Training Incentives For Employees

Conference fatigue is real! Attending conferences can be rewarding and energizing, but the packed schedules, travel, information overload, and constant networking can quickly lead to fatigue or even burnout. Here’s a few ways to stay refreshed, focused, and make the most of your conference experience: ➡️ PLAN AND PRIORITIZE YOUR SCHEDULE: -- Review the agenda in advance. Highlight the sessions, speakers, and events that align with your goals. Focus on quality over quantity and don’t feel pressured to attend everything. -- If you’re traveling across time zones, use jet lag apps like Timeshifter or StopJetLag to help your body adjust. These apps provide personalized plans to optimize sleep, light exposure, and meals, which can significantly reduce. -- Schedule intentional downtime. Block out periods for solo walks, quiet meals, or short breaks in your room to recharge. Over-scheduling is a major contributor to event fatigue. -- Build in transition time between sessions. Even five to ten minutes can help you reset and prepare for the next event. ➡️ PREPARE FOR NETWORKING AND MEETINGS: -- Carry old-school business cards and a pen. -- Have your LinkedIn QR code or a digital business card ready for quick sharing. Digital cards (using apps like HiHello, Inc. or Popl) are increasingly popular. -- Download the conference app if one is available. They often include networking features, schedules, and ways to connect with other attendees efficiently. ➡️ DURING THE CONFERENCE: -- Limit distractions and avoid multitasking during sessions, meetings, or conversations. -- Be intentional and selective with your #networking: Focus on meaningful connections rather than collecting as many business cards as possible. -- Take notes during or immediately after key conversations and sessions. This helps you remember details and makes follow-up easier. -- Listen actively and ask thoughtful questions-engaged participation is more valuable than passive attendance. -- Designate some “no-conference” time: Block out periods where you don’t attend any sessions or meetings to decompress. -- Skip non-essential social events (like early breakfasts or late-night mixers) if you need rest. Prioritize your well-being over FOMO. -- Pay attention to your body and mind. If you feel overwhelmed or exhausted, take a break, even a short one can help you reset. ➡️ SCHEDULE TIME FOR FOLLOW-UP: -- Review your notes and contacts as soon as possible after the event to combat the “forgetting curve”. -- Set calendar reminders to follow up with new connections-ideally within a month, and then periodically (such as quarterly) to maintain relationships. -- Send personalized LinkedIn connection requests to everyone you met, referencing your conversation to reinforce the connection. -- Use #technology to your advantage: AI-powered apps can help summarize sessions, organize notes, and remind you of action items. What’s your best tip to avoid conference fatigue❓

Most professionals attend conferences. Senior executives turn LinkedIn into THE conference. For senior partners, conferences aren’t just about who’s in the room. They’re about who’s watching from across the world. LinkedIn is your stage. And one week of visibility can fuel a year of referrals, alliances, and influence. Here’s the playbook 👇 ✅ BEFORE Prime the network 1️⃣ Announce with Purpose: Frame attendance around your expertise. 2️⃣ Seed Engagement: Tag organisers, speakers, and use the event hashtag. 3️⃣ Positioning Post: Share a trend you’ll explore, become a voice to follow. 4️⃣ AI Edge: Use ChatGPT / Jasper to draft & schedule posts. ✅ DURING Become the voice of the floor 1️⃣ Daily Insights: 1–2 client-focused takeaways from panels. 2️⃣ Tag + Elevate: Mention speakers & peers → amplify reach. 3️⃣ Visual Authority: Photos, clips, or a 60-sec reflection video. 4️⃣ Engage Live: Comment on delegates’ posts, few do. 5️⃣ AI Edge: Otter.ai → transcribe panels → instant LinkedIn posts. ✅ AFTER Compound the reach 1️⃣ Recap Post: “5 Trends Senior ... Can’t Ignore from [Conference].” 2️⃣ Carousel/Guide: Package insights into a visual PDF or post. 3️⃣ Tag + Thank: Publicly acknowledge allies & organisers. 4️⃣ Nurture: Send personalised DMs to warm contacts. 5️⃣ AI Edge: Notion AI/CRM → categorise contacts & draft follow-ups. 6️⃣ Pitch for Next Year: Use your content trail + visibility as leverage to secure a speaking slot or panel seat at the next conference. ✅ RESULT Instead of a tote bag + business cards, you gain: 1️⃣ Global visibility 2️⃣ New alliances & referrals 3️⃣ Client-facing authority content 4️⃣ A pipeline that lives beyond the event 5️⃣ Conferences end. LinkedIn makes the influence last. 🔖 Save this if you’ve got a conference ahead. ♻️ Share with colleagues who still treat LinkedIn as an optional extra 🤝 Follow Fin Wycherley💡 for strategies that turn visibility into influence + revenue. 👀 Check out Part 1 of 'Growing Influence Around a Conference' a few posts back

