- We all have work to catch up on post-conference, so check your emails and voicemails, but make sure you have a plan to digest what you learned in the near future.
- If you had a great time, send a note to the conference organizers to let them know.
- Leave comments on articles covering the sessions you attended if you have ideas to contribute to the conversation.
Inman Connect is a wrap. Notes have been taken, new connections have been made, and you’re excited to implement everything that resonated with you during these past few days.
Then, you walk into your office only to find the stack of work you left behind. Plus, a few additional stacks that somehow piled up during your absence.
It’s easy and all too common to get back into the daily grind and then save the need to organize, share and apply those gems of information for another time. Whatever you do, please don’t allow them to gather dust. You’ll be doing yourself and others who couldn’t attend a total disservice.
It’s OK to take a few steps back to digest the information, and return those emails and voicemails you neglected during the conference. But do yourself a huge favor and share your experience and those extraordinary nuggets of information by having a post-conference plan. Here are a few ways to construct such a plan:
1. Strike while it’s fresh in your mind
Follow up with those you’ve connected with who you feel will bring you added value to your business. Reach out to speakers and those who started following you through the appropriate social channels. Write them a personalized note with a specific detail from your conversation. If you totally bonded with them, pick up the telephone, and tell them personally.
2. Create the nugget list
Refer to the conference schedule, and write down the one or two takeaways from that session. Then transfer that list into an action plan. Take those nuggets, and make them part of your daily routine. Share them at your next office meeting or have a brownbag round table lunch.
3. Review blogs
I like to review blogs from the conference and add comments to as many as possible — but only if I have something specific to add to the conversation. This might also help remind those people with whom you connected to stay in touch.
4. Send a note
Send a note, email, tweet or whatever to the conference organizer to offer your praise or provide constructive feedback on improvements.
I make this a priority, as they can never get enough praise for the amount of work that goes into organizing these events. Regardless of how many of these they’ve done over the years, it’s not an easy task.
5. Don’t forget the details
If you’re lucky enough, file your expense report, and be sure to thank whoever sent you to Connect.
Most of all, share your newfound knowledge with your team members or officemates who weren’t able to attend. Everyone wins by sharing key learning points.
You’ve been gone for almost a week, so also take a few minutes to reconnect with your family.
There are many ways to extend and optimize the value of an industry conference. Try one or two of these tips and share how it worked for you. Your suggestions are also welcome in the comments section below.
Steve Weiss is the owner-broker of Coast & County Brokers in San Luis Obispo, California. He’s been active in the real estate industry since 1986.
