In 2008, a blog post on Gigaom asked the following question: "Would you attend a virtual conference in your field?" Enthusiasm for the concept was a bit muted, culminating in a final comment that pronounced, "Even though I hate going to conferences, I hate virtual conferences more."

Flash forward 12 years and our options appear a bit limited, to say the least. In our present COVID-19 reality, nearly all face-to-face gatherings have been moved online. Courtesy of MoneyCrashers and others, here are some ways to maximize the potential of a still relatively new phenomenon.

1. A virtual conference is still a conference, so treat it like one. The basics still have to be covered: Mark it on your calendar and block time (and space in your home!) for it. Think about what you want to get out of the event and schedule yourself for sessions that will help you satisfy those goals. And dress the part—getting out of your pajamas and into appropriate professional clothes will help you bridge the distance you might feel online and more like an active participant.

2. Ditch the distractions. The temptation to check your newsfeeds and messages may be harder to resist at home than it is when in the presence of others, so turn off your notifications and turn on your email autoresponder so you can focus on the task at hand.

3. Know the tech you'll need. You may need to utilize special tech platforms to participate in sessions. Make sure you know what's required and download whatever meeting software the event will require. Additionally, double-check your own tech so your devices are all ready to serve you on the day of the conference.

4. You don't have to go it alone. Inviting your colleagues and peers to participate will not only bring your team closer together, but knowing familiar faces are there will serve to ground you in the event and pay closer attention to the sessions. It will also inspire you to take notes!

5. Take advantage of recorded sessions. It's usually standard operating procedure that everything at a virtual conference is recorded. Therefore, if you missed a session due to scheduling issues, you can go back and review it. (This is also helpful for sessions you attended.) However, it's important that you schedule these reviews. Mark them on your calendar!

6. Network! Believe it or not, there are still several ways to network at a virtual conference. The organizers may have taken care of that for you by dedicating virtual happy hours at the end of the day, but don't be afraid to take the bull by the horns yourself. You can connect with your peers via Zoom or GoogleMeet, or even host your own Twitter chat. Look for as many opportunities to take advantage of the technology available to you.

7. Follow up afterwards. Send an email to organizers thanking them for hosting the event, and to session speakers for their participation. Connections, now perhaps more than ever, are important to forge.

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Get the most out of virtual conferences with these tips

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