10 Tips for ICLV: How to make the most of your time at real estate’s most important conference
Inman Connect Las Vegas is real estate’s premier event. With 10 tracks plus workshops, learning labs, and networking sessions, there’s something for everyone. Two hundred experts representing the real estate, tech, marketing, and mortgage industries will speak at about 150 sessions. It can be a little overwhelming if you don’t have a plan. So here’s how to make the most of your time in Vegas.
- Don’t miss the virtual content. If you can’t travel to Vegas, buy a virtual ticket and participate from the comfort of home. The in-person ticket includes access to every recording. After the event, watch the recordings of any session you couldn’t attend in Vegas or re-watch the ones you loved to capture every insightful moment.
- Get social. Get on Twitter and LinkedIn now and follow the experts and organizations you want to connect with in Vegas. That way you’ll hear about every event they’re sponsoring, where they’ll be speaking, and how you can meet them in person. Follow the conference hashtags: #ICLV, #InmanConnect, and #ICLV2021 And, while you’re at it, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
- Download the app. Having the ICLV 2021 app on your phone will be a huge help. Get notifications, access venue maps, and receive important reminders — all from one screen. Look for Bizzabo in the App Store and on Google Play.
- Plan meetings. Don’t assume you’ll run into the people you hope to see at Inman. Thousands of people will attend. If there’s someone you really want to see during the conference, schedule a meeting with them beforehand. Invite them to dinner, plan to meet for lunch between sessions, or have an early morning get-together over coffee. Some of the best learning happens in the “unofficial sessions”.
- Create a schedule. This year’s agenda features 150 sessions over three days. Don’t be frantic — be strategic. Think about your goals: what do you hope to get out of this conference? According to Dorie Clark, author of Standout Networking, there are two reasons to attend a session: 1. To learn something new. 2. To meet or support the person presenting.
Study the agenda in advance and add each event you want to attend to your work calendar. Be sure to include detailed location information: the Aria is a four-million-square-foot resort (the largest and tallest structure in CityCenter). Choose a backup session, too. Sometimes sessions fill up and you don’t want to miss an opportunity to learn because you didn’t have a plan. Be sure to check out the sessions where our team is speaking. Visit this page for more detail.
- Divide and conquer. If a teammate is going to Inman with you, resist the temptation to attend the same sessions. Compare calendars (see #5 above) and decide who’ll cover what so you can be exposed to as many ideas, people, and insights as possible. You can always compare notes over drinks in the evening.
- Take notes. Studies show that people who take notes by hand learn more than people who type notes on a laptop. Bonus: notebooks are also notification free, making it easier to concentrate on the session you’re attending. If you insist on taking notes on your laptop, put it in “do not disturb” mode at the beginning of each session so you can focus.
- Ask questions. Raise your hand during the Q&A, attend meet and greet events with speakers, and wait in line to get an answer if you have to. If you can’t get your questions answered during the event, follow up on Twitter or LinkedIn.
- Review the highlights. Attend the “End-of-the-day Takeaway” sessions. I’ll join Laura Monroe to recap the biggest moments of each day of the conference on the main stage at 4:45 PM PT.
- Pack well and get excited! Conference days are long — wear comfy shoes and clothes. Don’t forget to carry water, snacks, business cards, a notebook, and extra pens. And get excited. Companies often make big announcements at Inman. And you’ll learn more about technology, teams, and trends than you ever imagined possible in just three days.
We’re the title sponsor of Inman Connect Las Vegas 2021. To learn more about our leaders speaking on stage and events we’re hosting in our hospitality suite, visit our website.
Julie Youngblood, a Partner Lead at Homeward, hosted her first open house at the age of 16. She went to real estate school at 17 and earned her license at 19. A year later she was leading one of the most successful teams in Southern Nevada. At that time, the team was closing 350-400 transactions every year, earning them the #48 spot in the Wall Street Journal’s nationwide rankings for most productive teams. Julie was voted “Best Instructor” by Keller Williams Realty in 2008. In 2010 she opened Youngblood Coaching & Consulting to mentor agents nationwide. She is an Inman Top 25 Coach who has coached more than $3B in gross commission income. As a Partner Lead, Julie manages the strategy, execution, and integration of key partnerships with top brokerages.
