That’s right folks, it’s that time of year again…Marketo’s annual Marketing Nation Summit is just around the corner! Whether you’re manning a booth, presenting, taking notes or were just lucky enough to receive a last-minute invite, it’s going to be epic.
But this doesn’t mean you should plan on attending without a strategy in place. In fact, even just wandering the floor can require clever survival tactics. To help you “Summit” like a boss, we’ve gathered some tips and tricks based on our own attendance experience over the years.
Treat Yourself
The Marketing Nation Summit (April 23-26) is not for the faint of heart. You’ll most likely walk miles with all there is to see and do, so plan accordingly. Bring water, comfortable shoes (sorry heels!) and snacks. Also, the City by the Bay is known for its unpredictable weather (trust us), so layer and bring a jacket. Nobody likes a cold, hangry or blistered marketer.
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Work will most likely follow you to the event. (C’mon, you really thought you’d catch a break?) Bring headphones for impromptu calls as well as a lightweight laptop or tablet to take notes and send emails from the floor (if you must). A sturdy bag that’s easy to carry and device chargers are also important.
Networking, Networking and more Networking
You never know who you’ll run into at Summit; old coworkers, employers, competitors, ex-lovers… you name it. Don’t get caught unprepared since it can make you, and by extension your company, look unprofessional. Make sure you’re packin’ a fresh supply of business cards at all times and create a list of companies and professionals you’d like to have face time with.
Speaking of which, we hope we’re on your list! We’ll be teaming up with our ABM friends at Engagio to host a Call Your Shot party at Jillian’s on April 24. There’ll be appetizers, cocktails, pool and fun, all you have to do is RSVP.
What not to miss
We’d like to say “any of it,” but it’s just not possible to attend every keynote event, speaker session or party that will be happening at or around Summit. Prioritize the events that will have the biggest impact on your marketing goals.
Here are a few we are looking forward to ourselves:
- Power of Engagement in an Omni-Channel World–Casey Beal (Facebook)
- Look Sharp! Data Visualization for Marketing Ninjas–Martin Kihn (Gartner)
- Leading in the Era of Digital Data Explosion: People, Process, and Platforms–Rotimi Iziduh (Google)
See more scheduled events here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to embrace the best part of Summit: “What happens in Summit doesn’t stay at Summit!” Taking your learnings and applying them to your current and future marketing plans is where the true value of this amazing event comes into play.
Marvel Marketers will also be handing out actual Superhero Survival Kits at our event at Jillian’s on April 24, so don’t forget to stop by and grab one before they’re gone. You can also schedule one-on-one time with us here.
See you there!
