Is Service North 2021 your first online event? In this blog, we share our advice on how to get the best conference experience.
We do miss in-person conferences and the human aspect of them and connections made there, but the past year showed us that virtual conferences are as valuable as the traditional ones – and have some benefits that you might not have considered!
At Scopism, we have worked hard to create a conference experience for you that will deliver great results in a virtual format. Service North Conference is just one month away (28th and 29th April) – are you ready?
“First let me say that I miss business trips and the face-to-face networking that is happening on conference launch breaks. But other than that, I prefer virtual conferences. And I say this because I prefer to learn at my home, sitting on my couch with my notes in front in me. “ Ivana T, Marketing Executive, Scopism
Virtual events are here to stay – embrace them!
Whether Service North is your first virtual conference or you’ve been to dozens, it is important to show up with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. Treat the conference like in-person one, giving it your full attention.
Embrace it and get excited about online events. Online give you the ability to ask questions, interact more and then return to recording to catch up on anything you might have missed. Our event platform gives you the opportunity to meet and network with other delegates and sponsors. All of our talks are recorded and available online for 12 months after the event, so you can adjust your schedule around your time zone and other commitments.
Clear your schedule
Even though all of our sessions are recorded and available after the event, it’s good to clear your schedule during the conference days and plan your time.
“At the beginning of the pandemic I was not blocking off my calendar while I was attending virtual conferences. And I missed a lot! I came to understand that I need to respect the virtual experience just like an in- person one. When we were able to travel for conferences we booked those days and focused – treating virtual events differently is a mistake.” Claire A, Director, Scopism
It’s great to catch up on recorded sessions, but missing live chats and interaction can’t be replaced. Try to move all your meetings to another day and let others in your home know that you are “at an event”, so technically not at home!
Check the technology ahead of time
Being prepared can make your virtual experience much easier. Review the agenda and book the sessions you want to attend. You will want to be ready to head into the conference days when the time comes, so check login details, passwords etc. ahead of time. If you’re missing anything, contact us.
Make sure your technology is on point – you don’t want to miss a session due to technology issues.
Take notes!
“The first thing that I packed when I was traveling for conferences was a notebook and a pen. At my first virtual conference I thought that putting my notes in a word document would be a good idea – it was not. I was blocking my screen with the word document and missing the chats. After that conference I made sure that a notebook and a pen are always next to my computer one hour before the start time.” Ivana T, Marketing Executive, Scopism
You can always review your favourite sessions if you think you have missed a key point, but having good notes to review as well will really help you focus.
You can take notes on social media too! Get involved online with #servicenorth and feature on our tweet wall.
Network. Engage. Participate.
Meeting new people, whether in-person or online, can be exciting and a little intimidating. Although the methods may be a little different you can still reconnect, connect with new people, discuss and share your expertise during virtual conferences.
Coupling lower ticket prices with the ability to join from anywhere results in increased registration from all over the world! More attendees, and more diverse audiences, mean the standard of the networking experience is higher. Our event technology means you can talk to anyone and use our ‘tables’ to meet SIAM friends old and new.
Also, get involved during the sessions! A good question or comment can spark conversations with others that lead to future collaborations. Make sure you say hello to our sponsors as well – we’ve got SIAM experts from all fields waiting to talk to you about automation, tooling, and much more.
We encourage our Service North attendees to take advantage of the live chats, the exhibitor booths and use our hashtag #ServiceNorth to feature on our tweet wall.
Want to see more faces? We are bringing back the #servicenorthselfie. Take a selfie and share it on social media – we’d love to see you all!
Bring the team!
At a virtual event you can attend with colleagues – virtual conferences are cheaper than traditional one so you can bring the team. You can talk to each other, share ideas, and enjoy the sessions together. After the event, you can talk about how to make improvements in your own organization.
Have fun and wear pants!
Do not forget – conferences are fun! Make sure you get the best out of it by taking the rights steps to make the most of the experience. And while you are taking the steps – make sure you wear pants! 😊
Need more information about the benefits of attending a virtual conference?
Read our blog below:
About the author
Ivana is a passionate marketing professional with a flair for design and online/offline platforms.
As a marketing executive her role is to oversee many aspects of a campaign throughout the entire lifespan of a product, service or idea. Ivana is responsible for the marketing, organization and promotion of the Service North conference.
