Want to make the most out of your conference attendance? Add our top picks for conference survival essentials to your packing list! We go WAY beyond the basics of business cards and comfortable shoes!
Top Picks for Conference Survival Essentials
iPod – Load up your iPod with your favorite podcasts, teleseminars and audio recordings and use your solo travel time to catch up on learning while waiting in those long airport lines.
Conference Hashtag – Okay – so you can’t actually ‘pack’ a hashtag, but it is handy to know it. Beforehand, tune in and use it to determine who you want to network with and during the conference, use it to communicate via social media with other participants and share relevant tidbits with your followers.
Refillable water bottle – Find a ‘purse-size’ stainless steel water bottle for toting around and tucking away while power networking during session breaks.
Power snacks – Somehow between the early start and the line-up at the lunch buffet, you neglected to eat! Sneak a few of your favorite toddler snacks for when mommy gets a little hungry. Fruit leather and trail mix are our portable favorites!
Flip Video Camera – Tuck your Flip video camera in your purse for impromptu interviews and video blog posts from the event. It’s a perfect way to recruit guest bloggers to contribute without extra effort on their part!
Stylish Scarf – Use it to add a splash of color to a plain Jane outfit for a style upgrade, or sling it around your shoulders when the air conditioning kicks into overdrive.
Business Card Scanner App – Maximize your networking efforts by scanning and following up immediately.
Mini stapler – Use it to attach business cards to detailed networking notes, bundle together conference handouts and sort your tax deductible receipts for travel expenses.
Sticky Notes – Between the speakers and talking to other attendees, often you will be brimming with ideas. Use sticky notes to structure the random ideas and create a idea map for immediate implementation.
Thank you cards – Take 15 minutes every evening to write a handful of personal thank you notes to the most interesting, influential or helpful people you met that day so they are ready to pop in the mail when you return to your office.
