Web Design Blog

Networking –

This is an obvious one. As a freelance designer you need connections. Now don’t think just because the conference you are going to will be filled with you competition, you can’t network.

For example I am heading this week the Web Directions North conference, here in Vancouver, BC and I am going to run into a lot of my competition. This doesn’t mean I shouldn’t network. I am going to network and I am going to make sure to come out of this conference with many business cards and some new friendships.

You are probably asking, why? Well those people I connect with probably won’t all be designers. They could be internet marketers, PHP developers or Flash gurus. Having all these additional resources in my network can only benefit me. As my friendships grow I may learn from them, I may meet new contacts thru them who turn into clients or I may team up with one of these new connections. Either way it’s a win-win situation.

Learning –

Chances are even if you learn just one new thing, it’ll be worth it. Conferences don’t have to be long or even technical. Usually if your butt is in the seat, you will learn a few new things.

As professionals in a rapidly changing industry we need to be on our toes! We need to know about new technologies, ideas and stuff going on around us. A conference may do just the trick. Like this conference I am attending this week, I plan on sitting in on all the topics I can. Some of the topics are not directly related to what I do but I want to learn all about them none the less. Bottom line… conferences are a great way to continue your professional development.

Revamp of what you know –

Possibly the conferences available to you aren’t conferences in which have high profile speakers and experts from around the world coming but, you can still benefit. Even attending some smaller conferences can help your brain start moving. Maybe the speaker(s) have a different perspective on something. This enables you to think outside your normal thought process.

For example just last week I was at a Mangers’ Toolbox event with Michael Linehan of Marketing Alchemy. Now maybe it was because it was 730 in the morning, but some of the first few things he talked about were pretty - roll eyes. Oh guess I should tell you what he was talking about. His topic was How to build a powerful, inspiring and effective website. Basically the first 30 minutes were a little dry. After that things started to perk up though. I was able to listen to and learn so different ways of explaining things to my clients.

I also disagreed with a few things that he had said but, with questions in hand I headed up to him after the speech – introduced myself and handed him my business card. From there I started asking my questions or explaining that I didn’t agree. He graciously answered why he had said some of the things (we had a different view on page rank). It was very refreshing to have this type of conversation with another expert. As a freelance designer working possibly from home I know a few of you could use an invigorating experience with someone at your level and in your industry.

That’s it – Three reasons why you should attend a conference. See you at the next conference!

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