Partnering conferences are a valuable opportunity for life sciences companies to network and find potential partners or investors. These events bring together key players from around the world to discuss the latest trends and innovations in the field. But preparing for a conference can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to get lost in the chaos of meeting new people, attending presentations, or even navigating social media. In this article, we share five tips to help you get the most out of your next life sciences conference.
Partnering conferences offer more than just networking opportunities. They are an excellent way to share tactics with industry professionals, gain valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations in the life sciences sector, or even showcase your products and services. Partnering conferences often feature a variety of sessions and presentations covering a range of topics, from new drug discoveries to funding trends.
In a previous article, we discussed how to find a suitable event and promote your company effectively. Bearing in mind the various benefits of these events, here are five best practices to follow when preparing for a conference and how to leverage social media:
1. Set clear objectives before attending a conference
Your conference goals may be to meet a certain number of people, find licensors or investors, or learn about a particular topic. Setting goals will help ensure that your time at the conference is well-spent. Prepare your promotional materials, such as your company presentation and agenda, in an efficient manner to help you meet these goals.
2. Research the attendees and follow updates
Before the conference starts, take some time to research in the conference system who is attending and presenting at the event. This will enable you to identify potential collaborators, investors, or customers.
Most conferences have a designated hashtag that attendees can use to follow the conversation on social media. Stay up-to-date with the latest news and develop your agenda by following the conference hashtag.
3. Create an agenda
Prepare a list of sessions and presentations you wish to attend, including any meetings you have scheduled. Make sure to leave some flexibility in your schedule to allow for unexpected opportunities or last-minute changes.
Share your conference agenda on LinkedIn or Twitter to let others know which sessions and presentations you will be attending.
4. Connect and share updates on social media
Social media is a great tool to connect with other attendees before and during the conference. Use LinkedIn to schedule meetings in advance and build relationships. Be prepared for a surge in profile views, so make sure your social media profiles are presentable and up to date.
Another great way to strengthen connections and encourage interaction is to post updates during the conference: For example, take pictures with other attendees and post them to your LinkedIn or Twitter profile, tagging them in the post. Having the LinkedIn app set up on your phone is key to responding to comments or inbox messages in a timely manner.
5. Don’t forget to follow up
After the conference, follow up with the people you met and the connections you made. This can include sending a quick email to say thank you, requesting a connection on social media with a personalized message about what you discussed, or setting up a call to pick up on discussions and collaboration opportunities. Although easy to neglect, follow-ups are a great way to increase your partnership opportunities. Even if you don’t get a partnership out of it, you can still gain valuable feedback or insight by sharing resources with the connection, as well as build trust and strengthen your network.
In summary, preparing for a partnering conference can seem daunting, but by following these approaches, you can make the most of your time and opportunities. Don’t miss out on the chance to optimize your networking activities at the next Biotechgate Digital Partnering conference. Register now for free!