New conferences are announced almost every day, but realistically you can only attend one or two per year. To decide which ones warrant your time, think about what kinds of people you want to make connections with. Consider your 50 closest professional relationships. If almost all of them are at your company or in your industry, you may want to explore conferences that bring together diverse groups, such as TED or your local TEDx gathering. Conversely, if your ties inside your industry are weak, consider attending events sponsored by your regional or national professional association. It’s important that you don’t only consider the gatherings that your peers frequent. View your conference attendance as a chance to connect with the people whom you wish to have as your peers in the future.
Adapted from "How to Decide Which Conferences Are Worth Your Time," by Dorie Clark
