Getting the most out of the conference before you go
Once you do the budgeting and registering, you’re just at the beginning of planning. What you get out of a conference depends on what you put into it. This is even more true of SOBCon than other events because of the collaborative way you’ll learn there.
You need to know the five W’s of your conference before you ever go.
Who
- Who do you want to meet? Think customers, partners, competitors, mentors, and vendors.
- Who could you cooperate with?
- Who could send you customers? Who could you send customers to?
- Who have you talked to several times, and you just need to push it over the edge and get something going with them?
What
- What do you want to talk to these people about?
- What project are you working on that is too big for you alone?
- What are you most wanting to learn?
When and Where
- Invite a friend or colleague to join your mastermind for a particular session that relates to a project you’re working on together. You don’t have to stick with one table or one set of people for the entire event.
- Put together a small group to go to dinner or breakfast together. I like to leave lunches open and see who I happen to connect with.
Why
- Review the topics that will be presented. Think about how they relate to your business. What key points will you listen for during that topic?
- Think through your goals for the event. Make an index card with a summary and take it with you.
A few other points
- Follow the #SOBCon discussion on Twitter. It’s the best place to interact with other attendees before the event.
- Order some business cards or have a ready alternative prepared. I still use a few at each SOBCon.
- Post something relevant on your blog. When you meet people at SOBCon, they are likely to stop by to learn more about you. Make sure your site is ready for them. Don’t panic or obsess over this, but do take time to post something meaningful. Can’t think of anything else? Post a summary of your mission or purpose.
- Update your profile photo. If you usually use anything besides a photo of you as your profile photo, consider changing it at least a week in advance. We want to be able to recognize you when we meet in person.