SoccerandSales

Account Executive

First Conference Advice?

Savages,

As someone who entered the workforce in early 2021, I have been remote my entire career. After some sweet talking (and strong FY 23 performance), my VP gave me the go-ahead to attend my first conference this week. Any advice for how to approach a conference for someone that has never done in-person sales before? If it helps, I am currently in healthcare tech.

🏫 Conferences

17 comments

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Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

As others have said, get in touch with the people you'd like to meet and set up time to connect at the booth. If you have bigger targets coming, or accounts you're already working, maybe set up some breakfast/lunch/coffee meetings and spend some time with them.

If you're working the booth, capture as much contact info as you can - and make sure your notes accompany those contacts. After 2-3 days, I swear it's a blur, and you'll most likely not remember exactly which ones were hot and to be connected with immediately, or why you thought that, without notes.

Have a good time! Comfortable shoes - essential!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Man oh man I wish someone had tole me that in my early 20s 🥳

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

About the shoes? Seriously makes a huge difference. The nice thing is, there are so many more available now that it's easier to find some that are fashionable + comfortable!

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

Account Executive

All I’ve heard is the importance of comfortable shoes, seems like everyone had the same bad experience at some point

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Here is a post with some really good advice!

https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/conference-advice

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

That's the one I was thinking of. It's a good one!

Maximas

Tycoon

Senior Sales Executive

That's a good one also from @punishedlad
https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/conference-protocol

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

Exhibiting I assume?

Create a list of your top 10, 20, hell 50 people you know that will be in attendance (try to snag a list if possible) that you WANT to meet.

Organization is key. Ensure you have a way to document conversations in as much detail as possible for appropriate follow-up.

If exhibiting, certainly try to provide something that will draw them in (alcohol, fancy item raffles, video games, etc etc etc. Get creative)

Be extremely curious with every conversation. Open ended and let them talk. Show interest.

Meet other people too that do stuff outside of what you do. Why? So you can be a resource and connect. This goes a lonnnnnng way.

Good luck!

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Get a list of pre- registered attendees. ID potential prospects. Reach out via email or LI. Try to schedule times to meet with them at the booth.

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

HIMSS?

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

Account Executive

AAOE but I know we are sending people there as well

SADNES5

Politicker

down voters are marketing spies

Lunch lines. Grab a small plate. Get talking with people in line. Sit with people you don't know (or targeted earlier)
If it's not going anywhere - go "get another helping" and sit somewhere else. Use the new line time to network again.

MunicipalMailer

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

So, I have been attending 4 conferences a year for the last 4 years and I can say for sure, that the most meaningful and memorable conversations I have had and connections I have made, were outside of the vendor booth stuff. Whether that be at the golf outing, at the bar, hospitality suite or at a lunch networking event.

Don't be afraid to get involved, attending as many functions as you can, and mingle!

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

Do you have any clients attending? Try to set up meeting ahead of time with them?

Are you manning a booth? Have marketing generating some buzz that your company is attending. Make sure you have some KT hung to capture some foot traffic as well as marketing assistance to help push people to your booth.

Have fun!

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Know who you want to meet with, have an agenda and take advantage of being in person with people who are buyers

RelationshipMaker

Opinionated

Head of Sales

If it's an over-nighter, keep your alcohol intake minimal. So many rookies flame-out when it comes to happy hour.

Good luck with the conference, it's a vote of faith from your VP. Well done.

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

Account Executive

Saw so many people have issues with the alcohol last weekend lol, always great advice

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SoccerandSales

First Conference Advice?

17 comments

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