Navigating the Dreamforce Playground

It can be difficult to find your way around the massive Dreamforce conference. But our friends at Bluewolf have made it easy. Check out their map of must see companies according to their specialty.

Day 1 – you’ll probably want to get your bearings. There is a lot of floor space and tons of activities throughout the day. Try not to get lost, and follow these three rules for a successful Dreamforce:

• Flag your top 10 must-see companies

You could probably see all the companies at Dreamforce … if you sprinted through the expo floor and only spent minutes at each booth. You’d probably get a bunch of swag bags and contest entries with that tactic (followed by copious amounts of follow-up emails), but you probably wouldn’t learn much about any one company. Your best bet, to really get the Dreamforce bang for your buck, is to mark your top 10 must-see companies. Schedule time throughout the week to learn about companies on the floor. Listen to their presentations, ask questions and note which products/partnerships might best support your business.

• Don’t try to do it all in the first day

You may feel overwhelmed on your first day in Dreamforce land. Expect lots of noise and expo floor turmoil as people scatter across the four corners of the conference. The excitement will be palpable, and you may feel the urge to rush around and see all of the different happenings. Instead, stick to a schedule. You can’t do it all the first day, and time is precious. If you block off periods for sessions, meetings and expo exploring each day, you’ll be able to do more with your time.

• Follow up with your favorites

Again, you won’t be able to do and see everything. Take in as much information as you can, but expect to expand your knowledge post-conference as well. Collect business cards from companies you want to follow-up with. Dog-ear technology and products to research. Keep your thirst for better business and schedule meetings after Dreamforce to stay engaged.