Make SHIFT Happen at Our Next Conference
Besides physically throwing your money away, the fastest way to lose hundreds of dollars is to attend a childcare business conference without any sort of game plan. In the early education industry, conference events are a necessary investment in your business and professional development, but it takes more than just attending one to get your money’s worth. And, at SHIFT, we are invested in your school’s financial prosperity.
Get the most out of our early education event by following these tried-and-true guidelines:
Preview the agenda.
Before SHIFT kicks off, make sure to set a goal for what you’d like to learn and achieve during the conference. Then, browse the schedule and figure out which sessions will move you toward reaching this goal. It’s important that you preview the session topics as well as the speakers presenting them. The connections you make the SHIFT conference can be just as valuable as the content you absorb.
Make connections early.
Whether through SHIFT’s Facebook event page or our event app, you are able to preview who’s attending before the conference even begins. Follow our page or hashtag (#makeSHIFThappen2020) to start making connections. With our conference hosting 300+ people every year, you can’t simply count on running into all of your prospects. Take advantage of these resources and make plans to connect ahead of the event. Because—as we all know—once the conference starts, it is nonstop!
Come prepared.
As event hosts, we’re big fans of lists. And the packing list is one of your most vital for the SHIFT conference event. It should include your laptop/tablet, chargers, pens, back-up pens, a notebook, white out, business cards—absolutely anything and everything you can possibly think of for an information-packed day of learning and networking.
It’s all in the timing.
Arrive to everything early. You want to minimize your time standing in line and maximize your time meeting new people and learning new things. Arriving early to sessions also gives you the benefit of picking a good seat. Tip: The closer you are to the front, the fewer distractions in front of you.
Get out of your comfort zone.
If you’re attending SHIFT with a co-worker, don’t be glued at the hip. Split up and attend different sessions and sit separately during main stage presentations. This will double the amount of information and contacts you bring back to your business. Also, try to attend sessions a bit outside of your comfort zone to stretch your brain a bit. That’s what professional development is all about, right? And, most importantly, always wear your name tag and introduce yourself to as many people as possible. You can never have too many connections!
(Don't) burn the candle at both ends.
Everyone loves a good cocktail networking event—and we throw some of the best!—but those wakeup calls come early. Make sure you get enough sleep so you’re always well-rested for the next day. Take advantage of conference wellness activities (morning yoga on the beach, anyone?!), stay hydrated throughout the day (we’ve got infused water coolers in the back!) and take time to stretch and move around in between sessions to keep your energy up.
There's fortune in the follow up.
Connecting with people you meet at SHIFT is best done within a week of returning from the event. This includes sending follow-up emails, LinkedIn requests and any resources you’ve promised. And always, always include a personalized message. Everyone’s inbox will be flooding after the conference and you want your follow-up to stand out.
Give yourself a shout out!
Let your customers and clients know that you attended the SHIFT Childcare Leaders Conference. Whether through a newsletter, Facebook post, blog post or CRM drip, don't be afraid to pat yourself on the back publicly! Always tell your families/customers how you and your team are keeping up with the best childcare practices—always learning and striving to stay up to date in the industry.