Achieving Maximum Benefit From Your Conference Registration Dollars March 2004 by Lauren E. Darcey Going to a conference on something you know very little about is always a bit daunting. However, with the right preparation and the right outlook, you can make it the experience both beneficial and enjoyable. Here are some suggestions on ways to make the most of your time. What is your story? Before you attend the conference, be ready to answer questions about your business, what you do, and why you are there. This can often be more difficult than it seems. Just as you tailor a resume to a certain company you want to work for, you should tailor your story to the conference you're attending. For example, a mobile software development firm known for its business tools and utilities attends a game development conference. Their story might be something like: We're primarily a developer of mobile tools but are considering expanding into the gaming industry. We are here to get a finger on the pulse of mobile game development, and to see what the key concepts, challenges and innovations exist in game development today, as well as what support services are available. What do you want to know? Before you step one foot into the conference, spend a bit of time defining what you want to get out of it. These goals are likely to be detailed questions relating to the story you have come up with. The questions should start general, with follow-up questions that are more specific. Write these questions down and ask others in your company if they have anything they would like to know as well. Make sure you've got a variety of questions for the different audiences at a conference. The mobile software development firm compiled a list of questions with several categories - about the gaming industry in general, the mobile gaming industry, development/resource questions as well as some generic questions like how people feel about the future of gaming, mobile gaming, gaming versus utility development and such. You'll also find that conferences are the perfect place to identify who will be your potential partners and who will be your competitors. Who are you? Don't forget your business cards. You may want to have a special business card printed that only includes your main business line, not your personal mobile number and such. Reserve your detailed business cards for those who are key to your business. When you speak to someone at a conference, make sure you swap business cards if you can, and then quickly write down what you talked about on the back of the business card you received for later reference. Alone in a crowded room So you've gotten to the conference, and you know absolutely no one. Get over it! Walk up to a booth that seems interesting. Smile, be pleasant and shake hands. Introduce yourself and tell your story. Be honest about the fact that you know little about the industry, and ask them to tell you about how they can help you. Ask the questions that you feel are appropriate, and when you've finished talking, ask for suggestions on other booths you should visit - given your needs, and see what they say. Make sure you ask your general questions to many different people, as everyone has an agenda at a conference. If you ask about the future of a technology to that technology's competitor, you're going to get a completely different response to that of the technology's key players. Take notes and follow up After a discussion, you should write the key things you talked about on something, preferably the back of the person's business card. During a lunch break, write up a little about what you've learned, how people have answered your questions, and any new or follow up questions you've come up. This will help you build upon your newly discovered knowledge, and help you use your time effectively.

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