GrowMap

Map Your Path To Grow Your Business

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • G.A.S.P
  • Press
  • Portfolio
  • GrowMap Services
  • PostsComments

How to Get the Best Bang for Your Buck with Conferences

October 15, 2014 By Kristen Hicks 20 Comments

You know that to stay competitive in today’s marketplace you have to stay on top of newer trends like SEO and blogging, but some of the business tactics that pay off today are actually more old-fashioned.  So much of what works well online is all about making valuable connections with people and for that, there’s still not much that beats meeting in person.

That makes conferences an extremely valuable tool for small businesses, but one that often comes with a pretty high price tag. Industry conferences bring the biggest concentration of the experts and influencers you want to know into one place, but if you’re going to stretch the budget to include all those travel and registration expenses, it better be worth it.

Image Via Armosa Studios

It can be worth it. You can make sure it is, but you have to do more than just show up. Here are five ways to make sure you get more out of each conference you attend:

1) Be picky.

None of these tips will help much if you go to a conference that isn’t actually relevant to what you do. Do your research before committing to attend a conference to make sure the topics covered and people attending are useful to your business and your particular needs.

There can still be some variety in what those conferences look like based on different goals – maybe one is the best place to meet people in your industry and learn about important trends, and another is a great place to meet potential customers – but make sure you know what your goals are before you go and that the conference is a good match for them.

2) Pre-plan (and pre-network).

Many conferences will provide some kind of resource that gives you an idea of who will be attending. Make use of it. Pinpoint the people you know you most want to meet and contact them in advance to let them know who you are, that you’ll be there, and you’d love to chat with them.

Some people may not respond, but many will. You’re much more likely to make those contacts and have those conversations if you’ve done the early legwork.

With your pre-networking done, then sit down and create your plan for the rest of the conference. Which sessions and events are likely to be the most valuable for you and help you reach your goals? Which will inspire quality content that’s useful for your readers? You’ll probably end up making changes to your plan once you’re on the ground. Flexibility’s allowed (encouraged, really), but you’ll still find you get more out of the conference if you have a plan going in.

3) Post-plan.

You leave a conference enthused about all the people you’ve met and the things you’ve learned, then you get home the next day and there’s a pile of work waiting for you to catch up on. Everyone deals with this. It’s always difficult to keep your enthusiasm up and apply what you’ve learned once you’re back to the responsibilities of everyday life.

Don’t let that become an excuse. Put time on your calendar in advance to post-plan after the conference. Sit down with your notes, organize your ideas, and decide what you’re going to do with everything you got out of the conference.

What changes are you going to try out at your business? What content will you produce based on what you learned? Is there anything new you’re inspired to try, or something you learned might not be worth it anymore?

Work out your plan while the conference is still fresh in your mind and commit to sticking to it.

4) Commit time to follow-up.

Make this a priority. If you meet a person once and never make contact with them again, it’s a wasted opportunity. Every business card you got should turn into a personalized LinkedIn invitation, follow-up, or both.

Make these as personal as possible. Reference something you talked about, or send a link that helps them solve a problem they mentioned. Ask something that makes them more likely to respond, so it’s not just a one-time contact.

When you’re making that plan up in #3, try to think how some of your new contacts might fit in. Is there someone that would make a perfect expert guest for a web conference or a good interview for your blog? Turn those one-time meetings into connections that matter.

5) Start planning for next time.

Start by reviewing what you got out of this conference as compared to the cost to decide if it’s worth attending again.  If it is, jot down some of your ideas and impressions from this year that will help you have an even more productive conference next year.

Create and hang on to the list of attendees you met, as many will be around again and should be a part of your pre-networking next year. Make a note of which speakers were the most impressive, which just weren’t for you, and the topic areas you found the most valuable.  A year is a long way off, so put a note on your calendar to re-visit all this information when the time’s right.

The ROI of conference attendance starts to look different when you commit to making every opportunity they present count. Representatives from the big businesses out there can get away with just showing up, but you need every conference to be a business tool of greater value than what you put in. All it takes is some extra work and planning.

