To me, conferences are mostly dog and pony shows. There is a lot of preening over which company has the biggest set up, most unique, the prettiest booth babes, most fun giveaways, etc. However, if you look past all the hoopla, you’ll find conferences serve a greater purpose. They offer valuable face-time with the people you really want to connect with – existing and potential customers, business partners, the media, etc.

A huge misconception of social media is that if you build it they will come. This is not field of dreams. In addition, joining social media networks is not like advertising. You must be proactive and reach out to fellow group members, network and create those relationships. It is those relationships that assist in leading to new business opportunities. Merely joining a group or building a profile does not lead to new business.