25 surefire ways to make the most of a conference—even if you’re alone/nervous/new!

So you’ve signed up to go to a conference—go you! Gatherings specific to your industry, niche or identity are amazing ways to meet people, network and learn skills to up-level your business and career. But if you’ve invested in the conference, plus getting there and your daily expenses, you definitely want to make the most of a conference.

In this post, I share 25 ways to do just that. I outline what you should do before a conference, during the conference and after you leave. I cover tips on ways to meet people without feeling awkward, how to prep so you take advantage of networking opportunities, how to be memorable and ways to structure your time so you get the most out of a conference.

You might be heading to a conference for the first time—if so, way to go! It’s not easy putting yourself out there, especially if you don’t know anyone else who’s going. I have tips for you, too.

So whether you’re going to a blogging conference or one related to another industry altogether, I know you’ll make the most of a conference with this advice.

Before the conference begins

1. Go with a goal

If you’re a newbie, you might go into the conference wanting to do all the things. The truth is, though, you don’t have unlimited time and energy. So focus on one or two priorities and really knock those out of the park.

Some ideas to get your goal-setting juices flowing:

• Learn a specific new skill (e.g. turning your newsletter into a lead-generating machine)
• Learn to improve one aspect of your game (e.g. social media or video)
• Network with like-minded peers
• Collaborate with brands or other companies that match your niche
• Gain exposure for your brand/product/service

Just don’t try to do it all. You’ll only overextend yourself—and end up disappointed.

2. Research and follow speakers

Before you attend the conference, look into the keynote speakers and those leading workshops or breakout sessions. This will allow you to do a few things:

• Figure out which sessions and workshops you want to go to
• Live tweet or share what you learn during the workshop
• Connect with the speakers in a more authentic way, since you can mention something you both share or are passionate about

3. Introduce yourself in the conference Facebook group or app

Just about everyone wants to meet people and network at conferences. Why not start the party before the conference even begins?

To do that, introduce yourself in the conference Facebook group, app or other platform. Share what you do along with something unique—and therefore memorable. (For example, on my intro post, I said that I love animal trivia and cheap stovetop ramen. Don’t judge!)

Then say hi to other people’s intros in the comments. Find a way to connect with them, whether that’s because you grew up in the same region or you’re interested in creating the same kind of content.

Finally, follow other conference attendees on social media, LinkedIn or wherever you hang out.

4. Start conversations with other attendees

It’s intimidating to walk into a huge (or even small) conference if you don’t know anyone. So reach out directly to other attendees and begin to make friendships.

Follow someone you have something in common with, then introduce yourself. Ask a question or point out something you share. Keep the conversation going in your direct messages. That way it’s easier to meet up in person at the conference.

5. Brainstorm conversation starters

Probably 99.9% of the other conference attendees will use the same conversation starters, all around the same topics:

What do you do? Where are you from?

Booooooorinnnnnnggggggg.

This approach has a few major problems. If you ask everyone the same question, you’ll forget everyone’s answers. And you’ll blend in with everyone else since everyone is having the same superficial discussion.

Instead, brainstorm conversation starters before you arrive at the conference. It’s best if they’re related to the topic of the conference, since you’re pretty much guaranteed to share that area of interest. So if you’re going to a travel blogging conference (like I do regularly), you might ask:

• Are you planning an upcoming trip?
• What’s the place you’d most love to return to?
• Is there a destination you thought you’d hate but actually loved? Or one you thought you’d love that you actually hated?
• What food from home do you always recommend to visitors?
• What do you miss from home when you’re away?

Here are some conversation starters that work for just about any kind of conference:

• Have you learned anything so far that surprised you?
• What’s the most useful tidbit you’ve heard from a speaker so far?
• I feel like my brain is full from everything thrown at us! Do you have any tips to help internalize new information?
• Has anything today made you rethink what you do or how you do it?
• Do you have any conference pet peeves?

During the conference

6. Hand out business cards

At TravelCon 2018, I didn’t know if people would be handing out business cards—and boy, did they ever! Just about every person I met was eager to meet others and give out business cards.

Sure, you can connect to someone on Instagram when you meet. But I don’t love doing that instead of business cards because that new connection inevitably gets lost in my feed.

I much prefer to give, and receive, business cards so I can go back through the stack and remember who I met. If you’re looking to print business cards, I use and love Moo, especially because I can make these adorable tiny business cards and print a different picture on the back of each one. If you need business cards, I strongly recommend Moo—here’s a referral link to get your own!

