NETWORK!

YOUR 2016Conference Survival Guide

READY OR NOT

Conference season is here! It’s easy to become overwhelmed - you’re probably missing some work, traveling, experiencing information overload...

How do you make the most of (and survive) your 2016 conference lineup?

BEFORE THE CONFERENCE

Leverage social media

Create a plan of attack

If the event has a hashtag, use that to catch up on what others are saying about the event.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to other attendees. Make those valuable connections early, and let them know you’re excited about meeting them!

Go ahead and determine what sessions you’d like to attend.

Think about what you’re hoping to get out of the conference. Is it to meet new people? To learn new industry trends?

Prepare your materialsBusiness cardsConferences are all about networking, so make sure you have enough to go around.

Note-taking materialsPens, paper, your iPad, a charger - it’s always better to be over-prepared.

Your elevator pitchBe ready to drop your 1-2 sentence description of what you and your org do.

The necessitiesTylenol, comfortable walking shoes, a jacket. We all know those conference rooms can be cold!

Hi! Here’s what you need to know about me...

TYLENOL

It can be intimidating to approach people you don’t know, but really, that’s what conferences and networking are all about. If approaching one person seems too hard, try approaching a small group of people and joining in on their existing conversation.

Pay attention to social mediaFollow other attendees (particularly on Twitter) and keep up with the conference hashtag.

Conference apps are great for navigating the venue, scheduling your sessions, and socializing with others.

Tip: A lot of people tweet during sessions, so if there’s a session you’d like to attend but can’t, check Twitter for key takeaways.

When you ask someone a question, make sure to actually listen to their response. Many people at these events are talkers, so being an active listener will help set you apart.

If you’re talking to someone and happen to think of someone else at the event who could be of help to this person, make the introduction. People will appreciate your extra effort.

After connecting with someone, jot down notes on the back of their business card. When you follow up, mentioning these key points will show that you were paying attention.

AFTER THE CONFERENCE

Be a listener Be a connector Take notes

Hi! I loved connecting with you about...

Now what?Whew - you made it!

Tip: Prior to the event, try brushing up on some industry news and trends. That way, if your conversation goes stale, you’ll have plenty of talking points to get you through.

Don’t let all that networking go to waste!Stay in touch with the people you connected with over time. A good rule of thumb is to follow up with people within 72 hours of attending an event.

Remember: personalize your LinkedIn message based on the conversation you had.

Apply what you learnedSit down with your coworkers after the event and discuss which tactics your association can adopt over time. Make specific short and long-term goals.

Type up your notesDon’t let them get lost in the post-conference shuffle - you spent a lot of time on those!

Note: If you tweeted any key takeaways during the event, be sure to include those in your notes as well.

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DURING THE CONFERENCE

Attend the educational sessionsMake it a point to thank the presenter(s) after a session. Not only will this help you stand out, but it’s a great way to connect with your industry’s top leaders.

Leverage the mobile app

Planning a conference or event of your own?

Check out our free guide, 8 Simple Steps to Event Planning Success here:

www.memberclicks.com/8-steps-to-event-planning