Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash Virtual conferences have gotten more popular in the last few years for obvious reasons. They’re associated with many unique advantages, such as broadening the pool of potential attendees and providing more scheduling flexibility. But you can’t approach virtual conferences the same way you would approach an in-person conference. What are the best ways to prepare for your next virtual conference? And how can you get the most value out of this event?

Plan in Advance

Most virtual conferences are announced months, if not years in advance. That gives you plenty of time to make plans for how and when you’re going to attend. Establishing a rough timeline will give you a framework that you can use to set goals, plan logistics, and prepare yourself for attendance. It also takes a great deal of stress and pressure out of this situation, since you’ll have plenty of time to work with. Granted, virtual conferences don’t require as much logistical planning as in-person conferences; you won’t have to worry about things like parking, hotel accommodations, or food. But you’ll still need to spend some time setting your goals and figuring out how you’re going to achieve them. What exactly are you hoping to get out of this virtual conference? Are you trying to learn a new skill? Are you interested in meeting new people? Do you just want to spread the visibility and improve the reputation of your brand?

Weigh the Pros and Cons (If You Have a Choice Between Virtual and In-Person)

Sometimes, you’ll have a choice between attending the virtual conference and the in-person conference. You may have a natural tendency to lean toward one or the other, but it’s important to consider both, since both will offer unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, you’ll get to make eye contact and communicate with body language at a physical gathering, while a virtual gathering allows you to retain more control over your environment and have more flexibility.

Set Up the Technology Beforehand

Don’t assume that the technology is going to work perfectly for you. Always take the time to set up and test the technology beforehand. Is your device working as intended? Are your headphones and your microphone completely operational? Are you familiar with the software that’s being used to broadcast these events? It’s entirely possible that you’ll encounter technical glitches or hiccups in the hours leading up to the event – but if you do this early, you’ll have plenty of time to fix them.

Avoid Multitasking

Multitasking doesn’t work. Even if you think you’re one of the rare people who can multitask successfully, you’re probably still not reaching peak efficiency by having multiple tasks going on at the same time. If you want to attend the virtual conference, make sure you dedicate your attention exclusively to the virtual events that are unfolding around you. You may be tempted to check on your email, or knock out a few work tasks during the event, but this is a bad idea.

Plan Your Schedule (Including Breaks)

Take the time to plan your schedule before the virtual conference begins. Most people do this for in-person conferences, but they neglect this step for virtual ones. While you’re at it, make sure you include plenty of time for breaks; even though the event is digital, it may be demanding and exhausting.

Make Time to Network

Networking is one of the most valuable reasons to attend a conference, whether in-person or virtual. Make sure you take advantage of every opportunity you have to meet new people and reinforce those connections. That means hanging out on webinars before and after the main speaker arrives and reaching out to people individually when you have the chance. Get involved in group chats and don’t be afraid to send individual messages or connection requests to individuals you align with.

Take Notes (and Record What You Can)

Have a plan to take notes and record whatever you can. This is going to serve as an excellent way to reinforce your memories of all the new things you learn. It will also serve as reference material you can review in the future if you need a refresher. Perhaps more importantly, you can share these notes and recordings with others, so they can get the same value out of the event that you did. This is especially important if you’re working in a team environment.

Get Social

Finally, get social. It’s a good idea to post about the conference on social media, leading up to the event, during the event, and after the festivities are over. Not only is it a great way to make new contacts and reinforce the new connections you’ve made at the event, but it’s also a gateway for greater visibility for your brand. It’s easy to dismiss a virtual conference attendance as something you can improvise, since it’s similar to a virtual meeting in many ways. However, if you want to get the most value out of this type of event, it pays to be prepared.