Level 10 tip: Keep a fine-tipped Sharpie on you and make a note on each business card you received. When you jot down what you discussed, or any follow-up actions to take, directly on the card, you won’t miss any next steps to continue the relationship.

7. Attend an after-hours meetup

Many conferences plan happy hours, parties and other get-togethers after all the day’s learning is done. Thank goodness, because after hours of sessions, you’ll need to relax!

I’ve found that people tend to be more open at after-hours meetups. They seem to be less focused on putting on a professional front and more apt to just connect, person to person.

Level 10 tip: I keep my drinking moderate at anything conference-related, even if the event takes place at a bar. I’d hate for something embarrassing to happen in a professional context. That said, you might have different plans, and that’s ok: Just decide ahead of time so you don’t realize you’re 3 cocktails in and are worried you’ll say something you’ll later regret!

8. Sit with someone new—every time

This is a really hard tip for anyone who’s introverted or shy (*raises hand*), but I still recommend it. Why? Because you never know who you might meet.

At one conference, I sat down next to a woman who was by herself, and we got to chatting over our plates of crudites. Turned out she was the author of Find Your F*ck Yeah and one of the day’s speakers, and we had a lovely conversation about getting over your fears. We’ve continued to chat on social media, and I would never have met her in person had I not sat next to a stranger.

If going in solo is too intimidating, find a wing man or wing woman. Be buddies and make friends together!

Some conferences will have niche-specific tables at lunch. For example, at the nonprofit and tech conference NTEN that I recently attended, I sat with other folks interested in social media and storytelling. I would never have met those people otherwise, and striking up a conversation was a lot easier since we all knew we had something in common.

9. Ask a question (but please please don’t ramble)

At the end of most sessions and keynotes, speakers leave a few minutes for a Q&A. This is a terrific time to stand up, get a lingering question asked and be more visible in a sea of people.

But please, please, please, do not turn your question into an opportunity to talk about yourself. Yes, you can introduce yourself—in one sentence. But know everyone else (including those of us with actual pressing questions) don’t really want to hear you talk about your super-specific problem for two minutes before you actually get to the point.

So write down your question before the mic is handed to you, say your piece, and leave the speaker time to actually answer.

10. Approach someone else who asked a question

When someone else asks a question, you might realize you have something in common, are struggling with a similar challenge or actually have a solution! So find that brave soul who stood up in front of everyone and introduce yourself.

11. Wear the badge

Sure, the conference lanyard may make you feel dorky. But this low-tech conference hack will let people know who you are, allow people who have forgotten your name a way to graciously talk to you, and signal to strangers outside the conference meeting hall that you’re in town for the same purpose. Wearing a conference badge helps you make authentic connections with strangers that you might not make otherwise.

12. Rely on volunteers

Got a question? The conference volunteers are literally there to help you. When I forgot my jacket in a session at TravelCon last year, a volunteer helped me track it down. (Thank you!!) So if you’re not sure where to go, where the nearest bathroom is located, or where to grab a coffee, volunteers will be able to direct you.

13. Visit booths during off-peak times

If you want to actually have a conversation with someone running a booth, lunchtime is not the time. When booths are busy, the reps won’t have the wherewithal to actually connect with you—and you won’t be able to get the undivided attention you want. So make sure to go to the booths that are most important to you during off-peak times.

14. Play to your strengths

Conferences can be nerve-wracking. I get it: Even the word “networking” makes me begin to sweat a little. That’s why I’ve learned to only put myself in situations where I feel at my best—so I can come off as my most confident self.

What does that look like in real life? It means I either skip or just briefly attend late-night, cocktail-based networking opportunities. I wake up very early and am emotionally empty by the time nighttime falls; what’s more, I have some hearing loss so can’t follow conversations in loud bars. So I might make a quick appearance, say hi and then head back to my hotel so I can rest up—and be at my best in situations where I feel ready to connect.

Similarly, don’t put yourself in places where you’re super-uncomfortable. As much as you might try to fake it til you make it, it’ll show.

15. Sign up for conference bonuses

At TravelCon, attendees can sign up for photo walks or quick writing classes. These limited seating sessions happen during the regular hours of the conference but give bloggers a chance for hands-on practice.

The best part about these sessions is attendees learn from the experts directly—in a smaller setting. For example, I took a photo walk session from Lebawit Lily Girma, a professional photographer and blogger.

So check out what bonus sessions, activities or hands-on workshops your conference offers. And sign up early—these limited spots fill up quickly. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to learn directly from your industry’s experts!

16. Talk to everyone

You might have a niche or a specific goal of going to a conference, but don’t be so single-minded that you are blind to other opportunities. Striking up a conversation with someone you wouldn’t ordinarily speak with could spark an idea or simply make them feel welcome.

