Get better returns on your conference investment

Brad Berens, chief content officer and editor at large, iMedia Connection and ad:tech
First, accept that you can't do everything -- believe me, I've tried! I've gone to events where I'm speaking, networking and covering things for a publication. That's a 20-hour day, and it shortens your life in a hurry. It's important to think -- before you get on that plane -- about why you're really going, and what isn't a core mission, and make choices accordingly.

My second tip is to be strategic. Look at the agenda while you're still at the office and choose a small number of things that you simply must do. By "small," I mean four per day, say, two sessions and two meetings.

Everybody will pressure you to RSVP to a million things, but if you do that then you're not really doing anything well, and there's no serendipity. I have a lot of great conversations in the elevator, the halls, the expo, the press room, at the bar... all because I'm not overscheduled. Except, of course, when it's one of my events.

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Comments

Keir Moorman
Keir Moorman August 21, 2008 at 12:56 PM

This is a good article loaded with great information.
I would suggest having plenty of business cards on hand. You probably want be the only one doing this so I would suggest using some creativity when selecting business card design. You can add a nice business card holder as well. If your one of the lucky people to own a iphone or ipod I would suggest converting your online video to one of the formats supported by the iphone or ipod. Now you can play your marketing message to anyone you want. You might even land a new client or two.