Last weekend I went to Podfest Expo, which is a podcasting multimedia expo, held every year since 2015 by Chris Krimitsos.  I have never been to a podcasting expo or any other expo besides that sex expo I went to a couple years ago.  Anyway, I am a content creator; I have two podcasts “The Oh Hell No Podcast” and “Side Talk” and I was selected to speak at Podfest, which is what made me attending this conference a reality.  I presented a pecha kucha presentation, which is visual storytelling. This was my first time speaking at a conference and I had no idea where to start.  I downloaded the whova app, which is an event app, that helped to keep me informed of all the details surrounding the conference and connect with people attending the conference.  Initially I was very overwhelmed, but once I got t0 Podfest, everything fell into place and I was able to enjoy the experience.

I have always heard that if you have a passion for something you have to invest in yourself by learning from people who are experts in that area and going to a conference and/or expo is a good way to do that.  I know what you are thinking as you read this, conferences are so expensive, and when you are not making the money, how can you be expected to partake in such an expensive experience.   Believe me, I understand and I had a fit when I saw my hotel bill from this past weekend but what I learned was invaluable, and I am going to share some of the lessons I learned from attending Podfest Expo and why it is important to get out there and do at least one of these a year:

What I learned By Attending Podfest: 

1. Self promotion is very important.  Before going to a conference or expo have business cards or something that you can give people with your contact  and business info.
2. You have to work the crowd.  Walk around and introduce yourself to people. No matter how scary it may seem, you have to put yourself out there because you never know who you will connect with.
3. Review all the sessions that are scheduled and know what you want to attend in advance and make sure you are on time so that you get a good seat.
4. Be open to learning something new.  Step outside of your comfort zone and explore new areas and topics.
5. Be yourself and stay true to you.  Be open to learning but move with what aligns with your spirit and soul.  If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t right for you.  Your gut is always on point…trust it.

Why Everyone Should Attend A Conference Or Expo At least Once A Year:

1. Networking  – Networking brings forth opportunities to collaborate.
2. You will receive priceless information from experts in the industry that will help you in different areas of your business.
3.  Visibility – Being seen puts a name to your face and company, which is important because people are more likely to remember you from a face-to-face meeting, especially based on the impression that you made. Connections come from meeting people and some connections can change your life forever.
4. Vendors – Spend time talking to vendors to see what’s on the market and what tools are available to you.  The right tools can make all the difference in your day-to-day process.
5. Creative Juices will flow – Attending a conference or expo will open up your eyes and mind to things that you have never thought about and may even set new ventures into motion.