And speaking of…

17. Find someone who looks nervous

You have your plate of food, your cocktail or just your conference notebook and pen. Where do you go?

Answer: Find someone who looks like she’s nervous, unsure of what to do or standing by herself. Make your way to her and focus on making her feel more at ease.

You’ll magically forget about your own jitters when you’re focusing on how someone else feels. And that shift in perspective makes you more empathetic and more open: in short, more ready for genuine connection.

What’s more, this move will help others feel more welcome. And honestly, the world—and especially conferences—could use a lot more kindness.

18. Remember names

Hopefully everyone’s wearing badges or name tags, but do your best to remember names anyway. I use a little trick of associating someone’s name with an image because I’m naturally a visual person. So for example, if someone’s name is Bob, I’ll imagine him in a fishing boat bobbing on a lake.

There are a million hacks to remember names out there. Try a bunch out and see which works for you, then use it!

19. Introduce people

When someone sits down next to you or gets in line behind you, do your best to introduce them to someone else (even if you just met the other person!). This is a great tactic to make the most of a conference for a few reasons:

• It gives you a chance to repeat people’s names and what they do or are interested in, cementing them in your memory
• It makes people feel seen and welcome
• You’ll generate a ton of goodwill, since most people hate the awkward reality that they don’t know anyone

20. Go on non-conference adventures

If you’re traveling out of town to a conference, you might as well see some of the city, right? So invite your new conference buddies out on an adventure.

That’s what I did last year at TravelCon 2018. I met Chris, blogger and founder of Explore Now or Never, and we discovered we both love street art. So during a break, instead of zoning out in the hotel or taking a power nap, we walked around Austin.

Chris and I explored parts of the city we wouldn’t have seen if we’d stuck just to conference-affiliated events. And we saw incredible street art!

What to do after a conference

21. Synthesize your notes

On your way home from the conference, your brain will be buzzing with all you learned. Don’t let this jazzed up energy fizzle before you’ve had a chance to process!

Instead, go over your notes and pull out the most valuable nuggets of wisdom. When I’m on the plane home from a conference, I’ll look over my notes and figure out the most valuable insight I took from each session I attended.

Then write up a summary of each point. You can share this with colleagues who weren’t able to attend the conference, tweet the best ones (remembering to tag the source of the wisdom of course) or write a blog post! (That’s what I did in my post on the most valuable lessons from TravelCon 2018.)

22. Follow up on anything you promised

Did you meet someone who asked for an introduction to someone you know? Did you promise to send a link to a blog post that’ll help a new acquaintance? Make sure to do it!

Most people don’t follow up after a conference, so you’ll definitely stand out by making good on your promises.

Level 10 tip: Before you even leave for the conference, block out time in your calendar for follow-up tasks. That way, you don’t get swamped by all the stuff you missed while you were away.

23. Reach out to people you met

Don’t have anything specific to follow up on? That’s ok—just reach out. Say hello. Ask what their favorite part of the conference was. Say it was nice to meet them. Literally anything!

Don’t let all your new connections fade away. Stay present and put in the work to actually cultivate relationships.

24. Thank the speakers, presenters and organizers

Speakers spent a lot of time and energy in crafting a presentation and getting up to share it with the conference. Sadly, many of them never hear much feedback.

So reach out on email or social media and thank them for their efforts. Point to something you learned or one thing their talk made you reconsider.

25. Figure out a way to collaborate

It’s one of my goals at TravelCon 2019 to leave with several collaboration blog posts organized. With so many like-minded folks in the same room, let your brain go wild with the possibilities!

Could you team up to solve a problem? Could you promote someone’s launch? Might you create something new together?

Use the momentum of a conference to collaborate, and make sure to follow up after everyone goes home. What are the next steps to make that magic happen?

Make the most of a conference—no matter what

Now that you’ve read this post, you know how to attend a conference if you’re an introvert, if you’re nervous, if you’re a newbie and if you attend alone. You know what to do before the conference begins, how to maximize your time at a conference during the event, and how to follow up after a conference.

I shared strategies to make genuine relationships at a conference so you’re doing less networking and more connecting. And you learned tips to keep your forward momentum going once you get home.

I most hope you gained the confidence to rock your next conference because, truthfully, just about everyone else is feeling the same awkward, uncertain nerves you are! We’re all in this together, and the more authentically we show up, the better everyone is.

What did I miss? Please share your own tips on how to make the most of a conference below in the comments!

Finally, if you liked this post, you definitely do not want to miss my list of 12 must-bring things to bring to a conference!