Salesforce Dreamforce 2021 is around the corner again in just 2 weeks! Due to Covid, most people will get to see the sessions on the screen, and the previously most sought-after in-person experience of Dreamforce is now by invitation only to ensure compliance with COVID protocols.
Are you one of the lucky Salesforce users who will get to go to Salesforce flagship conference in San Francisco this year? Then, read on, as you’ll need some help to make the most of this typically overwhelming event.
If you are going to be a virtual visitor, the same 5 points apply, albeit that the nuances are different.
5 Dreamforce Tops
As with everything that has a tendency to ‘overwhelm’, my first tip is to break it down and simply.
1. Break it down
Decide beforehand what you are going to see and map a route to go from A to B to C, etc. Here are lots of planning resources at Salesforce.com.
Virtual visitors are sometimes a bit too relaxed with planning their participation. However, seriously review the 4 day schedule and book time in your calendar to watch certain sessions will bring best results.
2. Time yourself
This event now takes over San Francisco city and there is some serious walking involved to go from venue A to venue B. Set up a tool like Calendly to book your time during the event. Allow some breaks, be sure to have some time slots for new contacts to book an appt with you. Pop on 1 hr of ‘must attend to’ regular work/emails to keep things going back in the office.
Virtual visitors don’t need to worry about this. So, while you miss out on the San Fran scenery, at least you won’t get as tired either…. (not sure if one makes up for the other.. )
3. Pace yourself
It’s 4 days straight, days and eves. Unless you are super-fit, you’ll be exhausted by the sheer number of people and energy of it all. Allow yourself an hour of zen time each day to recoup.
We all need a bit of zen, in San Fran or Brighton.
4. Simplify
Only attend to what’s important to you. Be the boss of your time!!! By being laser focused on what you came to do, you won’t be as tired. As well, block out any non-essential input / requirements from the office for these 4 days.
Blocking out office demands will be so much harder if you see the event virtually. Hence the suggestion to put select sessions onto your calendar as business meetings. Content will be available on Salesforce+ before, during, and after Dreamforce, however, you have to honestly ask yourself if you will make the time to watch sessions that are not diarised.
5. Prepare follow-ups
Following up with your new connections, discovered opportunities and new learnings to implement – it can be huge! The most efficient ways to doing follow-ups is either executing or planning that follow-up right there and then, and bring in some automations. Download a business card scanner app on your phone and scan in those contact details. Bring new people in as leads or partners into your Salesforce org. Prep a campaign with few follow-up activities ahead of time, for easy execution. Then, have a useful ‘nice to meet you’ email or ‘welcome journey’- email series ready to send to everyone you meet. If you’re an Asana user, plan new and nifty implementation projects with a target due date.
Obviously, it’s not as simple to meet people on a virtual event than in person.
These are our 5 Dreamforce tips. Wishing you a great Dreamforce event experience! We can’t wait what new innovative thought will be revealed this year at Dreamforce. Always an inspiration.
