Attending a Conference, Part 2 (or Lessons for a Conference)
In an earlier post, we discussed my decision to attend a conference as a business owner. Here’s an update about the lessons I learned while attending EWE.
Preparation
I looked at the attendee list (it was public). Many people had listed two companies. I decided that would be fine for me to. In order to prepare for this conference, I created business cards for both my event planning company and Open Prospects. I would be representing both on this day. I think doing this was very helpful. Many of the women asked about both companies. I was able to build relationships for event planning, but also gain future contributors to this website.
Sessions
The EWE conference had a decent number of sessions. Usually I enjoy conferences which are packed with them, but they left time for networking in between. However, it is still very important to take in the information about the sessions. Pay attention and take notes (if you want). Some sessions aren’t built for taking notes, but if there is something you want to remember, you should probably write it down. In addition, be sure to ask for the facilitator’s business card. This can be super helpful if you ever want to follow up with them.
Networking
One of the biggest aspects about this conference was the time to network and socialize. There were specific time periods where we were able to grab a snack and talk to the other attendees. As easy as talking might seem, it was actually the hardest part for me. One of the things many beginning entrepreneurs struggle with is telling people about their business. It’s scary! However, I knew I had to overcome that. So, during snack breaks, I went up to groups of women and just talked. Everyone was very friendly and everyone was there to learn. Because of this, I felt better about putting myself out there and asking questions.
Because oftentimes networking is one of the of the most helpful aspects of a conference, you need to do it next time you attend one. It might seem scary. But next time, just take the jump and talk to someone. You may end up meeting someone who can really help you.
Helping Others
As the new kid on the block, it might seem like you have nothing to offer the attendees. Chances are, you actually do. Talk to the others and see what they need. If you look at their needs, they’ll feel better. Plus, you may be able to form a connection because of your help.
Attending conferences as a business owner can be a little scary. However if you prepare and put yourself out there, you’ll get intangible benefits from them.
