Join us for the latest edition of the iGoldrush Report as Morgan Linton gives you tips for getting the most out of domain conferences this year! In the next 7 minutes, you’ll learn the basics of networking at a conference, when and how to arrange meetings, how to plan and manage your conference schedule, and how to select which lectures and outside events to attend. After watching this video, you should have a better idea of what to expect and how to make the most of your conference attendance.
In this video, we give you 5 easy steps for making the most of the upcoming domain conferences this year, including Webfest [1], TRAFFIC [2], Domaining Spain [3], and ICANN [4]:
- Set a Goal – Before you actually attend a domain conference, have a concrete goal in mind. Don’t just say “I want to learn. I want to network. I want to meet people.” You’ll end up doing all of that regardless. Instead, set a measurable goal that you can work to achieve. Perhaps it’s to meet with a broker and get them to take on your names. Or it could be to find a development partner. Or perhaps you want to sell a particular name. Whatever your goal is, stay focused and make sure that your efforts throughout the conference are getting you closer to attaining this goal.
- Arrange Meetings – Take networking a step further and arrange meetings with people throughout the conference. You don’t need to set up meetings for every day of the conference and you don’t need to set up formal meetings with each person you’d like to have a conversation with, but if there are people that you think there are opportunities with and you need focused time with them, schedule a meeting. When attending a meeting, make sure that you have an agenda (an idea of what you want to discuss), so that you’re not wasting each others’ time. Remember that all of your meetings should be goal-oriented and put you closer to achieving the objectives that you set for the conference.
- Attend Events – Everyone says it because it’s true – it’s all about networking. At the end of the day, you want to put yourself in as many situations as possible to be able to talk and learn from other people. Once the conference is over for the day though, it’s not actually over. In fact, that’s when a lot of the really good stuff actually begins. There are always a number of events to attend as many companies host throughout the conference. Get out to as many of these events that you possibly can as these provide you with a great opportunity to meet with people that work with these companies or with people that you know of, but have not yet met. These events allow you to socialize and do business in a more relaxed setting.
- Attend Talks – You’ll no doubt want to attend the talks, but have a balance. Rather than attending every possible talk that you can, plan ahead of time. In fact, most conferences have their schedules online well before, which will help in this planning. Look for those talks that will help you achieve your goal or fit a particular interest that you have. For example, if you’re interested in domain sales, attend the domain sales talks and if you’re interested in development, attend the development talks. By planning ahead you’ll be able to select those talks that will help you get closer to achieving your goal, while still having time for meetings, networking, and other events. One talk that you should never miss is the keynote — event organizers work hard to set them up, make sure they have great speakers and that the talk is something that everyone can relate to.
- Don’t Over-Party – While attending the extra events during the conference is important and fun, do it responsibly. Go out, network, and have a good time with someone that you’ve wanted to meet. But, keep in mind that even though this is a more relaxed atmosphere, it’s still essentially business. As you’re drinking, partying, and having a good time, know your limits.
If you follow these tips, your next conference experience should be a successful one. Look out for Paul and Morgan… We’ll see you there!
See below for some upcoming conferences and events:
WebFest [5]
Santa Monica, CA
Feb 5 – Feb 7, 2013
Register Here [6]
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. [7]
Las Vegas, NV
May 29 – June 1, 2013
Register Here [8]
ICANN 46 [4]
Beijing, CN
Apr 7 – Apr 11, 2013
Domaining Spain [9]
Valencia, Spain
Apr 25 – Apr 27, 2013
Register Here [10]
If you’ve missed an episode of the iGoldrush Report, catch up here [11]!
About iGoldrush Report: Paul Goldstone [12] (iGoldrush CEO and entrepreneur) and Morgan Linton [13] (popular blogger, domain investor, developer, entrepreneur) bring their expertise to you in an exclusive monthly video series that focuses on all topics related to domain names.