Fill Your Conference Dance Card

With so many conferences and events competing for your attention, choosing which ones to attend can be a challenge. And once you've made the decision, how do you get the best value for your time and investment? Valeria Maltoni, who has plenty of experience as an attendee, and has organized over 100 conferences, offers this advice:

Ask why. "It is a good idea to vet the program against one's concentration of interests, professional focus, and group affinity," says Maltoni. Determine what you want to get out of the event, and if it's likely to deliver on your desires.

Do your homework. Choose the sessions you want to attend ahead of time, and obtain a list of attendees if possible. "It will be easier to find them at the event if you know who you are looking for," she says. "Even better, contact them before the conference with an invitation to connect there."

Be specific. You're more likely to realize your goals if you communicate to others why you're there, and what you want to achieve.

Follow through. "The point is to launch permission-based activities that will allow you to stay in touch with the professionals you met in the following weeks and over time," says Maltoni. "Your network can be your currency—who you know and knows you matters."

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