The following two tabs change content below.
  • Bio
  • Latest Posts
My Twitter profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profile

Kristen Hicks

Kristen Hicks is a freelance copywriter and blogger with specialties in content marketing and education.
My Twitter profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profile

Latest posts by Kristen Hicks (see all)

  • How to Get the Best Bang for Your Buck with Conferences - October 15, 2014
Tweet47
Share2
Share4
Pin
Share
Share
Pocket
Flip
53 Shares
« 8 Best Active Social Networking Websites to Meet People Abroad
Five Ways to Breathe New Life into Your Website Design »

Filed Under: Small Business Advice Tagged With: conferences, Networking, small business advice

Comments

  1. Janny says

    August 21, 2015 at 3:14 am

    Generally, All the people have to share their information using ICT tools like PPT, Videos and other. But, After reading above article I got the idea about the Conferences. I will implement very soon.
    Janny would love you to read ..Punjab Revenue Patwari Recruitment 2015 Online Application at punjabrevenue.nic.inMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Janifer says

    June 18, 2015 at 4:12 am

    I am Impressed while reading the article. This very important tips and its very helpful. I share all information of this website with my friends and also I have Liked your Facebook page for latest updates.
    Janifer would love you to read ..RBI Assistant Syllabus PDF, Pattern 2015, Exam Date & PapersMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Vinay Yadav says

    November 18, 2014 at 5:39 am

    Good post this post is very useful for me. Thanks for giving this information. I use your keys. I will get extra knowledge from you blog.

    Reply
  4. Vinay Yadav says

    November 18, 2014 at 5:37 am

    Good post this post is very useful for me. Thanks for giving this information. I use your keys. I will get extra knowledge from you blog.

    Reply
  5. ashutosh jha says

    November 16, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    Awesome article Kristen and very much agree with you as there always need some extra effort for success. Thanks for sharing.
    ashutosh jha would love you to read ..Not Making Money from your BLOG? Use These Proven Methods-2100 WordsMy Profile

    Reply
  6. obat kuat alami says

    November 10, 2014 at 4:35 pm

    Thanks for the tips. I agree that it is important to actually follow up on any new contacts you have made.

    Reply
  7. Sneha says

    November 8, 2014 at 5:09 am

    For next steps, I’d suggest picking a goal and a checklist here, and then trying your best to follow it at your next conference. You’re also welcome to combine checklists if you have a couple goals in mind. For example, maybe you’re interested in finding a job and also creating content to build your personal brand. In that case, I’d suggest taking tips from both checklists and combining them into one — you know, with a good ol’ fashioned pencil and paper. Just don’t try to do all seven things in one conference! If you want to really get the most out of your conference experience, you’ll need to really focus, plan, execute, and follow up. Thanks for sharing this topic with us.

    Reply
  8. Sonal Sherawat says

    October 28, 2014 at 11:16 am

    perfect blog to learn about to get the opportunities in your life . this blog is informative,

    Reply
  9. Marco Moretti says

    October 25, 2014 at 12:24 am

    the points you mentioned are also useful for short workshops. thx. Marco

    Reply
  10. maaaz khan says

    October 24, 2014 at 6:47 am

    hello admin i found your post effective ..I’m regular reader of your posts
    cheers 😉

    Reply
  11. Nugik says

    October 24, 2014 at 9:11 am

    ya the point you mentioned is very crucial to get more with conference

    Reply
  12. Alam says

    October 18, 2014 at 1:55 pm

    Nice share Kristen Hicks, the points you mentioned are also useful for short workshops. I have been delivering lectures on the workshops and I whatever you said will be very helpful to me for my next workshop. Stay blessed

    Reply
    • Kristen Hicks says

      October 27, 2014 at 10:02 pm

      That makes sense Alam. Good luck on your future workshops.
      Kristen Hicks would love you to read ..9 Expert Content Strategists on How to Be a Better Content WriterMy Profile

      Reply
  13. Ratan Jha says

    October 17, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    Yes, it always take some extra effort and planning. Nice read Kristen.
    Ratan Jha would love you to read ..Pretty Little Secrets to decrease costs on your AdWords spendsMy Profile

    Reply
  14. Mayur says

    October 17, 2014 at 5:33 am

    You sorted out important things. But the good presentation as well as your personality does matter a lot in the conferences ! What do you say?
    Mayur would love you to read ..Happy Diwali 2014 – Top 10 best Gift ideas for DiwaliMy Profile

    Reply
  15. Nathan Bui says

    October 17, 2014 at 9:20 am

    Thanks for the tips. I agree that it is important to actually follow up on any new contacts you have made.

