Attending BNI Baltic Convention'24 or any other business conference can be a major turning point in your career or business, offering unique opportunities to network, be inspired, learn about industry trends and share your experiences. Whether you have been to many different conferences or this will be your first business conference, it is very important to prepare thoroughly. This will determine how much valuable experience you will gain and how this will then be reflected in your business. #BNI is the world's largest and most effective business networking organisation, and as we look ahead to BNI Baltic Convention'24, the largest BNI Baltics community event, we'd like to share some tips to help you feel confident at any event.
1. Understanding the benefits
If you are not yet sure about your reasons for going to the conference, take some time to reflect on your current professional journey and future aspirations.
Challenges: What challenges or opportunities do you face most often?
Help needed: Who could help you make the most of the opportunities available and meet the challenges?
Purpose: How could attending this conference help you achieve your long-term business or career goals?
2. Goal formulation
The goal of participating in the conference may be to expand your professional network, explore a business sector in more depth, get new ideas or find potential clients and business partners. Set your conference objective in relation to what is currently relevant to your business or career development and keep these principles in mind. An effective objective is:
Specific: A sufficiently concrete and specific goal will help you to plan your next steps effectively.
Measurable: Make sure that when you set a goal, you can measure it with concrete data - how many people you want to meet, how many potential business partners you want to reach, which speaker topics you want to hear, etc.
Achievable: The goal must be realistic enough to be achieved within the desired timeframe, in this case during the conference.
So you need to be specific and concrete. If the goal is to expand your network of contacts, be specific about what industry or profession you are looking for, how many contacts you want to get, what you plan to do with the contacts you get, how this will relate to your long-term business goals, when and how you will evaluate the results.
3. Establishing an action plan
Once you are clear about the purpose of your conference, it's time to translate it into real action. Make a plan of possible activities according to what will be available during the event.
BNI Baltic Convention'24, offers a wide-ranging and valuable programme for attendees, which includes activities such as an exhibition of different business representatives, networking sessions, keynote and other speakers, coffee breaks that can be used for informal networking experiences, etc. Study the event programme carefully to understand how to use it to your advantage:
Event agenda: Read the conference agenda and understand which activities are most relevant to your objective;
Conference speakers: If you want to be inspired or gain new knowledge, be sure to research the topics of the speakers and note which are the ones you should not miss and mark down questions you would like to ask. If opportunity presents itself.
Expo Hall: Whether your goal is to find new business partners, suppliers, or service providers, the exhibition hall is an essential stop. Participating in the exhibition hall yourself can also offer great exposure for your business, attracting potential partners directly to you.
Networking: If networking is your primary goal, take advantage of the participants list usualy available in the event’s app. Make a list of the people you definitely want to connect with. Also, familiarize yourself with the conference agenda, mark down both structured and informal networking. Don’t overlook the informal networking opportunities available during coffee breaks, lunches, and the Gala Dinner.
A concrete action plan that is in line with your long-term business goal will allow you to focus your resources and make appropriate decisions both before and during the event.
Detailed BNI Baltic Convention'24 program is here
Conclusions
To be fully prepared for a business conference, it will not be enough to just buy a ticket and pack a suitcase. It is very important to think about your reasons for attending, set specific goals, prepare an action plan and explore all the opportunities the conference has to offer. Careful preparation will ensure you have a valuable experience and great results that will have a positive impact on your career or business after the conference. Have a rewarding conference!
Comments