Tag Archive for: Dreamforce 2018

The Beginner’s Guide To Dreamforce

By Anna Kinnear

So, you’ve heard all about the Dreamforce Conference, and you’ve decided you want to attend this epic event to see what the fuss is all about.

Well, if that’s the case, then brace yourself, because you are in for an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experience! Plus, we’ll tell you how you can meet with Commercient at Dreamforce!

The Dreamforce Conference is hosted annually in San Francisco by Salesforce. It’s taking place at the Moscone Convention Center, 747 Howard Street, San Francisco, from the 25th to the 28th of September.

What Dreamforce Is All About

Dreamforce is undoubtedly the largest cloud computing and software event in the world, bringing together a staggering mass of like-minded individuals from around the globe for an exciting and empowering four-day, energy-packed conference.

This event has a profound impact on its attendees, and, year after year, people leave the event feeling informed, inspired and empowered. While Dreamforce promises fun and excitement, for the Dreamforce novice, the experience can be overwhelming.

With just a few weeks until takeoff, we’ve put together this beginner’s guide to help you plan and prepare so that you’re ready for the most productive Dreamforce experience ever!

“Always plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” – Richard Cushing

Registration

By now you have already registered to attend the event, which sells out every year. Once registered, don’t forget to look through the vast selection of valuable sessions, because they might fill up before you’re able to secure your spot. Check the schedule often, learn who is speaking, learn Salesforce and get Certified, and be sure to bookmark the Trail Maps.

Travel and Accommodation

It is vital that you book your accommodation and make your transportation arrangements well in advance to avoid disappointment. Accommodation for Dreamforce attendees fills up pretty quickly.

What To Pack

Here is a basic checklist of essentials to take along with you:

  • Clothes
    There is no specific dress code for this event, but make sure that you are comfortable and look professional in your chosen attire. Check the weather forecast the night before you leave so you’re prepared for the weather. San Francisco weather tends to fluctuate all year round, so wear layers and pack accordingly.
  • Shoes
    Be prepared to walk! There will be a lot of standing and walking around between venues, so opt for comfortable shoes – your feet will thank you for that.
  • Technology
    Bring your laptop and any other devices you may need to get the most out of Dreamforce. Use them to add new contacts’ information, notes from the sessions, and demos for potential customers and partners. Make sure you grab your external battery pack to charge your laptop or tablet. Don’t forget your cell phone charger, as well as an external USB charger.
  • Business Cards
    You will meet lots of new people, so pack your business cards to hand out and to leave at booths while networking. Download a card capturing app on your phone to make capturing people’s information easy.
  • Refillable Water Bottle
    All that walking and talking will leave you parched and dehydrated. There will be plenty of water fountains to refill your bottle.
  • Throat Lozenges
    Your throat will need soothing from all that talking.
  • Snacks
    Pack snacks and keep them in your backpack for those sudden hunger pangs, or for when you’re too busy networking to grab a meal.
  • Tote Bag/Backpack
    Make sure you have a tote bag or a backpack that you can carry around with you all day.
  • Download the Salesforce Event App
    Take a look at what the Salesforce event app has to offer.
  • Extra Room
    Leave room in your suitcase for all the free gear and awesome swag you will be collecting during the event.

Where To Eat When You Get There

While you’re there, check out our top picks for dining out:

  1. Mo’s Grill
    Looking for something quick and easy?
    Check out Mo’s Grill at 1322 Grant Avenue; a reasonably priced American diner that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  2. Brenda’s French Soul Food
    Situated at 652 Polk Street, Brenda’s French Soul Food restaurant provides a casual atmosphere in which to unwind and enjoy a meal.
  3. Kokkari Estiatorio
    An excellent choice for private dining and business meetings.
    Located at 200 Jackson Street, this restaurant is only 2.5 miles from the Dreamforce Conference. Their main dishes are Mediterranean and Greek, and they are also vegetarian friendly.

Networking

Networking is key, so it’s great to attend the Expo, meeting with like-minded companies and individuals, plus look for parties (check out this terrific list that Salesforce Ben put together) and other events you can socialize and network at. Commercient will be ready to meet you at booth 1954, and you can register here.

Now that you have your packing list in order, a few places picked out to eat, and some tips on where to go for networking opportunities, you are just a few steps away from being ready for an unforgettable, life-changing adventure! Enjoy Dreamforce 2018!