    Reply
  16. robert says

    October 16, 2014 at 11:39 am

    after reading your article i m impressed with your tips and techniques you provided in it so all n all thumbs up to your work and now i have bookmarked your site from such tips in future kuddos man and hope to have best for you 🙂
    robert would love you to read ..CBSE UGC NET December 2014 Exam Pattern & SyllabusMy Profile

    Reply
  17. Roven says

    October 16, 2014 at 3:43 pm

    i will follow your keys in order to get more.

    Reply
  18. gaurav says

    October 16, 2014 at 3:41 pm

    ya the point you mentioned is very crucial to get more with conference…thanks Kristen for sharing this..

    Reply
  19. Melilea says

    October 16, 2014 at 10:32 am

    very useful information,, i will try it soon

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts
You can add a link to follow you on twitter if you put your username in this box.
Only needs to be added once (unless you change your username). No http or @

Search

UPC CODES don't fall for fakes

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Getting Paid to Write – It’s More Than Just Writing
  • How a Small Business Can Compete with a Major Brand Selling Similar Products [Infographic]
  • Regular Live Online Small Business Events Tues and Wed
  • Small Business Websites: How to Make Yours More Compelling [Infographic + Video]
  • Minimizing Your Vulnerability to Online Security Risks [Infographic]
Don't Miss Your Path to Growth!
Enter your email to receive new
blog posts:

Did MOZ Drop Your Site’s DA?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv_cL50MpZA

Popular Posts

Small Business Websites: How to Make Yours More Compelling [Infographic + Video]Small Business Websites: How to Make Yours More Compelling [Infographic + Video]
Minimizing Your Vulnerability to Online Security Risks [Infographic]Minimizing Your Vulnerability to Online Security Risks [Infographic]
Getting Paid to Write – It’s More Than Just WritingGetting Paid to Write – It’s More Than Just Writing
Career Choices: How to Find Work in the Remote Economy [Infographics]Career Choices: How to Find Work in the Remote Economy [Infographics]
5 Best Inventory Control Techniques to Improve Your Bottom Line [Infographic]5 Best Inventory Control Techniques to Improve Your Bottom Line [Infographic]
How a Small Business Can Compete with a Major Brand Selling Similar Products [Infographic]How a Small Business Can Compete with a Major Brand Selling Similar Products [Infographic]
How to Use Local SEO to Boost Your Real ‎Estate BusinessHow to Use Local SEO to Boost Your Real ‎Estate Business
How to Use Martech to Ace Your Influencer Marketing CampaignsHow to Use Martech to Ace Your Influencer Marketing Campaigns
10 Motivational Podcasts for the Modern Salesperson10 Motivational Podcasts for the Modern Salesperson
Regular Live Online Small Business Events Tues and WedRegular Live Online Small Business Events Tues and Wed

Greatest eCommerce Competitive Risks to Small Businesses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=bmlJmDYaax0

Serpstat: What it Does

https://youtu.be/rjIfKdIWk7M

GrowMap Policies

  • Disclosure Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • GrowMap Guest Blogging Guidelines

Connect With Growmap

growmap on twitter growmap on g plus growmap on linkedin growmap on pinterest growmap on facebook growmap on stumbleupon growmap on skype

Copyright © 2008-2021 Growmap · Centric Mobile Responsive Theme by StudioPress · Genesis Framework · Site maintaned By MarketingTilt

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

GrowMap
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side. Read our complete privacy policy.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.