how to get the most out of a conference

1. How to Make Your Next Conference One of
the Most Useful Experiences of Your Life

2. We've got some tips to help you get the most out of a
conference so that you can stop stressing about it
and get to work.

3. Before
Your preparation begins even before you choose a
conference to attend. Don’t think that simply because
you’re a freelance web designer, you need to only
attend design, entrepreneurial, or technology
conferences. Look at conferences in your area to see
if there are other industries that would benefit from
your services.

4. Map out your goals.
Remember to be realistic, set achievable expectations, and
be specific. For example:
Things I want to achieve by attending this conference:
• Leave having discovered at least one new tool that will
help my business;
• Obtain freelance tax advice from experienced peers;
• Gain at least 10 new contacts who could either help in
my career or become potential clients.

5. Have both questions and answers prepared.
Questions like, “How long have you been in the industry?” and
“What are your plans for this product/company/software?” are
common, and can be tricky to answer if you’re just starting
out. The best way to prepare for these questions is to build up
a solid background for yourself and become intimately familiar
with it.
A conference is an event built to educate and connect
people, and generally presents a very generous atmosphere
of community. Take advantage of this and ask questions.

6. During
Once you’re at the conference itself, it can be easy to
get either overwhelmed or over-excited.
Remember: A conference is a social event, but it’s
also time and money. Make it count.
Refer back regularly to your goals: Are you learning?
Are you connecting?

7. One way to ensure that you’re retaining information and
new contacts is to utilize some handy conference apps.
Twitter
Twitter provides a great opportunity for conference attendees to
interact during the conference about the conference simply by
following the designated conference hashtag.
Foursquare and Facebook
Foursquare will allow you to see where people are checked in,
as well as discover where after-conference hangouts are
happening.

8. Business Card Scanner Apps
One of the more brilliant conference apps is the business card
scanner app. There are a lot of different options out there, with
features ranging from language translation to social media integration.
Apps like CamCard, ScanBizCards, and WorldCard will help you de-
clutter your wallet or purse, and help you keep your contacts
organized.
Evernote
Evernote is an incredible note-taking app that allows you to (among
many other things) take organized notes using a highly user-friendly
interface. Evernote also allows you to scan business cards, connect
your contacts and social profiles, and help you keep track of the
contacts you’d like to stay connected with after the conference.

9. Speaking of after…
There is chance that you’ll come out of a conference with a
new client, and if that happens, I’ve got a basket full of hearty
high-fives for you. It’s more likely, however, that the ROI you
see as a freelancing newbie is more educational and social.
Eventually in your career, that’s not going to cut it... but for
now? For now, you need all the education and industry
contacts you can get.

10. Want to learn more?
READ FULL ARTICLE

11. Don’t get caught in a courtroom... with a contract
that’s not legally binding.
www.approveme.me