Internet marketing, running an online business and software are three of my favorite things. Lucky for me, there is a conference devoted to them. It is the Software Industry Conference (also known as SIC, and formerly the Shareware Industry Conference). This year, it will be in Boston, Massachusetts on July 15-18. I’m working on my packing list, and thought of a few things…
When I attend this conference, I’m always surprised at the number of people who FORGET TO BRING BUSINESS CARDS. Hello? It’s a professional conference. You’re going to meet people. Probably do a little networking. They might want to remember you, or maybe you want them to remember you. Maybe they want to check out your website. Maybe they want to buy your product. Maybe they want to give you a free license to their product. Maybe they want to contact you later to set up some kind of affiliate marketing. Maybe they want to hire you for some contract work. Maybe they…
There are a zillion reasons why someone at a professional conference might want to contact you later. (Maybe you just want to exchange cell phone numbers to try and get together for dinner.) Whatever the reason, the easiest way to exchange information is to hand someone a business card. Yet so many people forget to bring business cards, or they have only a few in their wallet and run out on the first day. Argh!
So, when you are packing to go to a professional conference, especially one like SIC where people meet each other and exchange information, BRING BUSINESS CARDS. Lots. They don’t weigh hardly anything or take up much space, so toss a stack in an envelope or a baggie and bring them along. And don’t forget to replenish the bunch in your pocket or wallet each morning. (Hint: the around-the-neck nametag holders they hand out at SIC have a little pocket for business cards – very handy.)
If you haven’t printed those business cards yet, think about putting your cell phone number on them. That way, if someone there wants to get in touch with you while at the conference (like to finalize a 1000-copy sale – ok, I can dream), they have your number. Infinitely easier than fumbling for a pen and trying to remember your cell phone number in front of someone you might want to impress with your professionalism.
Other items to remember:
The charger for your cell phone. It’s no good handing out your cell phone number when the thing is dead.
The charger for your computer. I recently bought one of those wonderful little baby computers, perfect for checking email and using the internet while traveling, and this delightful device runs on the battery for about 8 hours – so I don’t carry the charger around. Yea, I’ll need to remember to toss that puppy in my suitcase. It would be cruel to have my beautiful new baby with me and not be able to use it! And bad, too… I need to check my email, since I’ll be gone a week. Remember the charger.
And if traveling to another continent – remember the electrical converter. Plugs may be different over here (or over there, as the case may be).
A light jacket or sweater. It may be the middle of summer, it may be boiling hot outside, but the conference rooms are always cold. Really cold. Wear shorts at your peril (unless you’re from Alaska or Iceland).
Cash. I seldom carry cash these days, since I use the debit card for everything. That can be a problem at a conference. The last time I went to SIC, I had no cash with me, but I figured I could hit an ATM somewhere there. Well, the ATM machine in the hotel was broken the entire time I was there, and the hotel was in the middle of nowhere, and I didn’t have a car, and the hotel desk couldn’t help me. Screwed. When a friend bought a round of drinks and I wanted to take care of the tip – I couldn’t. When a bunch of us went out for lunch and the restaurant wouldn’t write separate tickets, I couldn’t toss my cash on the pile and head out the door, I had to wait and wait for the slow cashier to do my portion on plastic, and then was late to the after-lunch conference session. Etc. I‘ve learned, now I make sure I have cash on me before I leave home.
If you bring your camera, don’t forget spare batteries. Yes, the hotel gift shop will have batteries, but with my luck, my batteries will go dead at an evening function when the hotel gift shop is closed, and I’ll miss a dozen or so wonderful photo ops.
A non-leaking pen or pencil for your pocket, and maybe some scratch paper to write on. To give someone your cell phone number if you forgot to put it on your business card. Or more likely, to get their name and email address because they forgot their business cards.
Depending on how you organize, a highlighter or a red pen might be helpful to mark the sessions you want to attend in the conference program.
If you are a tea drinker and prefer a certain brand, you might want to throw a few teabags in your suitcase. You never know what they’ll have there. Could be good, could be awful.
Speaking of beverages, a quick tip: the hospitality rooms provided by the bigger vendors (like TuCows and Digital River at SIC) tend to have a good selection of beverages and snacks, if you’re feeling peckish and don’t see something you want in the hallway.
Speaking of hospitality rooms, if there is something you’ve been wondering about or some issue you want to address with one of the vendors at the conference, take the opportunity to ask their representatives in their hospitality rooms, or at a reception, or after they give a presentation, or even in the hallway. That’s what they’re there for.
And last but not least, if you are going to a conference for the first time, be brave. You learn a lot in conversations with people, and probably enjoy the conference more when you have someone to talk with, but it’s tough when you don’t know anyone. Be brave, pick a group that looks interesting, and introduce yourself. If you’re not worked into the group in a few minutes, murmur “See you later” and try another group, or even an individual – maybe they don’t know anyone, either. Or, if you’re at SIC this year and especially shy, look for me. I like meeting new people, and am easy to spot in a crowd. Female, middle-aged (sigh) and over six feet (184 cm) tall. The name tag will say Sue (or Susan) Pichotta. Walk up and introduce yourself, and if you mention this blog, you’ll be an instant friend. See you there!
NEXT WEEK: I will have an article with my picks for which sessions to attend at SIC 2009. It will be published Tuesday morning, July 14.
Great tips, Sue! Thanks.
I loved this item. Thank you.