"Hi Liz, Last year, my conference survey results overwhelmingly showed that attendees wanted more time to network. So this year, we expanded the coffee breaks to 30 minutes, swapped out the open night for a dine-around with signup sheets, and made sure the app allowed for connections. But we STILL got feedback that they wanted more, and almost no one used the app. What are we doing wrong?" I LOVE that you are listening to attendee feedback and trying to adjust! It sounds like your attendees are looking for more *help* meeting people, rather than just more time. Here are a few ideas that might fit: 💡 Host a dedicated "Ask and Offer" time or message board where attendees can share challenges they're trying to solve and people they want to meet. 💡 Do some pre-event matchmaking by asking these questions in advance and helping attendees find the people they need to meet - like giving them a list of 10 people they should find while at the conference. 💡 Rather than just putting a member directory in the app, look into Braindate by e180 or other tools that let people connect on topics of interest, rather than job title. 💡 Turn some sessions into Think Tanks or Roundtable Discussions, either expert-led or peer-led. 💡 Run a crowdsourced Spontaneous Think Tank for true peer-to-peer conversations (we can teach you or you can bring us in for it!). 💡 Do more activities like excursions, field trips, learning tours, or even activity-based evening events like Top Golf for more interaction than just dinners. Hope that helps! ❤️ Got more ideas to share? Drop them in the comments! -------------------- Hi, I'm Liz. I help marketers connect. 🔔 To follow my content 💻 thecommunityfactory.com ✉ liz@thecommunityfactory.com 📆 Book a meeting https://lnkd.in/gjbiTs4M Communities I run: 🏯 www.weareichi.com 📣 www.teamcmo.com Nicole Osibodu, XOXO Kamryn Bryce #community #engagement #events #association #strategy 

It’s September, and conference season is upon us! As the founder and president of a professional services company, I’m gearing up for several events with a clear business development plan to maximize these opportunities. Sales wasn’t always part of my career plan, but as an engineer at heart, I’ve learned that having a process for everything—even sales—is essential. Attending these events comes at a significant cost, both financially and personally, so making the most of them is crucial. Here’s a glimpse into my process: 1. Target Identification: I start by reviewing the list of presenting companies and attendees on the conference app. This isn’t just a quick glance - I carefully downselect those companies where I believe we can add value. 2. Deep Research: I then dive into deep research using LinkedIn, company websites, and other specialized research tools like Zapyrus. I look for key indicators that reveal who these companies are, where they’re headed, and where they might need support. This allows me to understand their challenges and goals, ensuring I’m prepared to offer meaningful solutions. 3. Grading Prospects: With research in hand, I grade each prospect based on our ability to help or add value. This grading is a structured evaluation, considering factors like company stage, technology focus, team composition, geographic location, etc.. Focusing on prospects that align with our expertise increases the likelihood of long-term partnerships. All research is captured for quick reference during the conference on, yes, you guessed it, a spreadsheet. 4. Customized Outreach: I craft personalized outreach emails 3-4 weeks before the event. These aren’t generic messages—they’re tailored to address the specific needs and opportunities I’ve identified during my research. The goal is to add value from the first touchpoint, setting the tone for a meaningful conversation at the event. This process isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about building a foundation of trust and understanding with potential clients and partners. In my experience, success in sales is often more about how you show up than what you’re actually selling. And of course, follow-up is key! After the event, I continue the conversation on LinkedIn, reinforcing connections and exploring further collaboration opportunities. Sometimes, I even facilitate connections elsewhere based on our discussions. Whether you're looking to connect with startups or investors, a structured approach can turn your efforts into tangible results. The key to success lies in preparation—knowing your audience, understanding their needs, and reaching out in a way that resonates. Looking forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming events! Let’s make the most of these opportunities and turn ideas into impactful collaborations. #LSIEurope #RESIBoston #MEDeviceBoston #Medtechcon #BusinessDevelopment #SalesStrategy #StartupSuccess #InvestorRelations

