The conference edition
Last week, LINAR sponsored their first industry conference. And boy, was it hard work! From stand development, workshop preparation and the all important merchandise (stash) discussions, there’ a lot that goes into making an impact at these types of event.
Whether sponsoring or just participating, there are some tried and tested techniques for maximising the ROI you can gain from your attendance. The value of a conference often lies in the connections you make and the knowledge you gain, so approach each opportunity with a strategic mindset.
In a lessons learned session post conference last week, the LINAR team (including our colleague Chat GPT) brainstormed their tips and tricks which form the basis of this week’s Three Things. Enjoy.
#1. Pre-conference prep
Like most things in life, a little planning goes a very long way. Setting yourself up for success pre conference is critical in maximising your time on the ground.
- Set Clear Objectives: Define your goals for the conference. Whether it’s networking, learning about the latest industry trends, or meeting potential clients, having clear objectives will help you stay focused.
- Research attendees and sessions: Review the attendee list and the conference agenda. Identify key people you want to meet and must-attend sessions. Use LinkedIn to connect with attendees in advance and set up meetings. If there are new targets you want to meet, look for existing contacts that are also attending the conference and may be able to provide a warm intro.
- Prepare Your Pitch: Craft a concise and compelling elevator pitch about your services or products. Be ready to explain who you are, what you do, and what makes your offerings unique in 30 seconds or less. Rehearse your pitch in front of the mirror and with colleagues in the days before the conference.
#2. Maximise networking opportunities
You have no doubt taken time out of an incredibly busy schedule to attend this conference so you can catch up with existing contacts and make new connections. DO NOT spend the entire conference either on your phone back to the office and/or speaking with colleagues from your business who you can speak do, all day every day! Get out there. Outside your comfort zone and network!
- Engage actively in sessions: Attend sessions relevant to your objectives, actively participate in Q&A sessions, and engage with speakers and fellow attendees. This is a great way to build connections and showcase your expertise. Always ask for a copy of the slides and use interesting comments other people make during sessions as an opportunity for a follow up/introduction: “I found your comment in the last session really interesting. Can we grab a coffee in the break to continue the conversation?”
- Use social media: Leverage conference hashtags on Twitter and LinkedIn to join the conversation and increase your visibility. Share insights, post updates, and tag people you meet to stay connected.
- Have contact details ready: in a digital age, business cards are increasingly rare, cumbersome and liable to be lost. LinkedIn provide a handy QR code feature designed for quick information exchange. You can also create your own digital business card using one of the many QR code generators and save it as the wallpaper on your phone during conferences.
#3. Follow up
- Follow up promptly: Send personalised follow-up emails to the contacts you made within 48 hours of the conference. Mention something specific from your conversation to jog their memory and reinforce the connection.
- Organise your contacts: After the conference, go through the business cards and notes you collected. Input them into your CRM system and categorise them based on follow-up priority. Add them to marketing and newsletter distribution lists so they start receiving your frequent communications.
- Share your learnings: summarise the key insights and trends you observed at the conference and bang this up on LinkedIn as soon as possible after the conference has ended. Tag in all of the people you met and had conversations with. This will help you to position yourself as a thought leader and provide value to your network.
