Conferences are a huge industry that makes billions. The reason why conferences are so lucrative is because it is single place that compacts a multitude of business opportunities within a short period of time. It is imperative for entrepreneurs to attend conferences to help grow your business.
But, there is the right way to attend a conference and there is a wrong way. Considering how expensive these conferences can be to attend, wasting the limited amount of time you have at a conference is an expensive mistake. If you plan on becoming a vendor at a conference, then the cost is usually at least five times more expensive.
Day-Time Conference Events
These events are usually not important. Typically, I will avoid attending too many of these events because time spent sitting and listening to someone else speak means that I’m not interacting with someone I should be meeting. Attending a conference is about networking and meeting people that will impact your business.
I’ve sat on both sides of the table. As a vendor, I’ve avoided these classes or sessions typically like a plague unless it was something I really needed to learn or there was someone I needed to meet at the session. As the client, attending day events are painful. Usually, these day events are used to provide credits that you’ll need for a statutory purpose. But, it is the same for everyone involved, attending most day events is going to provide very little return on investment.
Vendors Should Carry Business Cards
Vendors should carry business cards and clients should not. As a client, having business cards is a surefire way to have a million vendors attack you. Usually, I won’t even wear my badge to avoid drawing attention to myself. As a vendor, you need to have an easy way for the client that is interested to reach you. It’s old school, but it works.
Night Events Are Mandatory Regardless What You Think
Business is almost always conducted at night. The after-conference parties, gatherings or whatever they are “designated” is where most of your value is going to found. During these events, your job is to make sure you constantly meeting people until you find the right contact. If you think networking is a numbers game and that you’re measuring success based on the “number of people” you’ve met, then you’re gravely mistaken.
If you’re able to gather one to three solid contacts a night, then you’ve succeeded beyond your wildest dreams. The importance of networking is to build a rapport beyond knowing that individuals name and title. You shouldn’t be a stalker or badger someone to death, desperation is never appealing.
Making sure that the contact associates your face, name and business with a personable character is your goal. If the contact walks away thinking you were funny or fun and they know what you sell, then you’ve succeeded. At some point in the future, that contact will reach out if they need your services.
