Picture this…

You’re psyched about your first conference session.

The speaker is basically the equivalent of Bill Gates.

You’re sitting in the back row with at least 10 open seats and then...

Someone else walks in and sitsright beside you.

They immediately introduce themselves and, not wanting to seem rude, you engage in small talk. But, the chatter doesn’t end there.

They have a singlegoal. The dreaded sales pitch.

Don’t be “that guy or gal.”

Do this instead:�Offer meaningful conversation�Establish deeper connections�Get results that benefit both sides

Step 1: Scan the Conference Program.

This allows you to do two things: 1) Plan meetings around keynotes

and breakout sessions you won’tmiss.

2) Scout presenters and speakersyou want to meet.

Step 2: Know the host city.

Knowing things to do in the host city doesn’t mean you’re a walking encyclopedia. It enriches conversation.

Most folks devote a few hours exploring life outside of their hotels. Provide value through recommendations.

• Points of Interest• Local Events

• Good Eats

Trip Advisor, Yelp and Groupon can get you up to speed on the local area.

Step 3: Reach out to conference goers early.

Whatever you do, make it easy by suggestingmeeting locations and dates/ times.

*Not sure who’s going? Download the conference app. Conferences often provide a list of attendees who have agreed to share contact info like their Twitter handles, LinkedIn profiles, etc.

Hi Alyssa,

Trust all is well. Noticed a tweet you posted yesterday that said you were heading to ISTE. I’m attending too with a couple of folks from the district and wanted to check-in to see if you’d like to join us for dinner.

We have reservations 7pm Monday night if you’re free.

Step 4: Start tracking conference #hashtags one week in advance.

Conference #hashtags are a valuable piece of digital real estate even if you aren’t a tweeter. • Conference organizers tweet

important updates• Presenters often tweet about their

sessions

Step 5: Create a game plan for the expo hall.

Make the most out your experience in advance:�Review conference sponsors �Map out vendors you want to speak with �Schedule time and demos between keynotes/sessions

*Hint: A list of sponsors is usually on the conference website or printed program. Also, be sure to connect with your vendors early. Time to chat with them tends to go quickly.

Step 6: Check-in with your current vendors or partners.

Many vendors host outside events(cocktail hours, dinners, after parties) and offer exclusive discounts or conference passes for clients.

Step 7: Spread the love.

Merriam-Webster defines: Relationship: (noun re·la·tion·ship) the way in which two or more people or things are connected.

Don’t go to a conference with the mindset of being “connected,” go to a conference with the mindset of being a “connector.”

Have an acquaintance who can help someone you meet? Make an introduction. Share ideas.

Not only could this lead to a returned favor but, more importantly, it provides value to the world outside of you.

“FISHTREE is the world’s easiest way to build and deliver courses, curate digital resources and scale personalized learning. With FISHTREE, you can instantly source the best digital materials, align content to any learning objectives and measure outcomes to get every student to the finish line.

Learn more at www.fishtree.com or @fishtree_edu.

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