Now that the Connect Conference in Milwaukee is over, here are the next steps you should take?
1. Follow Up with Contacts
Send Thank You Emails: Within a few days, send personalized thank you emails to the people you met, including potential clients, partners, and any other key contacts. Mention specific points from your conversation to show that you were paying attention and are genuinely interested in future collaboration.
Connect on LinkedIn: If you haven’t already, connect with new contacts on LinkedIn. Personalize your connection requests with a message referencing your meeting at the conference.
2. Review and Organize Notes
Consolidate Information: Review the notes you took during the conference, including details from meetings, sessions, and networking events. Organize this information by priority and relevance to your goals.
Action Plan: Create a list of actionable items based on your notes, such as follow-up calls, sending proposals, or researching specific topics discussed.
3. Organize and Record Your Receipts/Invoices
Expense Tracking: Gather all receipts and invoices related to your trip, including travel, accommodations, meals, and any conference-related expenses. Use an expense tracking tool or app to log these items for easy reference.
Reimbursements and Deductions: If applicable, submit expense reports for reimbursement or keep records for tax deductions. Ensure all documents are well-organized and filed properly.
4. Evaluate and Reflect
Assess Your Objectives: Reflect on the goals you set before the conference and evaluate whether they were met. What worked well, and what could be improved for future events?
Feedback Loop: If applicable, share your feedback with the conference organizers, particularly if there were sessions or aspects of the event that stood out positively or could be enhanced.
5. Leverage Content
Share Insights: Consider writing a blog post, LinkedIn article, or creating a video recap of your experience at the conference. Share insights, key takeaways, and any trends you noticed.
Social Media Engagement: Continue to engage on social media by sharing photos, highlights, or quotes from the conference. Tag the people and companies you interacted with to keep the conversation going.
6. Nurture Relationships
Set Up Meetings: Schedule follow-up meetings or calls with the most promising contacts to discuss potential partnerships, collaborations, or projects.
Stay Connected: Maintain regular contact with new connections through emails, social media, or occasional phone calls. Building long-term relationships is key to maximizing the value of the conference.
By following these steps, you'll be able to effectively capitalize on the opportunities presented by the Connect Conference, maintain strong relationships with new contacts, and keep your finances organized.