I’ve been attending Microsoft Conferences since 2007.   I can confidently say that I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for these events. I’d like to think I’ve done a decent job of making the most out of my time there.  There’s always room for improvement though.  And here are my 11 tips to get the most out the SharePoint Conference in Anaheim.

1. Plan Your Takeaway

With less than two weeks until the conference, it’s time to start strategizing how to get what you want out of the conference. Sit down and think about whom you want to meet, which sessions you want to attend, the key information you want to learn and how you plan to spend the evenings.  Taking the time to plan ahead makes you much more likely to get what you want.

2. Connect Through Mobile

Get Rid of the Feature Phone Already. The best way to stay connected to what’s happening at the SharePoint Conference is to have a gadget in your hand that feeds you information about who, what, and when.  This gadget should not be a feature phone.  At conferences, you are on-the-go (see #8), which changes a users needs and behavior.  It’s a much more enriching and valuable experience to be able to access social tools found on the web.  A smartphone is a must.

Many feature phones do not have web capabilities.  Those that do use archaic browsers that do not render mobile websites well and tend to lockup, making them useless sources of mobile content.  If you haven’t invested in a smartphone or Platform phone, now is a good time to do it.

I just found out MySPC Mobile 2011 for Windows Phone is available with full schedule building, offline access, maps & more.  A web version for other platforms is on it’s way.  Way to Go Microsoft!!  Me and My IPhone can’t wait!

3. Power Up

Keep Your Gadgets Charged. What’s the most important thing at this conference besides people?  Power– electrical power, that is.   To stay “plugged in” you literally have to be plugged in to a power outlet.  Make sure you bring extra batteries and chargers for your phone. For your computer, I recommend bringing a travel power strip.  I bought a travel power strip with three outlets and two USB chargers.  Who wants to sit next to ME in a session?

4. Familiarize Yourself with the Location

Don’t’ waste time getting lost.  Take it from the queen of navigation snafus, you don’t want to waste time putzing around.  I found a parking map of the hotel that offers a great overall understanding of the area and shows relationships between hotels and the Anaheim Convention Center. The PDF version can be found here:

Once you get to the conference, you can take advantage of the location-based social media apps such as foursquare and gowalla.  I’ll go into detail about the best location-based apps for the conference in my upcoming article Social Media Apps for SPC11.

4. Consolidate Your Calendar

It’s always a good idea to have a big picture view of all of the events at a Conference so you can decide which event is best suited for you.  You don’t have to stick with this schedule but it will help you spend your time wisely.

The Microsoft SharePoint Conference has dramatically improved the agenda and calendar management feature in MySPC since SPC09. This feature still falls short though when it comes to managing your entire conference itinerary because you can’t add additional events.  There’s an easy solution. Consolidate your information into one calendar in Outlook.

1. Login to MySPC  through http://mssharepointconference.com. with MS Live ID. Begin collecting the sessions you want to attend by selecting Add to Calendar icon.
2. Export Sessions to Outlook. Conference organizers will soon have this feature available.

I created a Windows Live Calendar that is synced to my Outlook.  I made it public so that you can download it as an ical or simply reference on the web.

• HTML:Preview in a web browser
• ICS:Import into another calendar application

5. Plug into Information Streams

Real-time Info is Instant Gratification. You will hear a lot about Hashtags at this conference.  You will even find hashtags for every conference session in MySPC.   If you don’t know what they are or how to use them, here is a quick primer:

What is a hashtag?

Hashtags are a community-driven method to add context and metadata to a tweet. They are added inline to your tweet.  You don’t need to register a hashtag, you can reuse one that has been used before.  You simply prefix a word with a hash symbol: #spcjump

Hashtags to Follow

• #SPC11 – The old-timers are good at adding hashtags to relevant information.  You will get a ton of info from following hashtags.
• Conference Session Hashtags – Each conference session has been assigned a hashtag.  I bet you will find that a room change is posted on twitter well before word of mouth informs you that you are in the wrong room.
• Social Hashtags – The following hashtags can be used to find out information about social events.#spcjump  #redparty  #oktoberfiesta #disneyland #spcsocial #sharepint  (I’m sure there are many more)

Streaming Tools

You do not have to have a twitter account to follow hashtags. You can follow search terms using one of the web applications below.

Search.Twitter.com  (Web)   The twitter search tool is so easy to use.  Just navigate to the web site and enter a hash tag to view the results.

gigatweeter.com (Web)  Gigatweeter is a nice app because its simple and non-intrusive.  You simply add a few hashtags (see screenshot below) and you are on your way.  There are no popups to interrupt your work. The app sits patiently in an inactive browser window waiting for you to pay attention to it.