Medical Sales Reps: Got a local trade show/conference coming up? Don't just sit at your table and "scroll" while the attendees are in the sessions and earning those CEU's. Do this instead: - A week before the event ask for a list of all the attendees. Search to see who you should connect with - Send an email asking if they have a few minutes to connect at the conference - See who is presenting and if they are an important connection, plan to attend their session - Try to get the best table location among all the vendors. (Get there early) - During the event, network with the other reps that aren't your competition. You can share valuable information about accounts and physicians - Sit in the back and listen to the sessions, you might learn something and can be a conversation starter - Listen to how your competition positions its products - Don't focus on "selling", focus on making a "connection" with the attendees - If you make a connection, ask to swing by the office or the hospital next week - Make some notes in your CRM to make follow-up easier - Go back on day 2, even if it's the weekend. You might be one of the only vendors there - Thank the event coordinator and help with any light cleanup, there is a good chance they are running the event next year and can help you secure the best spot next year - Send off emails on Monday following the event with any connections or customers you met with at the event - Embrace Technology - Document everything in your CRM - Use Leads from the event to remind you to follow up - Make it worth your time - Don't just sit there and scroll. Be different You got this! What other tips or tricks have you used at local trade shows or conferences?

Supporting trade shows or conferences as a product marketer can be daunting and overwhelming - where do you even start? I remember my first two conferences in previous roles. I felt lost and had no idea what to do or how to help with planning or my sales team. These past two weeks I've been on the road with our Rocket Pro TPO team. We've just wrapped up two big trade shows, Originator Connect Network and NAMMBA, and it finally feels like I've figured 80% of things out. It was a lot of hard work from the team, but we also had a lot of fun along the way 🔥💪 In the next two weeks, I'll be publishing templates and playbooks to help other product marketers understand how to support trade shows, events, or conferences better. Here are some highlights of things that worked and others where we iterated on the go: 📲 Create a Slack channel dedicated to supporting your team. Use it as your go-to spot for all things related to the event where people can ask questions, share insights, stay organized, and keep everyone updated. 🎨 Build a Slack canvas with key info/details. Add event goals, key talking points for your sales team, any decks, demo links, and battle cards. Also include a list of key people or accounts attending to keep everyone in the loop. 📅 Book a meeting 5-days before the event. Go over the agenda, keynotes, logistics, key talking points, and make sure everyone's in the Slack channel. This is a great way to get your team up to speed with the conference. 📅 Book a meeting 30-min before the booth opens with your team. Go over how to handle incoming leads, collect/document contact info, funnel questions, intros (if needed), and resources at booth. This will get everyone more confident and ready to go. 🛠️ Have Salesforce campaigns (parent and child) ready beforehand. This will allow you to keep track of people that attended the conference vs people that actually visited the booth. If you're a product marketer trying to figure these things out, know that you're not alone. It takes a couple of rounds to 'sorta' figure it out and get a hang of it. I'm still learning a ton and got a long way to go. I hope these tips help! More to come soon... make sure to follow me at Diego Rios ✌️ #productmarketing #pmm #marketing #events #tradeshows #themustach3

