Some years I have partied the night away and a couple I have been sipping just pure sparkling water.
As I start my preparations, I thought I would share some of my tips for making the most of the biggest Inbound Marketing event of the year.
This year there are 242 sessions/keynotes to choose from . . . I mean where does one start????
Da, Dah . . . . .
Talks and Breakout Sessions
1. Decide which topics that are best to focus on as an agency. For example:-
As the owner of the agency, you might wish to focus on people management and leadership skills?
2. Once you have downloaded the session spreadsheet you can upload it into google docs and if you are going as a team, share with them too.
3. Scroll through the list and highlight the sessions that are of interest, if you can't decide on the topics you would like to focus on, here is my qualification process:-
Book the sessions here Inbound Session Reservation
4. In addition to the sessions you should set some goals regarding people you would like to meet, either informally at the evening events or book time with them to have a coffee. If you wish to meet other agency owners, please connect with them asap and not the day before it starts. What would you like to ask them? How can you help them? Set some goals for yourself to make 10+ new connections and ask them a question about a challenge in your agency that is keeping you awake at night. For example do they have tips for hiring content strategists they would share with you. It is a good start to the conversation.
5. Create marketing content to attract leads for your own agency. Set a theme of what you are going to write about and think like reporter. Most sessions you are not allowed to record in the event so take good notes and create videos later.
6. Are any of your clients and or prospects going to Inbound 2018? This is a great opportunity to spend time with them and get to know them better. Please feel free to create your own version of the sessions spreadsheet with your agency brand and any of the tips you think would help them from this blog and share with your prospects and clients. They can know that you are there to help them set their own goals for the experience.
7. A tip from another experienced Inbound attendee and colleague - Jeppe Nyrup "If you don’t feel you are getting value in the first 10 minutes - leave and spend your time on meeting new people instead."
Here are a list of the sessions that I am going to do my very best to be at . . .
The Neuroscience of Engagement - Carmen Simon
How to Get Started with Artificial Intelligence in Inbound Marketing - Paul Roetzer
Mo Gawdat Spotlight
Transforming your Workplace with Alexa for Business - Sam Eniojukan
Press The Damn Button! - Brian Fanzo
Brian Halligan & Dharmesh Shah Keynote
Shonda Rhimes Keynote
7 Video Tactics That Enable Sales To Win More Deals - George Thomas
How to get Media Famous (Without Even Trying) - Janet Murray
How to Build a Mega Personal Brand on LinkedIn on a Mini Budget - Michaela Alexis
Contagious Content: 7 Keys to Creating Content that Dramatically Moves the Sales and Marketing Needle - Marcus Sheridan
BRING YOUR HUMAN TO WORK: Smart Companies Honor Relationships - Erica Keswin
Why Facebook Messenger Is The Future of Customer Relationships - Dylan Sellberg
Is Mental Wellness in the Workplace Optional? Let’s Hope Not! - Isaiah Pickens
Troy Carter Spotlight
Now you have your game plan to thrive at Inbound 2018, let me share my 5+ years of attending Inbound survival tips . . .
1. For the international travellers, the jet lag can be a drag, try to get on the time zone as quickly as possible and have an early night the first night.
2. Bring a water bottle and drink lots and lots of water all day, every day. If you are planning on having a few drinks pack some pandol and dioralyte for the next day.
3. Wear your comfortable shoes, you will be doing lots and lots of walking.
4. Plan ahead for your evenings. If your accommodation is a short walking distance from the BCEC, you may have time between the last session you attend and the evening event you are planning to go to. If not bring a bag with a change of clothes that you can leave in the cloakroom during the day and you will be ready to refresh and head straight to party or dinner.
5. Pack a jumper. Yes September in Boston should be nice and warm, outside! However inside the venue the air-conditioning will be on and the temperature drops. If you are sitting for a long time in sessions, you might need to wrap up warm so be prepared.
6. Be present. If you are having an interesting conversation with an agency owner, client or prospect don't "rush off" to a session that you can potentially watch later online. Ask them if there is a session they are fixed on going to and go along with them or if they might choose one you were planning to go to and if not stay, connect and enjoy the conversation. Running around from session to session and being too busy to talk to people is a sure way to burnout and miss out on meaningful connections.
7. Pack snacks, the food trucks are amazing and there will be other food there but if you are keeping an eye on your sugar intake it might be wise to bring your own prepackaged food you like from home, like protein bars. Pick up a banana or apple on the way to the venue in the morning.
8. Have fun, lots of fun. It is by far the best event I have ever been to, look around and enjoy yourself.
Please write in the comments below if I have missed something important.
If you would like to meet up to talk about your agency please drop me a line clodagh@growitgroup.com
See you there,
Clodagh