Conferences are a critical part of your professional development. You may think that if you're not giving a talk, participating in a panel discussion or actively seeking a job, it's OK to be a passive participant or choose not to attend the meeting.
"Conferences provide singular opportunities to access and learn from decision-makers, appropriately promote yourself and your brand and discover opportunities that can lead to game-changing career experiences," says Levine. "I like to refer to conferences as 'networking nodes,' because they aggregate people of related disciplines or industries in one location, which makes networking extremely efficient."
But what if you're more comfortable taking your drink and hiding behind a potted plant than circulating and chatting at conference mixers? What if you'd rather run a marathon in your dress shoes than approach an industry leader out of the blue? Whether you consider yourself an introvert or just a networking newbie, fear not. Here are tips to help you make the most of your next conference:
• Don't wing it. If you simply show up at a conference and participate in whatever events catch your fancy, you're likely to miss the best networking opportunities. Before attending the conference, familiarize yourself with the program. That doesn't mean perusing it on the airplane to the conference.
Instead, Levine advises that you start reading the program about a month in advance, if possible, and create a schedule. "Set aside time to attend not just talks and seminars, but also special events, such as town halls, career events, meet and greets and other networking-centered affairs," she recommends. "And don't forget to pencil in time to walk the exhibit hall and other special attractions."
• Take advantage of the conference app. If the conference you're attending has an app, download it. These apps are often full of hidden treasures. "For example, some apps list all attendees and their contact information, and allow you to send messages within the system," Levine shares.
"Others allow you to tweet and follow other social media sites directly from the app itself. Apps might also announce newly added events and activities, and can even give you insight into transportation options to get to and from the convention center. Take advantage of these, because traveling with other conference attendees is (you guessed it!) also a great chance to meet and network with new people."
• Make appointments ahead of time. If you know you'd like to meet with fellow attendees, request appointments with them at least two to three weeks before the conference. They are busy too, so it's wise to get on their calendars beforehand. "If you'd like to connect with someone you've never met before, the conference itself serves as a reason to make cold calls, which is especially great for introverts," says Levine.
"Even if the person you want to meet is not on the program (i.e., she isn't speaking or presenting), it's OK to reach out to her, ask if she will be attending, and, if so, whether her schedule would allow a meeting."
• And keep them short. When making plans to meet with others, ask for a short appointment, like a coffee meeting. The other person may not have time for a lunch or dinner, but he can probably squeeze in 15 minutes over a cup of joe.
"Be sure to leave yourself a buffer of time between your own appointments, no matter how short they are," Levine cautions. "You need time to digest what each encounter offers and to physically move to the next location. And you also want to have windows in your schedule just in case something special comes up."
• Leverage the exhibit hall. Don't just wander around aimlessly looking for free pens and cup holders. Instead, try to learn new things and make connections that will serve you well long after those free pens have run dry. "Especially for large conference where there may be hundreds of exhibitors, carefully study the list of exhibitors and map out where the ones you really want to visit are located," Levine instructs. "Make a plan to visit booths that are of primary, secondary, and tertiary importance to you, depending on how much time each tier of visits takes."
• Don't eat alone. At almost all conferences, attendees flow into restaurants within a few-block radius of a convention center. And at mealtimes, says Levine, you can usually identify fellow conference participants because they tend to keep their nametags visible. So if you see someone from the meeting eating alone, don't be afraid to ask to join him or her. "Chances are the other person will invite you to sit," Levine says. "And since you're attending the same conference, you'll automatically have something to talk about."
• Be an early (and friendly) bird. Arrive early at sessions and sit near someone you don't know. This is a great opportunity to network, especially for introverts, because there is a reason to speak with the other person. You are both here to attend the session.
"Furthermore, this networking has an 'expiration date,' so you won't be stuck making conversation indefinitely," Levine notes. "After you sit, introduce yourself and reference the speaker and his or her subject as a way to get the conversation started. Then, as soon as the speaker begins, you can whisper, 'It was great to meet you. May I have your business card?' Now you're done!"
• Utilize social media before, during and even after the conference. We're in the Digital Age, and these days, many last-minute changes to conferences' programs (as well as many supplementary events and activities) are promoted only via the conference app or on social media—so make sure you're a fan, friend or follower! "Twitter is especially useful because you can tweet and follow tweets with the conference hashtag," says Levine.
"You'll get incredibly useful insight about leaders, hot topics and sessions. You'll also be able to discover who the trendsetters and other established leaders in the community are, and get a sense for potential collaborators. You can retweet these individuals' tweets to help establish and amplify your brand. By doing this, you'll have a reason to contact your newfound colleagues after the conference.
• Make sure to close the loop. Follow-up is of the utmost importance. If you just go to a conference and do nothing afterward, you have almost completely wasted your time.
"The meeting itself is the starting point to make contacts, to develop partnerships and to appropriately promote yourself and your work," Levine notes. "After everyone has returned home, it's up to you to make sure you stay on your new contacts' radars. Start by composing an email thanking each person for his or her time at the conference, recapping what you talked about, and suggesting a phone or Skype appointment to further develop your partnership."
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