A little over 7 years ago, I was able to transition from working a full time job and doing Real Estate on the Side to a Full Time entrepreneur. I have to be honest and tell you, it has not always been Champagne, Rib eyes and Lavish Beach trips. I’ve experienced awesome months and months that I wasn’t sure how I would pay my bills. Sometimes it was because I didn’t have enough business but quite a few times it was all me, Mindset, laziness, lack of confidence. Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely road. The one thing that has always made a difference in the success of my business is attending relevant Conferences. Attending conferences has always been the shot of energy, focus and even a good time that I need to get my business back on track.
This year, I have 2 conferences on my radar. One, I’ve attended all 4 years and would not miss it for the world. The other one is one that has been on my MUST ATTEND list for years. That is New Media Expo aka NMX. It takes place every year in Las Vegas and you would think since I am practically a Las Vegas native I would have attended. But yea, no.
NMX is a conference for all content creators: bloggers, podcasters, videographers and the people who work with them. Its goal is for attendees to learn new ways to grow and their business and online presence. This year NMX 15 is April 13-16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. I am all about having an opportunity to cultivate relationships with people who are important to my business.
The New Media Expo, Las Vegas, 2014. Photo by Trav Williams, Broken Banjo Photography; www.BrokenBanjo.net
I wanted to share with you a few tips for why I think Conferences are the X Factor in your business and how you can make them work for you.
- They give aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs a chance to exchange ideas, swap stories and also a way to gain some perspective when it comes to challenges or issues you have in your business.
- It is a great way to find support, partners but also customers. I’ve formed many of masterminds with people I met at a conference which gave me the support I needed to do things like host my first conferences.
- One of the first things that is important to know about these conferences is that you should be choosing the right events for you and what you wish to accomplish. For example: The people who attend NMX are reaching some the goals I have set for myself in areas like Income, Platform and Programs. I want to be in the room with those type of folks.
- This year NMX is co-located with the National Association of Broadcasters, which is huge, that conference has over 97,000 attendees. In this case and most cases it is important that you budget your time. You want to maximize every minute of your day (that includes time to rest) One thing that you can do is look over the conference agenda before the conference and then pick the sessions that are the most important. Also look at the attendee list and make dates for those that would be best to have a conversation with.
The New Media Expo, Las Vegas, 2014. Photo by Trav Williams, Broken Banjo Photography; www.BrokenBanjo.net
- The dreaded Elevator Pitch: While you do not want to sound like a robot spewing words to make the most of the conference you do want to go over your pitch and perfect it beforehand. It may need some adjustments so that it is clear about what you’re trying to get across to the others about your work and what it is you do. You will get asked in obscene amount of times.
- Be sure that you are also actively listening and contributing in sessions and conversations. Even think of a few questions for these sessions and meetings in the lobby. This will allow you to learn a lot of great tips and be able to network with others effectively.
These are a few of the things that in my experience I have found made a difference in my conference experience. Let’s be honest, conferences cost you money, time away from your business and your family. You want to make sure you see a return on your investment.
The New Media Expo, Las Vegas, 2014. Photo by Trav Williams, Broken Banjo Photography; www.BrokenBanjo.net
If you would like to join me this April at New Media Expo, I worked out a SMC approved discount. Use promo code “aamir20” It is definitely worth taking a look at and attending if you can. I am really looking forward to the chance to learn, share, and network with the NMX community of speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors. What are some of your favorite conference attending tips and will I see you at NMX?
Andrea is the Chief Chick of Smart Money Chicks. After filing BK twice (once because she panicked, second time because the pro messed the first time up), she realized that it all could have been avoided if she understood more about how her Finances worked and the options available. At that point, she wanted to help as many as she could never make the same mistakes again. Our Promise is that all the content you read on here is created or edited by Andrea
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I will be attending New Media Expo for the first time as well and you have offered some great suggestions.