You can attend any conference for free. While, the traditional way would be to buy your way in, there are other ways to get the conference experience.
Follow the conversation on Twitter by streaming the conference hashtag on your social media dashboard like Tweetdeck or Hootsuite.
Follow Twitter-happy attendees, and there are usually at least a handful of them at every conference.
Take part in a conference-related tweet up outside of the conference space to meet up with attendees in an offline environment.
Follow the official and unofficial blogs for updates, videos and reviews on sessions.
Attend the expo. A lot of times, this part of the conference is free. You can see what trends are happening in the industry by just chatting with vendors and fellow like-minded attendees. Then, follow up with them on LinkedIn or Twitter.
Upcoming Conferences
ASTD 2011 International Conference & Exposition
May 22-26 | Orlando, FL
Our helpful team of Chris, Andrea, Holly and Tyrone will be at booth 1313.
They have become household names. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Despite their popularity, many struggle to use these popular social networking platforms to their business’ advantage.
If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Many growing businesses need some help in this regard. This month, we hope to shed some light on where and how to focus your attention in this new world of social media by providing some useful steps on how to get started.
Which site should I focus on?
Focus on LinkedIn. It is a professional network with a business focus rather than a personal one. No updates about weekend activities, cute kids, or pet peeves. Consultants and coaches alike are already using LinkedIn to engage with colleagues, clients and prospects alike. Your presence and strategic use of LinkedIn can reach over 80 million members including the movers and shakers like leaders, decision makers, and even executives from Fortune 500 companies.
With the right approach and actions, LinkedIn can garner fruitful returns such as targeted leads, business opportunities and give you a heightened reputation as a consultant. Here are some ways that you can boost your presence and engagement on LinkedIn.
Once you’re there, you’ll want to create your profile so that people know who you are and what you do. They’ll know you will be there to connect with them and answer any questions they may have.
Step 2: Optimize Your Profile
□ A professional picture goes a long way. This is the first thing that people will notice, and it serves as your first impression. It doesn’t have to involve an expensive photo shoot. You could even ask a good friend who enjoys photography to take your picture.
□ A title that clearly and concisely reflects who you are and what you do is crucial for others to place you in an arena of work.
□ A summary and experience of yourself is written much like a resume. Ensure that it is complete but keep it relevant and concise with keywords for online search.
□ Give yourself online credibility with hyperlinks to your other online activities like your website, blog, e-newsletter and even your Twitter account.
□ In this day and age, word of mouth is still very strong. Build your credibility with recommendations from colleagues. If someone recommends you, it’s good etiquette to write a recommendation for them.
Some great examples of optimized profiles come from a few of our very own MHS trainers:
- Title is descriptive and contains keywords
- Incorporates Twitter application
- Requested recommendations
- Includes links to his website
- Personalized LinkedIn URL
- LinkedIn has a WordPress application to showcase and drive traffic to your blog. WordPress is an online journal, set up your blog.
- Participates in events
Step 3: Optimize Your Network
□ Search for groups that will add value to your business and join one or two to start off with. No more and no less for now. The reason is that while you will eventually have a collection of groups to call your own, the few groups that you initially join will provide you with a good testing ground. By focusing on a few to start, you can more easily make the time to be a strong participating member and engage with other members via discussion posts.
□ Be aware of group “size” since a larger group would have greater breadth and depth of members with greater influence for you to engage with.
□ Look for connections that have similar interests within the groups that you have joined. For example, connect with Diana Durek and Daniela Kwiatkowski to engage with some of LinkedIn’s strongest players in the EI arena.
□ Engage in discussion posts for eg. Post questions and/or contribute to the discussions to show your interest along with your expertise in emotional intelligence as applied in coaching and consulting.
Step 4: Optimize Your LinkedIn Routine
□ Make it a regular part of your routine to be engaged in the LinkedIn communities, it takes a bit of trial and error to get your footing in a new environment.
□ Employ less of a sales approach and more of a ‘I’m here to help’ approach by becoming that online leader with your knowledge and presence.
□ Include LinkedIn on your website, business card, and email signature.
□ Include a LinkedIn App on your phone to stay in touch with your new connections wherever you are.
Step 5: Join Us!
□ We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the importance of joining MHS’s newly updated Emotional Intelligence Connection LinkedIn site!
Our goal for this site is to drive conversations amongst professionals like you around the subject of EI, coaching, consulting, leadership development and more… It’s also a fantastic way for you to make new connections and hopefully generate new business opportunities. Become a member of The Emotional Intelligence Connection now!
It’s win-win. Grow your business and engage in social media initiatives at the same time. Are you ready to take on this challenge with your fellow consultants and coaches?
All you have to do is complete these 3 simple tasks.
2) Add a comment to the LinkedIn discussion post answering the question, ”How would you like to use LinkedIn to promote your busienss as an emotional intelligence consultant/coach?”
2) Tweet the following, “I’m going to be an authority on #emotionalintelligence with @eiconnection. What to join too? http://ow.ly/2N4ae
The participating consultants and coaches will be recognized in 2 ways.
1) Your name and website featured on Grow Your Business Leaderboard in The EI Insider blog based on the completion of the challenge
2) Your name and/or Twitter account will be promoted (ie. #FF – a digital tag on Twitter that promotes people on Fridays)
@ASTD #ASTD2011
ASTD National
ASTD National Group
SHRM Official
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1) Join the LinkedIn group, 