 

Commercient will be at Dreamforce 2018! Stop by at booth 1954, ask your questions and get a free demo of our integration apps that connect +65 accoutning and ERP systems with your CRM, and +815 popular internet apps and services. Click on the image to schedule a time with us.

 

SYNC Demo integrate CRM ERP

 

How To Attend Dreamforce as a Business Without a Booth

By Raj Adhi

What if you could go to Dreamforce without the cost of a booth? Dreamforce is an event that provides an incredible platform with endless opportunities for the Salesforce community and businesses ready to grow through technology and innovation. This event once again opens its doors to visitors September 25 – 28, with a view on learning about new tech and trends, sharing with industry experts and like-minded partners, and getting valuable insights and inspirations to building a successful business.

If you are attending Dreamforce this year, but didn’t want to blow your marketing budget out on a booth, fret not! You are not alone; in fact, you make up the majority of the attendees. Even if you don’t have a booth, you can allow that to work in your favor in many ways.You are free to venture into the other venues and get an overall perspective of the event. All you need is a well planned out agenda and a great attitude, to boot.

Whether you wish to attend all 4 days or just a couple, here’s how to get the most out of Dreamforce, and maximize your business’s exposure at this high-growth, networking-focussed gathering.

Have an Agenda and Strategize

Planning is key to an early start and to maximize your networking opportunities at the show. Decide ahead which booths you wish to visit on each day of the conference.

Are you partnered with any major brands other than Salesforce? This is a big factor when looking at Dreamforce. Most companies including Commercient will allow you to meet up with clients and other partners at their booth. This can be extremely valuable for running email and calling campaigns to set up meetings in advance. Customers are far more likely to meet up with you at the conference if they know where and when ahead of time.

If there is a particular talk or session you think is important, register to attend as early as possible. Scheduling interviews or one-to-ones with CEOs, CFOs and other important people should be part of the agenda. Lastly, get involved in some business-meets-fun engagements. The relationship-building purpose of these events is not complete without networking opportunities in a fun and relaxed environment.

Shared PR and Marketing Opportunities

Do what the magazines do! These events are full of specialists that can provide expert insights about what’s new or trending in the industry, and would love exposure opportunities. Some of them could be current or prospective partners and customers. Interview them and publish the speaker’s opinions or key excerpts of the interview in a blog post on your website and social media platforms.

They can also share this published piece in their own platforms to attract organic, valuable traffic to your website. To ensure a successful interview, prepare the list of questions you are going to ask the speaker. Scheduling well in advance is crucial as seats may be limited and not many experts may have the time for a one-on-one. Carry a backup battery for your phone and digital recorder to cover the event and refer back to it later.

Network and Advertise

Selling is all about actively listening to your customers and developing win-win solutions, through a personal interaction. Nothing quite beats a one-to-one interaction with businesses who share the same ideals and goals.

Whenever you stop to chat with people, make sure to ask open ended questions and listen, so you are better prepared to position your business to suit their requirements. This also gives you the ability to tailor your messaging to the needs and pain points they just expressed. Ensure you share information about the company you represent and include your success stories with clients.
Many long-term business relationships have started the same way. Understand what the rest of them have been working towards and keep in mind changes through personal engagements.

Let Your Hair Down

More lasting contacts are built at parties and events than at formal settings. Conferences can get hectic and rushed. One of the best ways to meet people is at a Breakfast or Lunch meeting, or a discussion over drinks at an after-event party, where you can catch people in a casual setting.

A change from the hurried business situation allows people to relax and have an open and honest discussion. It provides the ideal scenario for building relationships and long term contacts. Here you can connect with people at a personal, emotional level, where they express themselves more freely and enables businesses to create lasting relationships. You can also arrange a meeting with friends and clients at such fun events so you can cement and build upon the partnerships.

Follow Up

We all know the regular exercise of visiting booths and collecting brochures, business cards and other collectable advertising material from businesses which pick our interest. You may have also exchanged your own cards after the pleasant exchanges.

It is crucial to follow up after interacting with someone at the event. This serves to remind the other person about your company after the initial engagement at the conference. Besides making an impact, such your approach is likely to be very effective as you have shown interest and commitment to the person or company by following up.

Lastly, such a large-scale event such as Dreamforce makes for an ideal scenario for research. It provides the right opportunity to learn more about the competition, from various viewpoints, to marketing or pricing. You can then come up with strategies that can benefit your own business.

So, what are you waiting for? Get started with the Dreamforce plan. Commercient will be waiting for you at booth 1954, you can register here. For more on Dreamforce, click here.

Dreamforce 2018 Commercient