Attending a conference can be an incredibly valuable experience for learning, networking, and generating new ideas. However, it can be challenging to distill all of that information down into a coherent blog post or article afterwards. Here are some tips on how to write an effective post after attending a conference:
Take Extensive Notes
The best way to capture all the key insights from a conference is to take copious notes throughout each session and talk you attend. Focus on jotting down key statistics, memorable quotes, insightful arguments, and any novel concepts or ideas you hear. It’s nearly impossible to remember everything clearly after the fact, so good notes are essential.
Organize and Review Your Notes
After the conference, spend some time organizing your notes by theme and importance. Flesh out any shorthand scribbles so the notes make sense later. Eliminate repetitive or extraneous information. Identify the key takeaways that you could turn into a blog post and group supporting details with each one.
Choose Your Angle
A post-conference article could take many angles, so choose one key theme or narrative to focus on. Some options include:
- A summary of the top insights from the overall conference
- A detailed analysis of a particular session or topic
- Tips for conference attendees based on your experience
- A profile of an inspiring speaker
- A call-to-action based on what you learned
Define the purpose of your post and narrow your focus around that goal.
Craft an Outline
Once you’ve settled on your angle, sketch out a loose outline for structuring your post. Come up with a logical sequence, such as:
- Introduce the conference and your reason for attending
- Describe a memorable session or speaker
- Explain key insights from that talk
- Discuss how those concepts could apply for readers
- Wrap up with final thoughts and takeaways
Having an outline will make writing much easier as you’ll know where you’re headed.
Write a Strong Introduction
The introduction is crucial for drawing readers in. Some ideas for an engaging intro:
- Open with an anecdote from a session
- Start with a surprising or fascinating statistic
- Begin with a vivid description of the conference setting or atmosphere
- Lead in with a compelling quote from a speaker
- Pose an intriguing question for readers
After the hook, give some context about the conference and emphasize to readers why they should care about this topic.
Expand on Key Points
Use your outline and notes to expand on each of the key points. Bring in relevant details, data, examples, quotes, and stories to flesh out each section. Arrange the information in a logical order, and use transitional phrases to connect ideas between paragraphs. Avoid just listing items – synthesize the information into meaningful takeaways.
Incorporate Multimedia
Visuals help break up text and engage readers. Consider incorporating:
| Multimedia Element | Best For |
|---|---|
| Photos | Showing conference setting, speakers, exhibits, etc. |
| Charts/graphs | Displaying key data/statistics from talks |
| Video clips | Showing a demo, interview, or segment from a speaker |
| Quotes | Highlighting pivotal points from speeches |
Provide proper attribution for any multimedia used.
Share Actionable Takeaways
The post should provide value for readers by highlighting concrete lessons, strategies, or applications of the content. Some ideas include:
- Step-by-step instructions on implementing a technique demonstrated
- A checklist of key considerations on the topic
- Tips for getting started based on what you learned
- Tools/resources mentioned at the conference for learning more
- Strategies for applying the concepts in real-world scenarios
Help the reader walk away understanding what to do next.
Wrap Up with Key Themes
Summarize the core themes and key takeaways covered for a solid conclusion. You can reiterate the most important points made or share final reflections. End by reminding readers of the broader implications from the conference. Leave them with a memorable final thought.
Revise and Refine
With a complete draft done, step back and review your article with fresh eyes. Look for ways to tighten up content, improve flow, add details, and clarify anything confusing. Consider having someone else read over your post and give feedback as well. Refine until you have a cohesive, polished piece.
Find the Right Images
Images help make a post more visually appealing. Look for photos that complement your content without being distracting. Images should:
- Be high resolution and quality
- Help illustrate concepts mentioned
- Have descriptive alt text
- Add visual interest
- Be legally to use with attribution
Carefully choose a few key images to sprinkle in.
Promote Your Post
Don’t let your hard work go to waste – be sure to actively promote your finished piece! Some ideas include:
- Share on social media with targeted hashtags
- Send to relevant LinkedIn groups
- Highlight in your email newsletter or mailing list
- Pitch to other publications for cross-posting
- Let conference organizers and speakers know
- Prominently feature on your own site
Leverage all available channels to get your post in front of the right readers.
Track Performance
Analyze how your post performs with readers. Look at:
- Traffic to the post
- Engagement metrics (comments, shares, bookmarks etc)
- Inbound links and mentions
- Conversions generated
This can help you identify what resonated and improve in the future.
Conclusion
Attending conferences offers valuable insights, but it takes effort to distill that into an engaging written piece. By taking detailed notes, focusing your angle, developing strong content with multimedia, promotion, and analytics – you can share key learnings with others through an effective conference recap. Use these tips to write conference takeaways that provide value to audiences by transforming your experiences into engaging articles.
