Conferences are the bomb. Either your company is paying for basically a free trip, or you get to tax deduct a bunch of stuff. Either way, travel nirvana. That being said, I’m totally in travel nirvana today through Tuesday (today), as I’m in Austin for South by Southwest Interactive. When it comes to SXSWi, think of all the tech/marketing conferences you’ve ever been too, add parties sponsored by almost every tech and start-up you can name, and multiply it by getting to hear and meet celebrities and authors. That is SXSWi. I’m covering the event for Search Engine Journal – so be sure to visit my author page (what I just linked to) for updates and recaps.
All that being said, here’s a few tips I’ve learned to help you master the Conference Hustle– basically kicking ass at going to conferences (and yes, I promise that is a thing).
Say Yes to Everything You Can
A blog wants to interview you and you hate being on camera? Say yes anyway. The conference organizers offer to allow you to meet and interview one of the executives and you don’t have a tripod and have never interviewed anyone in your life? Make it happen. When it comes to conferences, you never know who you are going to meet since there are people coming in to the event from all over. By taking in as much as you can, you are opening up to possibilities and opportunities that you probably wouldn’t have gotten any other way.
An ideal conference experience should be one part having your mind blown by awesome content and one part whoring your business and yourself out. Don’t worry about seeming too “out there.” Just grab your stack of business cards and get to talking to people.
Sit By People You Don’t Know
Which brings me to my next tip: Sit by people you don’t know. Like a true tech nerd, I am one of the most introverted people I know. But yet, I force myself to talk to people that I sit next to at sessions or at the table during lunch. I’ve met awesome people, like Katrina at the Ford Blogger Experience. You don’t always have to talk about work. At SMX West I got cruising tips from an international marketing executive who’s been around the world and loves traveling just as much as I do. Was I hoping we could connect later professionally down the road? Sure, but I wouldn’t have found out the best months to cruise Mexico if we had kept it strictly business. SO share some cards, make new friends, and see your business grow naturally.
Go to Something New
Yeah so a session on virtual reality may have not interested you a year ago, but then you read Ready Player One and you realize the awesomeness.
Me beasting virtual reality.
Conferences are all about broadening your horizons. So, try new things and go to sessions that are a little over your head or make you feel uncomfortable. It will make you more creative and help you return to work with a more open mind and ready to turn up that work hustle.