Well it’s that time of the year again … the annual big conference. Conferences can be a great way to network and meet new contacts that can help you grow your business. Ensuring that you are creating and executing a game plan is essential to making the best use of your time.
Make sure to prepare yourself. Have a goal of how many people you want to meet and introduce yourself to. What do you want to get out of the introduction? Compile a list of questions that you would like to bring up during an intro. You could consider having a partner; it can make the experience fun and goal orientated! Share the area and design a plan to meet the most people you can in the time allotted during the conference.
Throughout the conference, it is best to take a moment (every couple of hours) to ensure you are meeting the goals that you have set out for yourself. Are you getting to ask the questions that you have prepared? Are you making worthwhile contacts? If you are not confident, it is time to go back to the preparation stage and review your goals. Take time to review with your partner and share what is working and what is not.
It is always best to review the night of the conference. Look through your business cards and notes, assessing the contacts you have made. Prioritize who you will be reaching out to first. Don’t forget to review with your partner; you may be able to trade off some contacts that could be better suited.
So are you ready to get the most out of your conference experience?? Make sure to have fun and meet as many key people as possible! Remember an opportunity is only presented to someone who has prepared for it! Good Luck!!!
Christina Ramalho / Business Consultant / PEO Canada