It’s tough to network at conferences when you can’t get there. Let’s face it, the cost of attending conferences are high. But what if you could find a way cut out one of the expenses. What if you could attend without paying for a ticket. I’ve attended conferences for free in the past by using three techniques and you can easily do the same thing.
Be A Speaker
Agreeing to speak at a conference is one of the easier ways to attend a conference. If you can make the cut you will be able to get your ticket cost covered, get a platform to share your brilliance and be in a position where people will want to connect with you. Speaking for a ticket is how I attended SXSW for the first time.
Be in the Media
I’ve done interviewing work for the Massachusetts Conference For Women and was in turn provided a media pass. You can reach out to the organizers to find out if you could attend as a blogger (that means you would actually have to have a blog) or offer to conduct interviews of there speakers before the conference in exchange for a conference ticket.
Be Scholarly
You can keep your eyes out or ask the conference organizers if they have any scholarship opportunities and what the criteria is. I attended Inbound 2013 by applying for a scholarship (see my scholarship video below).
You Tube Link: http://youtu.be/7OAl_ZOrmlM
Be a Volunteer
I haven’t had the opportunity to use this method yet but know plenty of folks who have volunteered their time in exchange for a free ticket to a conference. The work you contribute can take place before, during or after the conference.
What are methods have you heard of or tried that got you a free ticket to a conference?
Remember, long after the conference has concluded, it’s the connections that continue.
Your Ambassador,
Mike Ambassador Bruny
