Dreamforce – October 13-19, 2014. San Francisco, CA.
Hosted by Salesforce.com, Dreamforce is four days of education, networking, concerts, and fun. Although the focus is on their CRM platform, there is so much to do and learn that even if you don’t use their software the event is worth attending.
As this will be my seventh year attending, I think of myself as somewhat knowledgeable on what to expect and how to plan. In a few days, Salesforce will release the agenda builder for the conference. With over 1,400 sessions to choose from, even the most experienced attendee will feel overwhelmed.
To make this easier, I thought I would share with you some things I have learned over the years:
– Wear comfortable shoes and comfortable clothing. Unlike most events we attend, Dreamforce is spread over many San Francisco city blocks. It can easily be a 20-25 minute walk from one session to the next. Dress comfortably.
– Review the session list before the agenda builder goes live. There is so much to choose from, you need to have a plan in advance.
– Decide your top 3 goals and plan your days to ensure you achieve them. For example; If you are hoping to learn more about vendors in the Multi-Channel Customer Engagement technology space, review the floor plans for the cloud expos and start making note of exhibitor locations.
– Know what edition of Salesforce you are using and what other vendors you have integrated. There is little point in attending sessions focused on editions with features you don’t have.
– Hands-On-Training (HOTS). Push your comfort level and find a HOT session to attend. Sure, you might not do the back-end admin, but it is always good to learn a little more about all the great things Salesforce can do.
– As you plan your days, don’t forget to plan time, to eat. Lunches are provided by Salesforce and available at all the hotels where sessions are scheduled. It is way too easy to over-schedule and under eat.
– The Bruno Mars concert should be a great time, but there is so much more to do and see throughout the week.There will be live music on the plaza and events, concerts, and parties each night. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and network.
– You will be tired. There is only so much walking, learning, and networking a person can do. Allow yourself some time to rest each day. You are going to need it.
– If you want to have dinner at a specific restaurant, make the reservations now. Many are already sold-out.
– Not everyone agrees with me, but I always attend Marc Benioff’s keynote in person. There is usually a surprise musical guest (MC Hammer, Huey Lewis, etc.) and the energy in the event hall cannot be missed.
– Famous people. There are always a few well-known celebrities in attendance. Learn from my past mistakes, some of them are impostors.
Fake Bono
We’re really looking forward to this year’s event. This will be a great week learning about improving Customer Engagement and Customer Service. We will be able to share what we learn with our clients and help them to grow and provide even higher levels of service.