Here are my top 5 tips to get ready for your next conference!
1. Polish up your social media, brand and website:
Warning: This is going to take about 8 hour so get started early.
- Order new business cards. Think of your overall branding colors, fonts, and theme. Don’t be afraid to design a card that is a little out of the box to make you stand out!
- Social networks: LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, and Pinterest. These are the main social networks right now, but only you know if there is a niche network that you should be on for your business. Example: If you are an author, you might want to polish up your Amazon author page.
- Start posting consistently on your social networks. If you don’t have time to post, you can outsource your content creation and posting.
- Use a great picture for your networks and use the same pictures on all of your networks. I know that using the same network can be boring, but you want to make sure everyone sees your picture during the conference and at least for a few weeks after the event.
- Go to Pinterest and clean up your boards. Merge boards, sort them, and spend time polishing up Pinterest. Do little extra pinning of only items that lead back to your website. Drive that traffic, baby!
- Facebook personal account: Take a look at your posts. Do they reflect what you want people to see? Do you have any crazy late night posts? If so, you might want to delete them…or not!
- Check and shine up the profile bios on your social networks and your About bio on your website.
- Check the links to your social networks on your website…make sure they are working properly.
- Look at your website and make sure it is functioning properly and looks good. Make sure your contact info is correct.
- Make sure to write or curate a few good blog posts before the conference and add links back to different pages on your website.
2. Hand out your business cards and take a small notepad
- Make sure you place your new business cards in a very convenient place, and have one place where you put all the business cards that you collect.
- Oh yes, and take about 100 business cards.
- Have a small notepad to write down people and exhibits that you really want to remember. Trust me, conferences can be a brain overload event, and you don’t want to forget what you want to remember!!!
3. Take Notes
- Remember that notepad I asked you to bring? Use that notepad to take notes during conference keynotes and breakout sessions. Just write down the best gems, names, websites, etc. You will be happy to have those notes.
4. The Extras
- Make sure you take a small extension cord, a charger, and ear plugs.
- Go to the conference each day with a fully charged phone.
- Carry a bag that has compartments and room for a lot of items.
- Wear comfortable and polished clothes and shoes.
- Carry a snack in your bag.
5. Engage, Follow Up, and Have Fun
- Hashtags! Start using the conference hashtags a few days before the conference and start making connections. The best places for hashtags are Twitter and Instagram…but you can also use them on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and all of your social networks.
- Hold your head up high! Put down your phone and connect in real time, learn and have fun!
What are your tips?
Make An Impression.
Sabrina Espinal
Sabrina&Company Marketing