I’ve just got back from the UK Podcasters conference 2014.
Why did I go as I’m not currently podcasting? I went because I love to meet entrepreneurs, business people and content creators who do similar work to me and the UK is sadly bereft of conferences like these.
I don’t like to say that these are the “rules” for attending conferences, they’re more “suggestions”. But, “7 Suggestions For Attending Conferences” sounded a bit lame.
1. Hang around the conference venue before, during and after
The conference sessions may well be valuable (they were at the Podcasters conference) however, the real business gets done in the corridors, by the coffee machine and at the bar.
This is great news if you’re not able or don’t have the money to attend a conference, simply hang around the conference venue as much as you can. I can guarantee you’ll meet someone who you’ll connect with on a deep level this way.
Social wall-flowers, like myself, need to push themselves to connect with as many people as possible.
2. Stay at the same hotel as the conference
If you’re staying right where the action happens, you may make that awesome connection at breakfast or in the elevator.
3. Get your elevator pitch ready
Or, maybe I should say, conferences are a great opportunity to rehearse and perfect your elevator pitch. An elevator pitch, for those of you that don’t know is your purpose, your business’s aim or your “why”. Why you do what you do.
Your “why” should be constantly evolving. Well, mine is.
4. The paperback is the new business card
Some people think business cards have gone the way of the filofax and the rolodex. I disagree, I still have them. However, I’ve also got something better up my sleeve.
Giving someone your book is much more effective than a business card. They can read it on the way home from the conference and will build a greater rapport with your personal brand as a result.
I took along 5 copies of my latest Amazon bestseller with me to the conference. This cost me less than $10 using Amazon’s print-on-demand service CreateSpace.
If you haven’t written a book yet, you should, but you can always use business cards until the time comes.
5. Don’t get too drunk
In order to meet as many people as possible, it’s best to drink as much water as possible before you move onto the hard stuff (if you like that sort of thing). I haven’t always followed this rule.
6. Don’t shoulder gaze
If you’re talking to someone, make sure they have your full undivided attention. Don’t look over their shoulder to see if there’s someone “more interesting” to talk to.
I always tell myself that everything happens for a reason and if I’m talking to someone at any given time then it’s because I should be.
7. Focus on helping people
Don’t go to a conference with hopes of pulling off a killer deal with a big name. You’ll run the risk of coming over as a bit desperate.
Offer help to the people you meet. This way you’ll make great contacts and, if great things happen as well, that’ll be a bonus.
You can do it
The last conference I’d been to was the 2013 London WordCamp and, as with all conferences, the value lies in the people you meet.
For the same reason as I love meet-ups, you can’t beat a face-to-face relationship in business, despite all the great connections we make with podcasting, Skype, email and social media.
You can look for conferences in your niche or use Meetup.com to find other meetings of like-minded business people and forge win-win relationships that will last for decades.
Share your knowledge. Make friends. And enjoy.
Great article Rob! Definitely good advice, but I have to admit my heart skipped a beat when I saw a photo of me talking with Matt directly under heading number 5 with the words “Don’t get too drunk”. Thankfully I realised that you were probably referring to the bottle of water (well at least that’s what I’m hoping!)
Thanks, David. Indeed, I just put an image of two sober-looking guys (actually I don’t really know why I put it there). So, sorry about that! Anyway, I don’t remember you getting drunk. 🙂
Great Advice Rob.
Is add that if you do exchange cards, make sure you scan them in using CardCam or Evernote (premium) within a day or two to make it quicker and easier to connect and followup on LinkedIn or social media.
That’s a good point, Louis. Good idea to use the scanning tools. But also good idea to connect within a day or two because, if you don’t, you never will!
Excellent advice Rob. I especially like tip #4 – anyone who has valuable content to share should look into CreateSpace right away before their next conference!
Indeed, Mike, I love CreateSpace. Thanks for popping by and commenting.
Great piece Rob. I would add: Don’t admit to being drunk. Several people said that to me at #ukpod14 ! Mad me laugh, that did.
Loving the book and you’re right, it’s a great way to get noticed and build relationships. After all, I’m here writing on your blog now, right ??
Very best wishes,
Jon
Thank you, Jon. Haha, “don’t admit to being drunk” – I like it!
Indeed, at a conference you can connect with like-minded souls who you may not have connected with otherwise. 🙂
Lovely to see you here.
Rob
Hi Rob,
Dead on advice. I can see why your books have become best sellers on Amazon; you’re such an intelligent networker, and being able to work such events effectively helps accelerate your success.
