Time spent at a conference is a big commitment. Not only is there the cost of attending the event (flights, hotel, tickets, etc.) but also the time away from your work which is losing your company money. To make sure you come away from the event having made the most out of your valuable time and expenses, here are a few tips on how to prepare and what to expect when you arrive at your Phuket conference venue.

Check the agenda

Make sure that you know what each speaker is going to be talking about, which companies will have booths, what the breakout sessions will cover and basically every detail of every second of the event. This way, you can make a comprehensive plan of where you want to be at what time to learn as much much as possible that’s relevant to your work.

Learn the layout

Try to get hold of a map of the Phuket conference venue you’re going to so that you know the fastest routes to the places you want to be. Conferences have a habit of becoming very confusing and labyrinthine, so it’s worth taking the time in advance to learn the layout so that you’re not wasting time at the event.

Bring enough business cards

In fact, bring an excess. The key to industry conferences is networking and the connections you make during your time there could be important future clients or colleagues. If you make a connection and the have no means of getting in touch with you afterwards because you weren’t able to give them a business card means a lot of wasted time and effort, not to mention a missed opportunity.

Bring a phone charger

Your phone running out of batteries in the middle of the conference would be a disaster. If you run out of business cards, exchanging LinkedIn connections might be the only option. Additionally, if the Phuket conference venue has embraced modern trends, having no phone battery could mean the amount you can participate in events will be reduced to zero. Invest in a power bank. A good one.

Follow up

Meeting someone at a conference is only the tip of the iceberg. If you don’t send them an email or phone call once you’re back in the office then collecting their card is just cluttering up your desk with more waste cardboard. If you felt that they were worth committing time to at the time, commit a bit more afterwards and follow up on the lead.