If you know me, you know that I’m not exactly the biggest fan of events and conferences. 😅 It’s awkward, I’m not great at small talk, and the social anxiety. “Woosah” But here’s the thing: events and conferences are 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 to meet funders in person—especially for nonprofits based in the Global South. And avoiding them? Not an option. This month, in my "𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳" series, I’m sharing tips that have made my work easier and more efficient. 💡 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗽? 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀. Conferences are a regular part of the job, so having a go-to system means you can focus on what matters: making meaningful connections. Here’s what’s worked for me: ⏰ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆: Three months before the conference: • Reach out to current funders first, set meetings with them, and (based on your relationship) ask if they can introduce you to potential funders attending. • Re-engage potential funders with an update (e.g., new findings, a study, or a program milestone) and request a meeting. • Reach out to peers and other organizations as well - these relationships are just as valuable. 🎯 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: For example, "secure 10 one-on-one meetings with potential partners, aiming for a pipeline of $1 million in funding opportunities within the next 6 months." Having a target keeps you focused and makes it easier to measure success. 🔍 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Make a list of your top 10 funders to connect with. Use the conference attendee search tool to see if they’ve attended before. Share this list with your senior leadership, board members, and donor networks—they can help with intros! 📊 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵: Create a simple system to track responses and schedule meetings as soon as you’ve sent emails. A spreadsheet or CRM tool works great for this. 📧 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: Prepare email templates for current and potential funders. Include placeholders to personalize based on their interests or connections. 📅 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆: Persistence is key! 🗣️ 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀: Know your key messages and tailor them for different audiences. 🕵🏽♀️ 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 “𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲”: Develop a 'Profile Guide' for potential partners you couldn’t secure a meeting with. Research their recent projects, priorities, and areas of interest, and keep this guide easily accessible for impromptu discussions or future outreach. 🔄 𝗥𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁: After the conference, refine your system, note what worked, and reuse it for future events. What are your tips for preparing for conferences? I’d love to hear what works for you. Follow @imanlipumba for more smart fundraising tips. #FundingAfrica #Fundraising #InternationalDevelopment #Nonprofit

I’ve attended >100 conferences in my life, sold MILLIONS of dollars of product at them, and spent almost nothing to get those sales. The truth is that 99% of people don’t know what they’re doing at conferences. They pay $500 for a ticket, or $50,000 for a booth, show up, and wake up 2 days later with a headache, sore voice, and pockets full of crumpled business cards, and fly home. I spend almost no money, do relatively little work, and outperform everyone spending tens of thousands to sponsor a 3 day event. If you want some guaranteed guerilla tactics that work better than any sponsorship package, keep reading… 1. Do not buy sponsorship packages (especially trade show booths) Booths cost tens of thousands of dollars, they suck to run, ROI negative, and they’re ineffective selling environments. Instead, do this: 2. Message people before the event Buying a ticket should give you access to a list of some kind. It’s usually an app with every attendee and sponsor on it. Research the people you want to meet up with before the event (the chaos) starts and reach out to them Also, 3. Ask them to hangout Instead of spending all day at a busy/noisy event, meetup somewhere else. Find a separate location within walking distance of the event venue and ask your people to meet you there. Coffee shops are really good because they’re casual environments, with less distractions, and easy to find. Set up these meetups before the event begins. 4. Personally Sponsor a Happy Hour Inviting 50-100 attendees to a nearby bar saying “drinks on me” It’s a great way to bring a crowd of people in front of you, and it costs ~$500. If happy hours aren’t your thing, maybe do an exclusive private dinner… get creative 5. Use the Conference as a Reason to Reach Out There’s a dozen ways you can use the hype of this conference to your advantage: - email industry folks nationwide and ask them if they will be attending - email local prospects near the city where the event is, ask them if they’re going - send a message to as many attendees as possible, it will be impossible to meet with all of them, but you can later follow up with a “sorry I missed you” message and get on a call later. There are TONS of excuses to reach out to people when an event comes around. 6. Follow up Don’t just show up to a conference once and lose every connection once it’s over. Reach out to everyone relevant to your business. You can book your calendar with sales calls for weeks after an event if you really wanted to. 7. Match with everyone on linkedin If you’re like me and regularly post content, match with everyone on linkedin and grow your social following 8. Have a VA gather everyone’s info Give the attendee list to a VA, have them document everything and make it easy for you to match with everyone on linkedin and at a glance see who they are, the company they’re with, and any other info you want. If you enjoyed these tips, follow me ---> Vinay Patankar