First, decide if the ROI from relationships created there exceed the costs. If not, don’t go!
Help the Organizer. Or Better, Be The Organizer
Being on the inside gives you a lot of information (who’s attending, hot events, etc).
To get “in”, find the main contact for the conference. Call them a few months in advance. Express admiration for the event, say you’d like to make it better. How can you help?
They’ll always want help!
Listen. Better Yet, Speak!
Use Toastmasters to become a better speaker.
Find opportunities to speak! The ROI is huge!
At a conference, ask targeted questions in Q/A.
You can informally set up a presentation - just invite your target folks as you go on. It’s informal and thus with little pressure.
Guerilla Warfare: Organize a Conference Within a Conference
Examples: Informal discussion. Informal dinner at an alternative restaurant. The official dinners are too noisy. Find a nice restaurant nearby and pre-invite people.
Or a personal tour of a local tourist spot.
Draft Off a Big Kahuna
Talk to big people before they get to the stage. Usually they’re too crowded afterwards.
Be an Information Hub
Know key aspects of the conference (schedule, room location, etc).
Master The Deep Bump
You get about 2 minutes with someone. The goal should be to leave the encounter with an invitation to reconnect later. Don’t try to become a best friend on the spot.
The ingredients:
- Eye contact
- Questions beyond business
- Reveal something vulnerable
Know Your Targets
At any conference, have a list of 3-4 people you’d most like to meet. After you meet them, note what you talked about and how you’ll contact them later.
Ask the conference organizer where they sit.
Breaks Are No Time To Take a Break
Determine where most people will gather or pass through, and station yourself there.
It’s the People, Not The Speakers
Do not avoid eye contact. It’s a very fast relationship killer.
Do not pass out business cards like crazy.