Tips and Tricks for Attending Virtual Conferences BY LEE NELSON
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any Realtors® across the state have attended or will be attending virtual conferences to keep up on continuing education credits, to get inspiration, and to network as large-scale conferences are canceled for the rest of the year. A lot of good things can be said about virtual conferences including accessibility, no hotels or restaurants to pay, and no travel time. Just like attending an in-person conference, virtual conferences offer many options such as keynote speakers, discussion panels, socializing and networking, educational opportunities, and even exhibit halls. But how can you get the most out of it and network with other attendees when you aren’t together physically? Louis Wells, Director for The Center for Applied Improvisation and Theater at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, was a speaker at an improvisation virtual conference in April and is a member of an educational symposium conference planning board that will be held online in February. “A conference by nature is an optimistic endeavor,” says Wells. “But it does take a lot of energy to speak in a Zoom conference, and it takes a lot of energy to listen during these conferences.”
10 | NEW JERSEY REALTOR® | November/December 2020
Preparing for a Virtual Conference If you want to gain the most from a virtual conference, that time needs to be prioritized as if you were at an in-person event. Schedule time off from your regular job or routine and make sure to put the conference on your calendar. Check your emails for updated information about the conference once you register. During the day of the conference, “You should turn your phone off or put it in another room if you aren’t using it for the conference. The gravitational pull of a phone is big,” says Wells. Wells adds you need to be present and have your video on during the conference so you aren’t distracted. A notepad and pencil are the best tools to have with you. “A notepad is your best friend. It retains information and keeps you focused,” says Wells. “You can even doodle because your mind is still making connections.” Wells believes you need to prepare your environment for maximum comfort before turning on your conference. Comfort doesn’t mean wearing your sloppy sweatshirt. Instead, dress for success as if you were attending the conference in person, says Rose La Pira, broker-associate at RE/MAX Properties in Englewood Cliffs. She has attended many virtual conferences during the COVID-19 shutdown and even before that. “Some people need to do the conferences in their bedroom (or the basement or other rooms that might not be the best presentable-wise). You can use a virtual background on your computer,” says La Pira.
