes into Evernote (or other note apps) for convenient access –
– carry the essentials, always – mine include a protein bar, notebook, pen, and flats –
– follow up with new acquaintances within a week –
Other tips include:
Set an e-mail auto-response alerting senders that you’re out of the office. Â Answer critical e-mails only at the end of the day; non-critical items can wait until you return from your meeting. Â Or if you’re stuck in the airport (good way to expense Internet access, if the airport still charges for WiFi)
Make separate plans for the evening (tips here). Â There’s only so much networking you can do, and getting a break from conference content and people helps recharge you for the next day. Â Go for a run, try out a new restaurant, or indulge in room service (I tend to always order grilled cheese and French fries off the kid’s menu) and a Netflix movie.
Introduce yourself to everyone – speakers, table neighbors, etc. Â Get your 15-second introduction down pat, and have a question or comment when introducing yourself to speakers.
When asking questions during a Q&A session, get to the question quickly. Â I (and many others) abhor listening to people drone on and on before asking a question. Â Keep it short and sweet, and always thank the speakers.
For cocktail events, come late and leave early.  Stick to a two-drink maximum (for the whole night).  You never want to be that girl or guy.  Take a vitamin and drink a liter of water before bed, and get at least 6 hours’ sleep.  Try and start your day with a workout – you’ll be more energized throughout the day, and you may network with some impressive people in the gym (as I’ve learned first-hand).
What tips/tricks help you during conferences? Â Do share!
