BY YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR COUNCIL @YEC

There's more to industry events like SXSW and CES than the talks themselves.

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Your next conference schedule is probably already packed with events and talks, almost every hour accounted for as you cram in as much as you can. But are you sure you're making the most of your time--and building real relationships in the process?

To figure out the most effective things to include as you plan ahead, we asked 7 founders from YEC what the most important things on their itineraries for upcoming events like CES and SXSW were and why.

1. The negative space between events.

There's a ton of events that clog my schedule when I go to events like SXSW, but the things in between are the most important to me--the times when I can just wander. I know I'm going to meet certain people at the cocktail events, but I have no idea who I'll run into when I'm cruising through the city. I try to make these moments count, whether it's a simple interaction or a full conversation.--Rob Fulton, Exponential Black

2. In-person meetings.

When everyone comes together at an industry event it's a chance to meet people in person who I don't normally get to see. I schedule everything beforehand and go into each meeting with a purpose. I value one-on-one time and strengthening those relationships during large networking events.--Brooke Bergman, Allied Business Network Inc.

3. Time to reconnect with familiar faces.

When planning ahead for these big events, I like to go through the list of who will be attending and then reaching out to them before the event starts. Once at the event, it's reviewing that list and seeing where we can connect while we are in the same place. The actual sessions are secondary to me.--Mike Ambassador Bruny, Ambassador Bruny Dot Com

4. My own party or get-together.

Hosting your own get-together ensures that you'll have a chance to talk to everyone you want to meet with in one place and also positions you as a leader. It makes it so much easier to make plans with people when you can just tell everyone to show up at your party! You can keep things simple and low-key: for several years at SXSW Interactive, I hosted a low-cost backyard barbecue.--Laura Roeder, MeetEdgar.com

5. Local networking events outside of the conference center.

I try to find the smaller events that are more intimate and where industry influencers, thought leaders or potential clients might be. Those are always the most productive opportunities to network, learn and build new relationships. -Brock Stechman, DivvyHQ

6. Pre-booked dinner plans.

One of the best things you can do ahead of time is to book dinner at a few restaurants near the venue to invite people you meet along the way to come out with you. That way, you can spearhead a mini-event instead of desperately trying to include yourself in others' arrangements. At dinner, you'll also find yourself in a more intimate and controlled environment, unlike a noisy conference center.--Firas Kittaneh, Amerisleep

7. Hand-picked events only.

There are some incredible networking opportunities down there if you attend the right events. Whether it's an event being hosted by a major tech publication with a bunch of startup folks or something more pertinent to your industry, the networking opportunities are great. Research the best events for you and put them on your calendar.--Andy Karuza, Brandbuddee

What do you think? Is this something you can benefit from or do you have a few tricks up your sleeve that are just as powerful? Make your voice heard by leaving a comment below. Don’t forget to hit the share button if you know others who will find this post useful.

I.C. Collins ~ Author, Educator, Trainer and President: Has One Simple Goal: Improve a Million Automotive Sales Consultants Lives with our ebook "How to Succeed in the Automotive Sales Industry"

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