As we prepare to head to Dreamforce 2019, we take a look at a few tips and tricks to make the experience seamless and memorable.
I can’t believe Dreamforce is less than a month away. Dreamforce is Salesforce.com’s annual conference in San Francisco. This year will be my seventh year. It never ceases to amaze me how many people attend, how difficult it is to get a hotel room, and, of course – the concert (hello, Fleetwood Mac!). Last year 170,000 fans of Salesforce attended the event, which covered 13 city blocks in downtown San Francisco.
Clients often ask me how to prepare for Dreamforce, especially if they are Dreamforce newbies. Below are five ways I’ve shared on how you can prepare for the conference.
- Book four to five sessions per day and quickly! You can access sessions now. Don’t wait to book sessions on the plane ride there. Sessions fill up quickly, but keep an eye out for these to occur at other times—sometimes, sessions appear on the schedule more than once. I’ve had luck as a “walk-in,” but last year was more challenging because of the increased attendance.
- Skip the keynotes! You heard me, they are not a great use of time, and they are all recorded. Unless you are a huge fan of a specific celebrity speaker, watch them later. You won’t miss anything, because the same themes for each reoccur in the sessions and other smaller settings.
- Get a certification or two! The conference offers certifications at a discounted rate, and Salesforce always makes the experience fun (if you pass) by taking your picture, sending tweets, and, in general, giving great high fives.
- Traveling alone? Ask your Salesforce Account Executive if any of their clients have similar interests to you, and could meet for coffee or lunch. Dreamforce is more fun with friends! It sounds like blind dating, but meeting new people is part of the Dreamforce experience. And it’s a great way to build your network.
- What to pack? I always bring a jacket with a hood, an umbrella, bandaids, and comfortable walking shoes (or several pairs). It’s not uncommon to log 25,000 steps in a single day! A battery pack, or two for cell phones, snacks, and maybe some aspirin!
Dreamforce is a fantastic experience, and you will learn more about the various platforms from Salesforce and the community. But most of all, you’ll have fun!
