Attending Connect 2016? Here Are 5 Tips for Making the Most of Our Conference

If you’re in retail or ecommerce, your business’ most important asset is its customers. Taking care of them and understanding what makes them tick is fundamental to your success.

To help you sell more and serve better, we’re using Connect 2016 to show you how to harness the power of emerging technologies and tap into the mind of your customers.

So, if you’re attending this year’s event, here are five tips that will make sure you leave our exhibition with actionable insights that’ll guide you towards greater customer success.

1.    Careful planning leads to success

Thanks to the conference’s packed schedule, there’s unlikely to be much time for you to stop and think once you arrive at Connect 2016. As a result, you should take the time to review the agenda carefully before arriving, ensuring you don’t miss the speakers and talks that are most relevant to your business. Of course, you can also download our app to have this info at your fingertips! Just search NewVoiceMedia in the App Store.

If you’re using the conference to network, it’s a good idea to remember that you only get one chance to make a first impression. Before setting off, make sure you pack comfortable, professional attire and plenty of business cards. This way, any new connections you make are more likely to remember you once the conference is over.

2.    Effective note-taking requires groundwork

With 25 speakers crammed into one amazing day, there will be a lot to take in at Connect 2016. If you don’t take effective notes, you’ll be in danger of forgetting important and actionable takeaways before you even get home.

If you know your handwriting becomes illegible after hours of taking notes, you might be better served using a laptop or tablet. Conversely, if typing compromises your speed of thought, it’s probably a better idea to go ‘full analogue’ and opt for pen and paper!

Either way, it’s important that you don’t overburden yourself with information to look back over. So, as each talk comes to a close, make a record of the top three insights you want to follow up on. This way, when it comes to acting upon the insights you glean, you’ll be able to focus your post-conference research much more effectively.

We’ll also be providing the key takeaways after the event, so you don’t miss out.

3.    Get involved in the larger conversation

A conference is a great way to meet new people in your field. However, if you’re usually backwards about coming forwards, reaching out to people across social media before the event is a great way to break the ice. Get ahead of the game by using #NVMConnect now to engage with other attendees and guest speakers, and get involved in the larger conversation.

The closing party is a great opportunity to connect with people in a more relaxed setting. But, with the potential to network with lots of like-minded people, it’s a great idea to create and rehearse an ‘elevator pitch-style’ introduction to you and your business. Not only will this help you to communicate more strongly and confidently, but it will ensure that you keep the conversation focused and on-topic when you only have a few minutes to chat.

4.    Build connections with the guest speakers

The guest speakers at Connect 2016 are some of the biggest decision-makers and thought leaders in the sales and service industries. When it comes to providing wisdom that could help give your business an added edge, each and every one of them is a veritable fountain of useful information.

If you get the opportunity, don’t be afraid to say hello, ask questions and grab business cards. Some of our guest speakers will be staying around for the after-party, where you might even be able to ask your question face-to-face. If not, you can always follow up after the event by engaging with them via the appropriate social media channels or email.

5.    Share the knowledge

If you’ve followed the advice outlined in this post, you should come back armed with a lot of fresh information and exciting insights to put into practice. The best thing you can do after returning to the working environment is to share this knowledge with your employees, colleagues or bosses.

You could put together a short presentation covering the most interesting things you learned for the next company meeting; feedback the key insights you collected to your team; introduce your boss to the most interesting connections you made. In short, the further your new skills and knowledge spread, the better prepared your business will be for connecting with customers in more meaningful ways.

If you’re reading this and haven’t yet got a ticket for

Connect 2016, the good news is there are still some available. Simply visit the official website now, where you can register for tickets today

. To everyone else, we’re looking forward to seeing you there!