The Playbook Strategy: Building Your Pre-Conference Digital Presence
Looking to win business at your next conference? Read on.
Ed note: This is the second installment in a series. Read the first installment here.
After laying the groundwork with strategic planning and understanding the importance of preparation, let’s pivot to amplifying your digital presence.
We’ll explore how to effectively use social media and other tools to set the stage for impactful face-to-face interactions.
Raising The Bar in Bar Prep
At my first conference, I was struck by the caliber of attendees, but thanks to my detailed research and preparation, I didn’t just admire from afar.
Instead, I engaged in meaningful conversations with several key figures, including a litigator whose work I had followed for years.
That interaction wouldn’t have been possible without my pre-conference homework.
Building Your Digital Presence: The Social Media Scrimmage
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Before the conference kick-off, take to the digital field to start warming up. Engage with the conference and its participants on social media platforms.
Follow the official hashtags, contribute to online discussions, and share posts related to the event.
This is like running drills before the game; you’re making your presence known, warming up to the key themes, and getting a feel for the other players.
Tweet about your attendance, share your insights on LinkedIn, or even post a countdown to the event on Instagram. Think of it as a virtual networking session, setting the stage for face-to-face interactions.
After you’ve laid the groundwork with your digital presence, take the next step by initiating direct pre-conference connections. This proactive approach can set you up for more meaningful interactions during the conference itself.
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Making Early Contact: Crafting Your Outreach
1) Initiate Contact for Pre-Conference Meetings: Extend invitations via email or LinkedIn to those you’re keen on meeting. Suggest a brief, informal chat — this can be a virtual coffee catch-up, a quick phone conversation, or, if feasible, a short face-to-face meeting before the conference.
2) Leverage Your Research: Use the insights you’ve gathered from your research to make your invitation personalized and relevant. Refer to specific aspects of their work or interests that you find engaging
3) Keep the Ball Rolling With Flexibility: Acknowledge the potential for busy schedules. Offer a few different time options for the chat, ensuring it’s convenient and stress-free for them.
4) Add a Humorous Reminder: In your message, you might also include a funny quip about your appearance or what you’ll be wearing at the conference, like “I’ll be the one not wearing the typical lawyerly pinstripe suit, so I should be easy to spot!” This keeps the tone light and engaging, making the interaction memorable.
Incorporating humor and a photo makes your outreach more personable and effective, creating a friendly and memorable prelude to your in-person meeting at the conference.
This approach not only breaks the ice but also fosters a more relaxed and genuine connection right from the start.
Key Actions for Digital Networking and Pre-Conference Connections:
✔️ Engage with conference-related content on social media.
✔️ Use hashtags and online discussions to build your presence.
✔️ Initiate contact for pre-conference meetings via email or LinkedIn.
✔️ Consider including a personal touch with humor in the outreach.
Having established a digital foothold and prepared the virtual ground for your conference success, it’s time to transition from the digital realm to the tangible world of in-person interactions.
In the next installment, we’ll dive into how to translate your online engagements into meaningful, real-world connections.
Sejal Patel is the Founder of Sage Ivy, a New York-based consultancy specializing in empowering attorneys with innovative practice development strategies. With over 20 years of experience, Sejal applies her expertise in assisting clients to convert their relationships into revenue by applying individualized strategies to their networks and leveraging their unique styles authentically. Feel free to reach out at spatel@sageivyconsulting.com.
