I started working for Crystal Media in December of 2019. At the time, I’d never really known anyone who worked remotely (me in Vancouver, BC and the company in San Diego), and quickly grew accustomed to meeting with the team online, communicating through email, and never seeing my co-workers beyond what the Zoom frame allows.
Working remotely has had its many benefits, but this past June I had the chance to attend an in-person conference in Michigan and meet up with my team members, Maddie, Pauline, and Crystal! It was SO great to see, brainstorm with, and get instant replies from them (vs corresponding through email)! A feeling that’s unmatched with working from home. Also, meeting business owners in real life (vs exclusively talking with them through webinar chats and DMs) was both fun and insightful. I had the chance to hear what they needed help with and was able to answer their questions on the spot!
Meeting clients in real life helped me get to know the community I work day-in and day-out to support. Jennifer Shorter, an Insider member from Grandpa Shorter’s Gift Shop, came up to introduce herself at a conference after she recognized me from online training webinars and videos and had to come say hello!
Over the years, between traveling to several trade shows, marketing conferences and workshops, I can confidently say that stepping away from your office or store—and into a new setting with like-minded people—does great things for planning and productivity, let alone creates a lot of a-ha moments.
Aside from the standard travel and work advice I always receive (i.e. bring a reusable water bottle), I want to share some tips and tricks I’ve picked up while attending conferences!
Here are the 5 work and travel tips I recommend every retailer try when heading to a conference, workshop or tradeshow!
1. Post to social media throughout the trip.
We often recommend that our retailers use their time away from the store to create unique content for their social media channels. Letting your audience know where you are, what you’re learning and the trends you’re noticing is a great way to add content to your channels that stands out from your regular programming.
2. Respond to your emails after the conference.
I don’t know how many times I’ve tried to respond to emails in between sessions and conversations, half paying attention to what was in front of me and half paying attention to the email on my phone screen. I have come to terms with the fact that work can wait, so I can focus on growth (which is likely the entire reason I’m at a conference anyway). I set my auto-responder to let my contacts know that I’ll be away and will reply as soon as possible!
3. Actualllllllly implement the tip you’re learning.
If you’re at a conference and something stuck out to you, write it down and try it out as soon as you leave that session. Whether you picked up a new trick, heard about a new feature, or learned a new marketing strategy, trying it right away will help you get your money’s worth out of the conference. Overwhelm is a huge feeling that affects conference attendees, so if you’re able to break apart your to-do list and just attempt your favorite takeaways first, your list will grow smaller and smaller while your learned knowledge expands!
4. Try to stick with your routines from home.
For example, I brought my green juice and bought lemons so I could continue my week with my favorite drinks to get my days started. You want to feel good and energized on your trips. Sticking with a routine helps with that. Whether you’re making time to head to the hotel gym, go for an evening walk, or drinking plenty of water, continuing your routine from home helps travel for work feel more like a continuation of your work week vs an interruption!
5. Explore the local city.
By far the best work trips I’ve been on included researching and making time to visit the city’s best restaurants, parks, beaches, coffee shops and small businesses. After I finish answering my emails for the evening, I put on my walking shoes and check out the city that work has brought me to!
It would be a missed opportunity if I didn’t share more about the next conference I have the chance to meet each of you at.
All small businesses have room for growth and a chance to create a better business. The Crystal Media team is beyond excited to host our first-ever, in-person conference, EVOLVE 2023, happening in Denver, Colorado on April 26th & 27th.
Use the 5 work and travel tips I shared above, and EVOLVE your marketing, your business, and your life by saving your seat to this epic conference! I would LOVE to meet you in real life at the beautiful Gaylord Rockies Resort in Denver this upcoming Spring!
What I Want You To Take Away From This Blog:
- Traveling for work can help your productivity and provide lots of out-of-the-box ideas.
- Post to social media on work trips to create unique content.
- Avoid overwhelm and implement your favorite takeaways one step at a time.
Okay, over to you…
What tips and tricks have you picked up from attending a conference? Share your favorite travel and work tips in the comments below!
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