Top Tips For Making The Most Of Video Conferences
By Grace Murphy
A video conference can play out very differently from one that you attend live, but it is still a fantastic opportunity for you to network and make some valuable connections. If you will be attending a video conference in the near future, you need to make sure that you go about it in just the right way. Here are some of the things that you need to do to make the most of your video conference.
Ensure That Your Info Is Up To Date
While you will be reaching out and contacting people of interest to you at this conference, don’t forget that there might be people who want to connect with you too! You need to make sure that your information is up to date and that you can present the best face of you and your wider business.
This can start with making sure that your business can be contacted easily. This means that you should look up how to set up VoIP or some other phone system. Open Phone's guide to setting up VoIP will help to detail how you can do so, and some of the features that might appeal to you here. On top of this, you should ensure that your LinkedIn and other social media platforms have the latest information. Push out a little post to let people know that you will be attending to start putting out some feelers too!
Take A Look At The Speakers List
The conference will usually release a list of speakers and the panels that they will be a part of in the run-up to the event. This can help you to decide which panels you will want to attend, as there might be someone in particular that you would like to listen to.
Don’t be afraid to send them a small message afterward to thank them for the discussion and to potentially open up a connection of your own. This could be all it takes for you to add a key contact to your network.
Your chosen event could even have a database of attendees that all can access before the event. Take a look through it and see if any names stand out to you. These lists are created to help make connections a little bit easier to manage and can be vital for good networking at virtual events. If you are going to be part of a discussion, find out who the other parties will be and send them a message. It can make for a great introduction before you have to come together at the event.
Do Your Research
Don’t turn up to an event without having done any research for it. Just because it is part of your industry does not mean that you are going to have a good understanding of what is going to go on at this conference. Ideally, you need to research the topics of the panels you wish to attend.
This means that you will be able to contribute in some way, either by asking questions or participating in open discussion. If you are supposed to be attending a panel as a speaker, the need for research becomes only more prevalent. You should be prepared with your own point of view and arguments, so you can be a valuable and knowledgeable participant in the discussion.
See If The Panels Will Be Uploaded
Some conferences record the panels and then upload them later – whether these are just circulated amongst delegates or uploaded to a public platform like YouTube. This can be massively beneficial to you, especially if there are two panels that you want to be at that are scheduled at the same time. You won’t have to pick between them, instead, you just have to choose which one you wish to attend live and which one you will catch up with later!
This also can be beneficial if you wish to review anything that has been said in the panel. Things can move very quickly, and you might want to stay present and engaged rather than attempt to take notes at the same time. With uploads to return to, you will be able to move through the panel at your own speed, taking notes as you go.
Attending a video conference can be very different from one that you might attend in-person, but that does not mean that it is not packed with opportunities for you to pick up on. You should be able to make connections and learn from this event just as easily as if you were choosing to attend one in person. Just make sure that you organize your activities so you can be in the right place at the right time, ready to participate and learn!
About The Author
Grace Murphy is an experienced reviewer and journalist dedicated to sharing updates from throughout the business market, as well as reviews on the products and services you want to hear about. Small businesses across the corporate market have relied on her insight and knowledge to drive them forward for years.