The eye contact one vibes with me. Give someone your undivided attention and you’ll make a serious impact.
Ditto on your book idea. Brilliant! Sure, keep carrying your business cards but you darn well better have your book handy to make a serious impact. Giving away massive value like that sends a loud and clear signal to the person and to the Universe too.
I’ve learned enough lessons from successes like yourself to charge for services, but to also give a ton of your best stuff away too. Doing so helps your price for services rise if you so choose and it’ll also attract more customers and clients to you.
Call it karma, and sowing and reaping, or whatever. It just plain works. Keep giving freely and you’ll make an impact at either conferences or wherever you meet people in life.
I need biz cards lol! After starting my new blog recently my brand moved in a new direction….time to design and express deliver a few boxes to Fiji 😉
Also Rob, thanks SO much for the stupendously awesome Amazon review you wrote me. I’m both honored and so grateful for you.
Thanks again!
Tweeting this in a bit.
Ryan
Hello Ryan, I was reading a piece about body language recently and it talked of the importance of turning 100% towards somebody when you’re meeting them, not just turning your head. Really interesting stuff!
I’m glad you liked the article and the review. I really enjoyed your book. 🙂
And, yes, I’m into giving away freely without expecting anything in return.
Hope you’re having a nice day in Fiji.
Great advice Rob
I have been to a couple of events this year and although I did not meet as many people as I had hoped, it was a great start to my event career!
Just seeing what people are up to and what is happening in the bigger world outside your office is also a good thing. When I was developing software, it was also great to get out of the office and see what other companies were doing too. Everyone has their own habits, including big business.
next year, SXSW!
Hey Ashley, how are you? And linking to a new website, I see. 🙂 Yes, conferences in the US are the bomb. SXSW, etc. Hope to meet you at one soon.
Super advice Rob, i will use it next time i go to a conf.
Thanks m8 😉
Thank you, Paw, glad you liked it.
Hello Rob,
The points you adviced here are just amazing.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks
Shane
Hello Shane. My pleasure, thanks for the comment.
Hi Rob,
I am a truly inspired by your Amazon books and Udemy courses. I am curious to know your elevator pitch or at least “why” you do what you do! Thanks 🙂
Thank you, Jyotsna. I’m glad you’ve found my courses and book useful. My why is “to inspire people to find freedom and happiness in life”.
What a knockout idea, that books are the new business cards! Thinking about it, a book tells you how the author thinks, organizes and plans. A book is an excellent opportunity to put your best foot forward.
A book also gets you more time before the person. Text presents a large body of information very quickly, especially a book you can flip around in. That means you can offer the reader (to whom you otherwise would have given only your contact information, and one graphic design) some of the abundant learning that is inside your head.
If the person finds something especially useful, she or he will remember you. How many times have you read something, maybe even in passing, that influenced you very strongly, or changed how you work? The person who shares information of very high value will always be remembered.
Remember when we were going to have a Global Village? That was back in the 2400 baud modem days. I had been using computers and online services for some years, and the possibilities excited me. And then it was predicted we were all going to isolate ourselves behind screens.
It looks like it’ll be “Global Village” after all! And it’s HERE already!
I’m sure the original idea that “books are the new business cards” is not mine. I heard it or read it somewhere else first. Createspace is really great value. You can put the book on as cheap as possible, wait until it gets on Amazon, then you can buy however many you want to giveaway, go back to Createspace and put the price up! People do buy 50 page books for $6 – it’s amazing. Although, of course, most people get the Kindle.
Exactly, if they read it, they will instantly know more about you and have a deeper connection with your personal brand.
Hey Rob, like the advice. I’ll put them to consideration next time am in a conference.
Thank you, David, glad you liked it. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for the tips , Rob! If i ever go to any conference, I’ll follow your suggestions, I sure they will work perfectly!
Hey Oksana, thank you. And thanks for all the shares recently. It is appreciated.
Love the small tips Rob, did you get any new clients from this conference?
No I wasn’t going for clients. I was going for something much more important – relationships!
Nice! I didn’t realize there was a UK event going on the same time as Podcast Movement. Which leads to the next question — when’s Rob’s podcast coming out??
Yeah, Nick, I think it was a coincidence they clashed however, next year, I’m sure they won’t.
It’s a good question about podcasting, Nick, I did have one a couple of years ago but I didn’t manage to make it past 10 episodes. I will do it again, though. 🙂