As many of you know, Teens in Tech will be hosting the fourth annual Teens in Tech Conference on August 9th at PARC in Palo Alto. The conference will feature various speakers in the technology and startup realm, allowing us to learn from their lessons. However, with this and many other conferences, some individuals may underestimate how useful these conferences can be in networking and promotion. Here’s how to take advantage of these amazing network builders.

Be Prepared

One of the most common mistakes that many individuals make at a conference is not being prepared. This is due to not knowing how being prepared can actually help them during the conference. What I mean by this is, having certain tools of the trade with you will allow you to not only network, but to also be memorable. Some of these “tools of the trade” include:

  • An Internet Connected Device
  • Business Cards
  • Notebook
  • Writing Utensil

The list may be small, but you’d be surprised how many individuals forget these four essentials. Having a device that is connected online throughout the conference allows you to do some research for yourself, connect with conference goers, and more. Business Cards allow individuals to have a physical reminder of the encounter, allowing the individual who met you to check you out at the end of the day. You never know, that 10-minute conversation could result in a new business deal.

Lastly, having a notebook and writing utensils allow you to make notes to yourself, business growing tips, and other lessons from the conference. I’m not affiliated with Moleskine, but they are my favorite brand of notebooks. They are a break from the day-to-day ruled notebooks we are used to, and in return, they encourage you to be a bit more creative. I’m been a fan for a few years now and highly recommend getting one for yourself.

Connections Made On The Outside

I am the type that believes that the best connections are made in a casual environment. They allow you to get to know each other on a personal level, as well as on a business level. My favorite place to connect with individuals I meet at conferences are over a meal. When I was at a conference promoting online video and media last year, I made it a point to go out for lunch with the individuals I met at the conference. We all had pizza, talked about online media, and I made connections I still talk with to this day. You’d be surprised that we just met that morning, four hours ago.

You Are the Reporter

Even after the conference is over, you can still make your attendance work for you. One huge recommendation to do is to report on your experience at your attended conference. This can be in the form of a blog post on your personal website or the website of your startup. You should outline the following pieces of information in the post:

  • Basic conference information
  • Outline of conference events
  • Lessons learned at the conference
  • Amazing individuals you met; Promoting their product

The last piece of information, “promoting their product”, is very important to do. You may be wondering why would you give others the spotlight when you have your own product to promote. However, it’s important to remember that when you promote the product of others, they will certainly find you memorable and a team player. Your team is in fact the technology sector in general, not just your startup.

More About Teens in Tech Conference 2012

The Teens in Tech Conference, at PARC in Palo Alto, will occur on August 9th from 9AM until 5PM. The conference will include various speakers in technology, including these individuals:

  • Adam Debreczeni
  • Scott and Stacey Ferreira
  • Gregory Koberger
  • Sahil Lavingia
  • Alexander Bass
  • Andrew Rauh

We are thankful for the sponsorships from:

  • Chevrolet
  • PARC
  • EventBrite
  • Oracle
  • Mophie
  • STM Bags
  • Hark
  • Meshin
  • RadTech
  • Harman
  • Vapur
  • Pixt
  • SOS Ready

Tickets can be purchased here for $35. Your ticket gets you admission, swag bags courtesy of RadTech and STM Bags, some tasty food, and much more! But, we are offering you a 20% discount on your ticket when you use the coupon code “BLOG2012″. Can’t wait to see you all there!