Getting the Most Out of In-Person Events: A #CMWorld Twitter Chat with Cathy McPhillips and Mike Myers

I won’t lie. I find conferences to be scary. A room of strangers with a million ideas being thrown around? It’s exciting and exhausting all at the same time. So, before I even step foot onto the show floor, I do some prep. Having a plan helps me focus on why I’m at the conference to begin with.

Content Marketing World is next week. And it can be overwhelming, even for conference pros and alumni. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Content Marketing Institute VP of Marketing Cathy McPhillips and Nationwide Content Marketing Consultant Mike Myers are no strangers to CMWorld. That’s why we wanted to know their secret tips and tricks for navigating the event.

Below is a brief look at our recent Twitter chat with Cathy and Mike. If you’d like to see a complete list of questions and responses, head over to our Twitter Moments. (Yes, that’s plural. Our community had a LOT to say on this topic! Here are Moments 1 and Moments 2.)

But before we get to the summary, a quick note: Did you know Cathy started the #CMWorld Twitter chats? She wanted a way to bring together speakers and attendees year-round. That was in 2013. Today we’re closing in on chat number 250! Thank you, Cathy, for making our in-person encounters so awesome. The chats have helped us create lasting relationships that make us smarter marketers and better people!

What’s your single best networking tip when at a conference?

A2: I usually mingle around the food. There’s always something to chat about when food is around. It can help start conversation “oh look the rice krispy treats are orange!” and then lead into a more in depth conversation. #CMWorld

— Alex Crump (@alcrump12) August 28, 2018

A2: I recommend making a game out of networking. It can be nervewracking to go to a new place with people you don’t know. So, in the first year, I made a bingo sheet to help people meet folks. #CMWorld

— Maureen Jann (@SuperDeluxeMo) August 28, 2018

A2: I used to bring a power outlet splitter. Everyone needs electricity, and it’s a great icebreaker. #CMWorld pic.twitter.com/XRm0MirXsV

— Jim MacLeod (@JimMacLeod) August 28, 2018

A2: Join the online community first! Make plans to meet in person during the event. #CMWorld

— Emilie Moreland (@writtenbyemilie) August 28, 2018

You enjoyed a session and want to continue the conversation. How can you connect with the speaker without it being weird or intrusive?

A5 Soft touch: see if they’re on Twitter and follow them. Next: look for them at subsequent social gatherings. But as the question denotes, don’t be weird (or creepy) #CMWorld

— Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) August 28, 2018

A5 Ask for a #legoselfie. Hey, it worked with @jayacunzo. That’s how we connected. #cmworld pic.twitter.com/1R8pTJYZKn

— Ben H. Rome (@bhrome) August 28, 2018

A5: That’s why I like live tweeting as well – when you tag the speaker, it makes them more receptive to talk with you later in the conference when they see you have engaged them during their talk #cmworld

— Scott Lum (@ScottLum) August 28, 2018

This topic is not new for many in our community. Several have written about their own experiences.

• Conference Blog Post Content: 20 Types You Can Stealby Heidi Cohen
• Networking Event Tips by Dennis Shiao
• Introvert’s Guide to Surviving Content Marketing World by Berrak Sarikaya
• 25 Simply Amazing Business Cards by Emilie Moreland

One last thing. Mike offered great advice for everyone.

For those of you headed to Cleveland, please find me. Let’s connect! And if you can’t make it this year, follow the #CMWorld hashtag, then let’s make plans to get you to the conference in 2019!

First-timers and marketers attending solo, want the best conference experience ever? Then don’t miss Cathy and Mike’s session Tuesday afternoon. There is still time to grab a CMWorld ticket. But hurry, online registration ends soon.