Recommended reading for SiriusDecisions Summit attendees #sdsummit

Starting later today, more than 2,000 B2B marketers will gather in Orlando for the annual SiriusDecisions Summit.  For many of us, this is one of the most important and valuable events of the year.  Great content, amazing networking, and a chance to geek out on B2B sales, marketing and operations.

Whether you’re on your way or planning to follow along from afar, here are a handful of blog posts and other recommendations to both get you in the right mindset for this week’s schedule, plus take best advantage of your time on site and maximize the learnings once back at the office.

Getting the most out of SiriusDecisions Summit (even if you’re not here)
This set of recommendations was originally written for last year’s Summit, but most of the tips are just as valid this week in Orlando.  Limit external meetings & calls, catch up on work in a public place, etc.  Worth a quick read.

Why attending events in person is still so important
There are many reasons why a trip to Orlando may be worth your time, but in general I’m a big fan of regularly finding events that get me out of my office, away from my usual environment, and somewhere I can accelerate my business, my own learning, and my value to our clients all at the same time. I love the growing trend of online-only conferences, as well as the ever-present availability of Webinars to help me learn. But nothing will replace the value of being there live. Here are five reasons for this.

Turning B2B readers into revenue (with Tony Jaros)
In this post, Brian Hansford highlights key points from SiriusDecisions SVP Tony Jaros’s presentation on content marketing earlier this year in Seattle.

The do’s & don’ts of conference hashtags
Most conferences these days feature a hashtag for both attendees and followers from afar to “meet” each other and share highlights from the event. SiriusDecisions (#sdsummit) is no different. For both marketers and enterprising individuals looking to accelerate their own networking ROI, conference hashtags also represent a significant opportunity to catalyze your objectives. But like a lot of things, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. Here are a handful of best and worst practices.

How to take notes at a conference
Over the years, I’ve developed a system for how I take notes at conferences, and (more importantly) how I process and use those notes afterward to extract their value for my business and our clients. Here are several recommendations based on my system for how to not only take better notes faster at SiriusDecisions, but also ensure that those notes are immediately put to good use and effectively archived for yourself and others without extra work.

How to make the most of the parties and networking events
SiriusDecisions Summit has become known for it’s great parties t0o – those sponsored by SiriusDecisions as well as sponsors and exhibiting vendors. These events are a great opportunity to relax and enjoy the company of fellow attendees, but they’re also an important opportunity to meet new people, add to your network, and create new business opportunities. Here are six tips for better engaging and leveraging these parties in your favor (while at the same time enjoying yourself and having fun!).

Getting the most out of an awesome conference (once you’re back at the office)
The flow of inspiration and ideas at a conference like this can be overwhelming while still away, but it gets worse when you’re back in the office. Unfortunately, those pages and pages of notes often get relegated to a pile on the side of our desks, or forgotten altogether once we dig into the backlog of emails, re-engage in the daily fire drills, and otherwise get overwhelmed by trying those great new ideas in the midst of the everyday madness that surrounds us. To get the most out of SiriusDecisions Summit, and maximize your productivity and execution on all those great ideas, you need a little preparation, a little discipline, some organizational best practices and two short sharing exercises. Here’s how to do it.