Although many conferences are postponed this year, we still wanted to help prepare you for when things are back up to speed. Since this is the marketing issue, we thought it would be fitting to give you some tips and tricks on how to market yourself while attending a conference whether it’s an in-person conference or a virtual one. While conferences alone have a lot to offer you, you also have a lot you can offer the conference! Conferences allow you to take advantage of a huge networking opportunity. Enhance your next conference experience by taking some or all the steps below.
Connect with the Speakers
You will typically find a list of speakers on the website for whatever conference you’re attending. Be sure to follow the speakers and connect with them on social media before the event. This allows you to hear from the speaker, read about their journey, and see if they are someone you might want to try to connect with before/after their presentation. These speakers are here as a resource for you. Take advantage of being in the same room as these individuals and try to engage with them, you might even develop a professional relationship with them.
Pass Out Your Business Cards
Now, this might sound old school but hear me out, there’s something about that face-to-face interaction that’s more memorable than simply connecting digitally, like on LinkedIn. Make sure you’re selective about who you hand your cards out to. Be sure to only hand them out to people you spoke with that you would like to stay in touch with. Chances are you’ll get some business cards in return. Keep all those cards together and once the conference is over, you now have their social media handles and emails to stay connected. We all know how important it is in this industry to build your network, this is a great and fun way of doing that.
Post to Social Media During the Conference
Let your followers know what you’re up to. Just because you’re away from your desk doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected with your followers. Scheduling content to go out throughout the conference will help keep you on track. If your clients follow you on social media, this will show them your dedication to your job as a REALTOR® and how you’re working to further your industry knowledge. Amplify your reach by making cool and engaging posts on social media.
Take Notes for Content Ideas
Attending conferences will give you plenty of ideas for your editorial calendar. You will learn what’s new and trending in the real estate industry. You can then take the information you learned from the conference and apply it to your content. Whether that be in the form of a newsletter, article for your print publication, or a blog post, knowing what’s new and exciting in the industry gives you an edge over your competition.
Bonus Tip: Virtual Conferences
It’s no surprise that given our current circumstances, virtual conferences aren’t uncommon. Apply the same mentality as you would at an in-person conference. Be prepared, do your homework, know what sessions you want to attend. Just because you’re behind a computer screen doesn’t mean you can’t be engaged! Ask questions, connect with other attendees, make the most out of what the conference has to offer. Follow up with speakers, look into the additional resources provided. After all, the conference is there to help YOU be the best REALTOR® you can be.
Attending conferences is always a good way to expand your industry knowledge. Taking these small steps to better market yourself at any conference you attend will help enhance your experience even more. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, after all, you speak to all kinds of people every day – it’s just the nature of your job. Having a game plan for how you’re going to approach your experience at a conference will help maximize your value. Create your schedule, pack your business cards, wear a name tag, and sharpen your communication skills, you will thank yourself afterward.