Conference Hack

Business and travel tips for people attending conferences, tradeshows, conventions, and meetups

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If You’re an Entrepreneur You Should Have FoundersCard

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Back in January 2017, I was at Affiliate Summit West 2017 chatting with some fellow entrepreneurs, and the topic of FoundersCard came up.

FoundersCardEverybody at the lunch table was saying how awesome it is, and I was embarrassed to say I didn’t know what they were talking about.

After I got home I looked it up and applied to take advantage of the travel, lifestyle, business, and hotel benefits.

As a member of FoundersCard, you get Hilton Honors Gold Status, Caesars Diamond Total Rewards, CLEAR for six months, savings at a wide array of luxury brands and business services, special rates at hotels around the world, and a long list of other benefits.

It’s a paid membership that more than pays for itself each year for me.

Get a Wingman/Woman for Networking

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Do you know anybody else who is going to the next conference you’re attending? If not, start asking around in social media and industry forums.

Get a Wingman/Woman for NetworkingIt’s easier to meet people when you’re going around a conference with somebody.

Also, it’s helpful to have that person to compare notes on things, especially if you split up to catch different sessions that you both wanted to attend.

Define Goals and Measurable Objectives

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Before you even register for a conference, it’s essential that you have a sense for what you’re planning to accomplish by attending.

Define GoalsAre you trying to make a statement by your attendance, or do you simply hope to work out some deals and learn the latest and greatest?

Some people go to a conference to spread the word about a new product or service, or just to get the brand out there. Others want to network like crazy and/or act as a sponge in educational sessions, so they can learn best practices, tips, industry changes, etc.

But then there are people who turn up at a conference with no game plan. Don’t do that. You’re better off staying home.

Whatever the reason that you decide to attend, you should work out your goals and objectives at the time you register for the conference, and then begin working on how you will accomplish them.

I’ve Learned Some Things in Decades of Business Events

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Over the past couple decades I have organized and participated in a variety of conferences, tradeshows, masterminds, meetups, and other networking events.

Shawn Collins chatting with a conference attendee

A big issue with events is that many people attending for the first time feel lost and alienated.

There can be information overload from blogs, apps, videos, social media, newsletters, snail mail, etc.

And unless you are part of a clique of folks attending an event, it may feel awkward to mix with others, especially for the introverts, which account for 26-50 percent of the population.

But there are some hacks, tips, and techniques that will help you get the most out of conferences, tradeshows, and other business events.

So, come along with me to hear how you can make the most out of attending future events, including ways to attend on a budget, maximizing your ROI, and traveling more comfortably.