The Introverted Marketer's Guide to Attending a Conference
In this article, you'll learn...
- Four ways introverts can be active participants at conferences
- How introverted marketers can break through their challenges and make meaningful connections
Marketing budgets are tight in this economy, we all know that. The CEOs I work with at CEO Connection tell me their own budgets have been cut, which of course means that those cuts are trickling down to the marketing department.
And what that means for you as a marketer is that if you have the opportunity to attend a conference, you must approach it with a clear intent to get a return on the investment the company is making in you. But if you happen to be an introverted marketer, which likely means a conference is not the most comfortable of settings, you'll need a strategy for ensuring your company gets its money's worth—in a way that is comfortable for you and honors who you are.
Defining the Terms
Let's first look at the difference between introverts and extraverts, so that introverted marketers can better understand strategies that are more comfortable for them, and extraverted marketers can have a better appreciation of their introverted colleagues.
According to the Myers & Briggs Foundation, introversion and extraversion can be defined as follows:
Where do you put your attention and get your energy? Do you like to spend time in the outer world of people and things (Extraversion), or in your inner world of ideas and images (Introversion)?...Everyone spends some time extraverting and some time introverting. Don't confuse Introversion with shyness or reclusiveness. They are not related. [Emphasis mine.]
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Comments
I really identified with this post Lisa. Thanks for writing it! Now to the hard part...actually implementing your ideas!
So timely! Found out yesterday I'm attending a conference in a couple of weeks. Just downloaded your book. Thanks!
Rebecca, just take it one step at a time in a way that's most comfortable to you. All the best and thank you for the kind words!
Diana, honored to know it resonated so strongly - best of luck at the conference! I think you'll find it to be an exciting new experience if you go in with this new mindset. :) All the best!
Refreshing to hear that I'm not the only introvert that struggled with conference attendance! I recently attended my first marketing conference and even thought I produce professional development events for a living, it's an entirely different experience to be on the attendee-side of an event, especially since I didn't know anyone! I was also helped by my boss "encouraging" me to write about my experience...couldn't skip the events if I had to write about them! http://ultimateconferenceblog.mra-services.com/2011/11/14/part-2-lucky-7s-h... Thank you for this post, Lisa, and the encouragement. I look forward to checking out your book!
Thank you, Christine and how wonderful to know that your boss gave you the opportunity to write about your experience. I appreciate the support and hope that you'll go to your next conference feeling much more confident!
Wonderful article Lisa. I am always glad to know that I am not alone in finding conferences a bit daunting and that's even with many years of experience. I am sure there would be many others out there too who could use your words of wisdom and encouragement. Good luck with your book sales-you deserve it!
Thank you so much, Anne-Marie, I really appreciate that! And no, you're not alone! I actually have a section on that in the book. :)
Thanks for this, Lisa! I'll be sure to put these into practice at the next conference I go to.
You're welcome, Sook-Han. I'm so glad to know they resonated, best of luck at that conference!
What a clever idea for an article. Offers helpful information to share with colleagues, too.