6. Do Your Social Media Homework

Connect, Converse, Locate, and Plan. Be ready for a conference driven by social networks and do the following homework assignments:

1. Update Your Social Profiles – Make sure all of your information is up-to-date.
2. Install and Configure Mobile Social Media Apps– Have your social media apps ready. Not sure which ones to use or looking for new ones to try?  Keep an eye out for my upcoming post dedicated entirely to this topic, Social Media Apps for SPC11.
3. Connect with Other Attendees – MYSPC offers attendees a new social view of other attendees that have filled out their profile.  It’s not what I would call “social” but it’s a start.  If other attendees have filled out their social urls you can connect with them before the conference, enriching your activity streams with real-time relevant conference information.
4. Update your blog with fresh content and add the “I’m Attending SharePoint Conference 2011” Images. “Join me at”  “Ill be at”  “I’m attending”

7. Try Social Trading Cards

Make It Easy to Access Your Social Profiles. Those of you with business cards, don’t forget to pack at least 200. If your card doesn’t have social information or you don’t have a card at all, you could be really dorky and do what I did.  I made my own social trading card through Meet-Meme.  A meme is and idea that spreads from person to person.  And at Meet-Meme, their goal is to turn me into a meme all my own. They envisioned my personal brand spreading from person to person and sweeping networks like a wildfire that can’t be tamed. Wow. I’ll have what she’s having.

According to the Meet-Meme site, these cards “help you bring online persona to the offline world, allowing you to further your networking efforts with an engaging extension of your personal brand.”   I just bought 100 cards for $27 and they should be here a few days before the conference.  Actually, I made an error in the first batch and will now offer them as collectors items.

If you want a more traditional approach, you can go to Kinkos, spend about $10 more for 1000 cards, and get rush delivery.  Include Full Name, Job Title, Company, Phone, Email and Social profile urls. The form doesn’t have strict validation so you are able to add just about anything in the fields as seen in screenshot below.

If you aren’t a designer, this isn’t the time to try. Do not add a logo. Keep it simple black and white.

8. Wear Comfortable Shoes

It’s all about shoes.  Dress for the occasion.  Wear shoes you can walk in all day.  And most definitely do not wear shoes that could send you to the hospital.  Case in Point: At SharePoint Conference THE Conference in DC this year, I thought I would wear some high-heeled wooden sandals to an evening event. If it weren’t for Joy Earles and her 8.5’s, I would not have made it through the evening.  She let me trade shoes with her for some relief.  hank you, Joy. I’ve learned my lesson.

9. Bring Your Camera

Don’t Miss a Moment.  It goes without saying that you should bring your camera.  Don’t forget to bring batteries, extra memory cards and storage. Most of your phones have cameras and video so travel light and keep your camera at home if you are happy with the quality and ease of sharing your smartphone or platform phone provides.

I use a Canon 40D to get my jumpshots. It’s not that fun to travel with but I hope to have a new camera bag in time for the conference to make it less painful.

I’ve already started my SPC11 Photography Gallery.  Bookmark it to see SPC11 Photos as they happen.   Check out my SPC09 Photos too.

10. Express Yourself

Connect With People Like You.  With so many people gathered in one place, how do you find the people you connect with the best?  Social media apps aside, to find the people you mesh with, show your colors. Adorn yourself with your “feathers” by expressing yourself through T-Shirts, Stickers, logos, badges.

You don’t have to go as far as Alistair Pugin (see image above) and make it permanent but as you pack think about what makes you “you”.  Be sure to pack a few conversation starters.  Grab that Microsoft MIX Conference Backpack instead of your usual.  Slap a Visual Studio sticker on your laptop if you are a developer.  Wear the T-shirts from SPC09.  Yes, I’m recommending that you “Be That Guy” (a reference to a cult American film called PCU)

11. Participate

You Can’t Win if You Don’t Play. Talk to people.  Even a simple “hello” could lead to something big.   If you have a chance to meet your favorite SharePoint hero, stop and talk to them. There’s no need to be star-struck. You’d be surprised just how approachable people are.

Think about how much time you spend in the virtual world. Make sure you take the time to venture out and interact with real people. Don’t Lounge in your hotel at night.You will get the most out of the conference if you participate. Just do it.

Summary

That sums up my tips for conference success.  It’s about planning, people, technology, location, and social media!

This years conference is going to be a smashing success.  The SharePoint Community is humming along and churning out great ideas for sharing and connecting.  I’m looking forward to the event and hope to see you all there!

Please comment to add your own suggestions to get the most out of the conference.