MJBizCon is always one of the most exciting cannabis conferences of the year, and this year’s event is approaching quickly. As longtime attendees of this cannabis conference, the team at NisonCo has figured out several strategies to help us make the most of it. Here are our top 15 tips to help you have a fun and productive experience at MJBizCon.
When is MJBizCon 2023?
MJBizCon 2023 will occur from November 28 to December 1 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
15 Ways to Make the Most of MJBizCon
Without a clear plan, it can be easy to get distracted at large cannabis conferences like MJBizCon. These tips can help you make the most of any conference.
1. Plan Your MJBizCon Week
First and foremost, make a plan of everything you want to do and everyone you hope to connect with over the week. Be sure to consider what each conference day will be like overall, too. We have found that the last day of MJBizCon is typically the most laid-back, even on the exhibition floor, so it’s a great time to make more in-depth connections with people.
2. Send Out an Email Blast for MJBizCon
In the weeks leading up to the conference, ensure that current and prospective clients know you plan to attend. Publicize the details if you’re setting up a booth or hosting a party, and if there are people you want to connect with specifically, consider contacting them individually to set up a meeting. A cannabis communications agency or cannabis content writing firm can help you craft the perfect emails.
3. Study Headshots of Notable MJBizCon Attendees
If there are specific people you want to make sure to connect with at MJBizCon, don’t just send them an email ahead of time and keep on the lookout for their nametag — look at their headshots on LinkedIn or their company website so you know exactly who you’re searching for. If you have a particularly long list of people you’re hoping to speak with, making yourself a “roster” ahead of time to reference at the event can even be a great strategy.
4. Don’t Jump in With an MJBizCon Booth If You’re Green
Going all-out and purchasing a booth your first year at MJBizCon can be tempting, but this isn’t the most effective strategy. If you’ve never attended before, you’re better off walking the floor and making connections there — you’ll be able to cover a lot more ground and speak to many more people that way.
Join NisonCo and the Cannabis Marketing Association for our bespoke annual networking event at MJBizCon!
5. Team Up to Co-Host MJBizCon Afterparties or Events
If you invest in a booth, consider teaming up with another company to host an after-party or other event. This way, you can split the booth cost and have another, more laid-back event to refer prospective customers to. Our favorite co-hosted event each year is the Cannabis Marketing Mixer NisonCo hosts with the Cannabis Marketing Association. This year’s event gets you out of your crappy continental breakfast and chatting with the pros at The Cannabis Marketing Mimosa Meetup and Bagel Bash on Thursday morning. Spots are limited — RSVP at the link here.
6. Set Small Goals at Big Ol’ MJBizCon
MJBizCon is a colossal event. There are better times to try and take the industry by storm or set record sales goals. Instead, focus on making high-quality connections that you can follow up on later and nurturing relationships with existing clients.
7. MJBizCon is Enormous, So Be Ready to Walk
Be ready to cover a lot of ground at the convention center — we regularly walk anywhere from seven to ten miles daily at MJBizCon. Wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, and request accommodations if necessary.
8. Work with Clients on the MJBizCon Floor
Cannabis conferences can be a great way to make connections for your own company and can be great places to help your clients make connections, too. If you offer PR or marketing services, consider walking the floor with one of your clients to facilitate connections in a face-to-face setting that you might not otherwise have access to.
9. Network at MJBizCon, Don’t Pitch
Many cannabis reporters are always in attendance at MJBizCon, but they’re there for the same reason you are — they’re trying to make connections. Don’t try to pitch them an idea for a story when you run into them. Instead, focus on creating a connection and exchanging information. That way, you can share story ideas once you return to your regularly scheduled workweek.
10. MJBizCon is All About Getting Social
You can also share the details of your attendance on your optimized social media profiles. Make posts leading up to the conference to generate interest, and share updates throughout the event to keep your followers engaged. Social media can also be an excellent way to network with other businesses at the event, so use relevant hashtags and geotags.
11. Attend Run-Up MJBizCon Mixers and Post-Show After-parties
The exhibition floor isn’t always the best place to mingle with potential clients, as it’s usually too hectic to do much more than exchange information. Run-up mixers — like the virtual mixers NisonCo hosts — are a great way to connect with people before the conference and make plans to meet up in person. Breakfast pre-parties and after-parties can also be excellent places to deepen connections you’ve made on the exhibition floor and have actual conversations with your new contacts or existing clients.
12. Prioritize Physical Handouts at MJBizCon
Cellphone reception tends to be spotty on the exhibition floor, so relying on virtual handouts or contact-sharing techniques isn’t always the best bet. Business cards, brochures, postcards, and other physical handouts are typically more convenient and practical. Be sure to have a good supply of handouts and a bag handy to store all the business cards and marketing information you receive.
13. Keep a Flexible MJBizCon Schedule
Having a plan when you attend big conferences like this one is essential, but staying flexible is also critical. Make sure you leave time for spontaneous connections and unplanned moments and some time to enjoy yourself, too. These moments can end up helping you connect with current and prospective clients — after all, what’s a better basis for a new connection than stepping off the exhibition floor together for a few minutes at 4:20?
14. Always Be Ready to Connect at MJBizCon
MJBizCon is a sizeable event, so there’s a good chance you’ll encounter other attendees outside the conference hall. Make sure you’re always ready to have a conversation, whether having breakfast at the hotel, grabbing lunch during a spare moment, or visiting a dispensary when you get into town. These spontaneous connections can be invaluable for meeting new business contacts.
15. After MJBizCon, Focus on the Follow-Up
MJBizCon is a crowded, chaotic event in the best ways. However, this also means that you likely won’t have the chance to have meaningful one-on-one conversations with the people you connect with. Instead, follow up with your new connections after the event. A post-conference call or email will allow you to talk at length without the distractions of the exhibition floor.
A Cannabis PR Firm Can Help You Perfect Your MJBizCon Conference Strategy
This information can be a lot to remember, especially if you’re focused on running and promoting your own business. Partnering with a cannabis public relations firm, like NisonCo, can help make your MJBizCon experience smoother. We can help you with networking and follow-up so that you can focus more on making genuine connections and less on crafting pitches or scheduling interviews.
This year, MJBizCon will be held from November 28 through December 1, 2023, so contact us today to begin your preparations.
