Whether you are a vendor or attendee, a regional or national conference in the niche you are working in is a great opportunity to meet face to face with others in your industry. Many people do not make the most of this opportunity simply because they choose not to prepare properly and make the most of their time. Since both Crimcheck and I are going to be at the SHRM annual conference, I thought I would highlight some things I have done to prepare for the conference:

1. Set meetings in advance - So many people in the HR industry are going to be there, it is tough but having a solid schedule is key. I’ve talked with all sorts of people that I want to meet with there and I still have some open space. Here’s the deal though: don’t book yourself too much. Impromptu meetings are actually opportunities as well.
2. Get everything prepared - I totally forgot about business cards so I made sure I ordered them. Since I was liveblogging the conference, I knew I needed to get an extra battery for my laptop so I bought that. Similarly I needed to get my jacket dry cleaned. All of these things couldn’t be done at the last minute.
3. Get plenty of rest before - If I don’t sleep well before the conference, that’s all I want to do once I get there. If you build up some sleep time, you’ll be able to survive.
4. Show up early - To the sessions I mean. It is a good opportunity to meet with people who share the same interests as you before it starts and establish a relationship.
5. Follow up afterward - Anyone can be friendly and on top of it for a couple of days at a conference. What truly stands out are the people that touch base after the conference is over, remembers what you talked about and is ready to help.

Do you have any other advice for conference attendance?