If you want to get the most out a professional conference, the key is preparation, says Sara Gilbert, founder of Strategist Business Development in Montreal. The work begins long before you step into your first session.

A successful conference experience requires that you do your homework. That means finding out what kind of information will be available there and who will be speaking, as well as figuring out what you hope to gain by attending.

Here are the four steps to preparing yourself prior to attending a conference:

1. Set an objective
Start with the end in mind, says Allison Graham, the London, Ont.-based author of From Business Cards to Business Relationships: Personal Branding and Profitable Networking Made Easy.

Ask yourself what you would have to learn from the conference in order to make the investment of time worthwhile, she says.

For example, if you’ve been meaning to learn more about digital marketing, make that your objective and find the right conference and the right sessions to provide that knowledge.

Both Gilbert and Graham agree that the conference itself will be just the beginning of a 365-day process. During that time, you will apply what you learned at the conference to your business.

2. Prepare key questions
Once you’ve determined your objective, brainstorm up to five questions you would like answered during your time at the conference.

“By writing these questions on a piece of paper that you will keep with you during the conference,” Gilbert says, “you won’t lose focus as to why you are there.”

Think about questions that will help you improve your practice. For example, if you’ve made learning about digital marketing your objective, consider some specific sub-topics you should investigate such as: what social media network best suits your client base; what you need to know about blogging; and whether videos are an effective way of marketing your financial advisory practice.

3. Find out about the scheduled speakers
Obtain the schedule from the conference website and find out who will be presenting and the topics they will cover. Learn as much as you can about the speakers and their areas of specialization. Think of some questions you would like to ask them following their presentations.

You can even attempt to contact some of those individuals, Graham says. Contacting people you are hoping to meet at the conference in advance will set you apart from others. Send an email saying that you enjoy their work and you hope you can introduce yourself at the event.

This is the first instalment in a four-part series on getting the most from conferences.

Next: Effective participation at the conference.