How to Prepare for a Business Summit

Business summits, conferences, and expositions are outstanding and enjoyable ways to connect, promote, network, and sell! While at a business summit you can meet fellow business owners, learn about exciting new ideas to further your business, and be inspired by keynote speakers or seminars you attend.

Arriving at any business summit or conference unprepared and disorganized will only make you feel stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted by the time you leave for home. In order to get the most of the experience, it is important that you arrive at any summit prepared and motivated to engage and learn. To help you out, here are some tips to help you prepare for a business summit.


1.     Preplan, organize, and tie up loose ends

Make sure everything is lined up before you leave, particularly if you are going to be gone for more than 1 day. Answer emails, finish those work errands, and confirm your reservations if you’ll be staying in a hotel or traveling on a plane. Getting all these small things done will keep your stress level down and help you focus when your attention is needed at the summit.

Plan in advance which speakers, information sessions, and events you wish to attend. If you know you want to network with a particular individual, set up a meeting or a quick chat ahead of time. This ensures that you will actually get to meet and talk with the people you want. Networking only succeeds if you put a little effort in!

2.     Research

This may seem like a no-brainer, but more often than not people find themselves too busy to research in advance what speakers will be in attendance and when certain parts of the summit occur. After you’ve preplanned your schedule and tied up loose ends, you will have time to research who and what you’ll be seeing at the summit.

Check out the vendors and sponsors of the event as well. Are they potential clients of yours? Would you benefit going into business with them? These are important questions to ask yourself before a business summit.

3.     Practice your pitch

You’ll be at a business summit. Chances are high that you will meet many individuals to network with and possibly do business with in the future. Make sure your message is clear, succinct, and accurately depicts you and your business model.

4.     Bring lots of advertising material

If you have the ability, go beyond the simple business card to advertise you or your business. Print out attractive and well-designed brochures or make some colorful flyers. Above all, make sure that all the information on your material is accurate and up-to-date. There is nothing more unprofessional than having to tell a potential client that your address or phone number has changed.

5.     Make room for some free time

It’s very important to find some free time among the busyness of the summit. Giving yourself a little time to decompress and process what you’ve learned can make all the difference in the world. This can be anything from a quiet breakfast in your room before starting the day to taking a hot bath after several long sessions and meetings. Doing this will help you absorb the information you learned or will learn during the summit.

6.     Follow up

Plan on following up with the people you met no more than a week after the summit. However you choose to do it – email, phone call, or handwritten note – make sure you thank the individual for spending time to talk with you. You can also connect with them on LinkedIn or any other social media they utilize. You want to make a good impression on anyone that might be beneficial to your career or business.


Business summits, conferences, and expositions are tremendous opportunities to further your career in business and entrepreneurship. Make the most of these opportunities by being prepared, having fun, and making the most of your time spent at the business event.

Want to meet like-minded and interesting businesswomen from the New York Metro area? Join us at the MACsWomen Connect Summit and Expo on October 3rd! Our summit brings businesswomen and entrepreneurs together for a day filled with empowering and motivating experiences. Register here now!