So, there’s a direct sales conference coming up and you’re thinking about not going. You’re saying to yourself it’s a waste of time and money. It’s better for your business for you to stay home and keep doing your daily grind, right?

Actually, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

If you’ve never attended a direct sales conference, you’re missing out on a lot of opportunities that will benefit your business and your own personal growth.

Here are five reasons you should attend one in the future:

1. You’ll learn new things

This is ultimately why most people attend conferences, to learn new tricks, tips, and tools to expand their business knowledge. The speakers, workshops, and panels are all designed to present relevant information in a fun and engaging way. And it’s usually information you won’t likely find anywhere else. Some best practices to remember are:

• • • Find which sessions will benefit you most and make your schedule prior to the conference.
    • Make sure to bring a notepad and pen or a laptop to take notes; don’t rely on your memory.
    • Use your phone’s camera to take pictures of the overhead presentation.
    • Wearing your name badge may be simple enough but you actually might be wearing it wrong. Here’s what you need to know about your name badge.
    • When you sign up for the conference use the name you go by and not your given name. Don’t use Sarah if people call you Sally.
    • If the presenter hasn’t offered, ask her or him if there’s a way to get the presentation afterward, either via email or a website.

2. Network with industry experts and peers

There is no better place to find hundreds of like-minded folks with high business ambitions than at a conference or convention. Whether you’re looking to ascend the direct sales business ladder or to simply become better in your current position, these kinds of events are made for folks to connect, exchange trade secrets and business cards, collaborate and even meet potential clients and customers. A few other things you could do to make this process easier include:

• • • Write your social media handles on your nametag so others can easily take a quick photo when swapping contact info.
    • Be prepared to pass out your business card. If you don’t already have a business card  here are some guidelines for creating one. Digital business cards are important too!
    • Contact presenters and peers you know will be at the conference prior to going to arrange a time to meet while you’re there.
    • Conferences usually build in networking times in the evenings specifically so people can speak with presenters and peers. Go to these. Or, if none are offered, ask a few folks to go to dinner or invite them to get cocktails.

3. It’s great social media material

If you’re looking for more material to post to your social media channels, or you need fresh ideas for your blog, attending a conference is a terrific way to get fresh content. Here are a few ways to use your conference experience to help fuel your social media presence:

• • Take copious notes from the sessions you attend so you have plenty of thought-leadership material to post. It doesn’t have to be much, a tip or a stat per post, or even a great quote. Or, you could write about one of the success stories you hear from one of the presentations.
  • Snap selfies with speakers and peers and tag them on social media. This will gain you more exposure online but also give your audience a chance to see you with other experts in the industry, giving you more credibility.
  • Do video interviews with session leaders, post them online and tag your interviewee. You can ask questions about their careers, or for advice or product tips. Not only will your audience find this helpful but it also gives you a chance to network and another chance to expand your audience.