{"id":206086,"date":"2022-07-25T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.draft2digital.com\/blog\/?p=206086"},"modified":"2026-03-26T09:00:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T14:00:37","slug":"10-tips-for-attending-an-indie-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.draft2digital.com\/blog\/10-tips-for-attending-an-indie-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Tips for Attending an Indie Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article on attending an Indie Conference was originally published in IBPA Independent Magazine, Nov. 2016<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

For most indie publishers, a great conference offers superb faculty, attracts attendees and industry professionals you want to network with, and travel and registration costs are reasonable. In this article, I\u2019ll address a few best practices to help you navigate conferences like a veteran.<\/p>\n

If You\u2019re an Attendee<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Whether you\u2019re an author or publisher, if you\u2019re going to a conference simply as an attendee\u2014meaning you\u2019re not a conference speaker or exhibitor\u2014here are six suggestions to ensure a successful experience:<\/p>\n

1. Download the conference schedule as soon as it\u2019s available and highlight the sessions you want to attend.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If there are multiple concurrent sessions, prioritize your first, second, and third choices. Don\u2019t try to figure it out the first morning of the conference; you\u2019ll waste time and may feel flustered. Come prepared and hit the ground running. If you must miss a session you don\u2019t want to miss, ask the conference organizers if the sessions will be recorded. Many larger conferences offer affordably priced audio (and sometimes video) recordings of the entire conference.<\/p>\n

2. Download the conference app.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Some larger conferences now offer conference apps you can download onto your smartphone. These apps usually offer summaries and speaker bios of the sessions you\u2019re considering, allow you to sync the sessions with your phone\u2019s calendar to create alerts, and allow you to map each session so you know where you need to go. Some apps even allow you to connect to social networks so you can let others know where you\u2019ll be or to share what you thought about the last workshop you attended.<\/p>\n

3. Walk the show venue before the conference starts.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Knowing where you need to go before the conference starts is a huge time saver. Imagine trying to figure out where you need to go in a sea of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of other attendees 10 minutes before a session starts. If you can\u2019t gain access to the venue ahead of time, check the conference website to see if they offer a map of the conference. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask for directions from the venue or conference staff if you need help.<\/p>\n

4. Take copious notes.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For multiday events, information overload happens. The act of writing or typing notes will help you recall important information you might otherwise forget. If you\u2019re attending a multiday event, you\u2019ll be thankful you jotted down some notes you can review at home. When you arrive at a workshop, collect any handouts that are being offered. If you find a session particularly valuable, ask the speaker if they would be willing to share their presentation notes or slide deck.<\/p>\n

5. Be an active participant.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get the Twitter handle for the conference you will attend and join the conversation. Ask questions during workshops. Stop by the exhibitor booths, if there are any, to learn about the exhibiting companies and what they offer. Attend the social events to meet other authors and industry people. You\u2019re there to absorb as much information as possible. You\u2019ll quickly see that successful authors and industry people with years of experience love to share their knowledge with those who are just starting.<\/p>\n

6. Bring business cards.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Even if you haven\u2019t published your first book, you should have something ready to hand out to people with whom you want to stay in touch. Your business card doesn\u2019t have to cost a lot of money, nor does it have to be extra fancy. In fact, a no-frills card is preferable. Choose a standard business card size (usually 3.5 x 2 inches), and stay away from extra large or extra small sizes in an attempt to be unique or artsy. Small cards get lost or buried and big cards get thrown away because they don\u2019t fit into standard-sized card slots. Avoid glossy finishes on your business cards. Sure, a glossy finish looks nice, but they\u2019re impractical if someone wants to write a note on your card.<\/p>\n

If You\u2019re an Exhibitor or Speaker<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re traveling to a conference as an exhibitor or speaker, then everything mentioned above becomes twice as important for you. Here are four additional tips:<\/p>\n

7. Promote your attendance on social media.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While it\u2019s exciting to believe eager conference attendees will flock to your exhibitor table or to your workshop or panel presentations, you\u2019ll most likely be competing against concurrent sessions for the attention of attendees. As soon as you confirm your conference participation, let your social media channels know that you, or your company, will be at the event. Post your session topic, a list of the other speakers if applicable, and the date and time of your session. Be sure to add a direct hyperlink to your session\u2019s page on the conference website and the conference\u2019s official hashtag. If you\u2019ll have an exhibitor table, let your followers know so they can find you outside of workshop sessions. Not only will conference attendees appreciate the heads up, conference organizers will be delighted that you\u2019re doing your part to promote the event, which could result in an invitation to participate the following year.<\/p>\n

8. Don\u2019t forget the people you meet.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As an active participant, you\u2019ll meet a lot of wonderful people, and you\u2019ll want to stay in contact with them. However, at the end of a successful conference, you may end up with dozens of cards and you may forget the significance of some of them. To alleviate my own forgetfulness, I write a note on the card as quickly as possible, sometimes in front of my new friend. It could be something as simple as \u201chandles biz dev\u201d or \u201ccontent acquisitions lead\u201d or \u201cneeds details about XYZ.\u201d<\/p>\n

9. Schedule important meetings before the conference starts.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For larger conferences, it\u2019s imperative to schedule meetings at least a week or two before the event. Schedules fill up quickly, so if you wait until the conference begins, it\u2019s probably too late. Large conferences usually post or will share the names of exhibiting companies and include contact information. If you have significant breaking news, ask the conference organizers if they can share a press list of attending media.<\/p>\n

10. If you\u2019re a speaker, you should know all the details of your workshop or panel as far in advance as possible.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For example, never assume a projector, screen, and all associated A\/V (audio\/visual) hookups will be there when you arrive, even if the conference organizers assure you everything will be ready. At some of the largest, most respected conferences at which I\u2019ve spoken, the A\/V equipment was delivered as promised but \u201cborrowed\u201d by another presenter in another room. My advice is to arrive early, find your room, and make certain it\u2019s ready. If the equipment you expect isn\u2019t there, and you can\u2019t reach the conference organizer, find one of the A\/V professionals. In fact, if I see an A\/V pro near my room, I\u2019ll ask if they\u2019ll be around to ensure everything works. On several occasions, I\u2019ve seen A\/V pros work miracles.<\/p>\n

What to do if conference attendance is not in the budget<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If conference attendance isn't in the cards for you this year, here are a few suggestions for obtaining valuable information for little or no cost:<\/p>\n