What to Pack for Dreamforce 2018
The countdown has begun. Salesforce’s annual extravaganza, the Dreamforce conference, is right around the corner. This year it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.
Thousands of executives from a wide variety of industries from across the globe will descend on San Francisco for four days to network, get inspired, promote their organizations and experience the epic energy that this annual event generates.
Are you attending the 2018 Dreamforce conference? If you are, make sure to visit WalkMe, Booths #219 and #1716. We’ll show you the inside scoop of our online interactive guidance platform and you’ll get an opportunity to win some amazing prizes.
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In the meantime, we’d like to share with you some tips to enrich your Dreamforce experience. Here are some of the basics that we always bring along to get the most out of the conference.
1. A Map of the Dreamforce Campus
Dreamforce is not your average conference that takes place in a convention center. Dreamforce is held in various SF venues including the Moscone Center, Marriott Marquis, InterContinental, the Palace Hotel, Hilton Union Square, the Park Central, and the Westin St. Francis. The sprawl can create navigation difficulties, but also makes this event unique and exciting. Pick up a paper or digital copy and keep it on hand so you can easily bee-line to the next session.
2. Laptop and Phone Chargers
Some of the sessions are going to take place back-to-back so you’ll need all of your important gadgets at your side and fully charged. Considering that you’ll be using your laptop and phone throughout the day to stay in touch and respond to work emails, the batteries will drain quickly. Make sure you don’t get disconnected by bringing your laptop and phone chargers. It’s also a good idea to sneak in a few minutes of charge while waiting in a queue or sitting at a bar.
3. Extra Laptop and Phone Batteries
Battery technology is improving every year, but you’ll still find your laptop and phone batteries flashing the 10% warning signal at various points throughout the day. An extra battery will provide you with much-needed backup. Apart from having a hassle-free stay (at least as far as your battery life is concerned), you will also be a hero to people who may badly need a little extra charge.
4. A List of Companies You Want to Check Out
Everyone knows Dreamforce is a good time but there is much to be learned from the conference, as well. There will be hundreds of companies showcasing their newest technology, much of it related to productivity in the workplace. There are a few you can’t miss including WalkMe’s Digital Adoption Platform that makes Salesforce training a thing of the past. Can’t even fathom it? Check us out!
5. Dreamforce Schedule of Speakers
Dreamforce is well-known for bringing on some of the best speakers in our industry. Make sure to read up before the conference begins and map out the session you “must-see,” and “would like to attend.” Remember, there is no way you will be able to attend everything that looks interesting so be strategic and use the map to make sure you have enough time between each session to reach the next one on your list.
6. Your Own WiFi Point
Most conferences are known to have absolutely abysmal Wifi and Internet access. So just to be on the safe side, during the Dreamforce Conference 2018, make sure you pack your own WiFi point. Using your own Internet source allows you to avoid the frustration of dealing with airwaves that are oversaturated with Wi-Fi traffic which oftentimes leads to unreliable connectivity. You’ll have Internet service – and fast Internet service — whenever you need it.
7. Earplugs
Such a humongous conference teeming with attendees is bound to be all kinds of noisy. A pair of earplugs can go a long way. Pop them in when you need to reduce distractions and concentrate on work, or just to relax amidst the chaos. These may also come in handy when traveling to San Francisco or in your hotel room if it isn’t as quiet at night as expected.
8. Walking Shoes
Dreamforce Conference 2018 is made up of multiple venues throughout the city and with such a high volume of visitors to the city during the conference, flagging down a taxi isn’t going to be easy. So, make sure to pack your walking shoes so you can easily walk around and see all that San Francisco and Dreamforce have to offer.
9. Professional, Layered Clothing
When you are packing for Dreamforce it is crucial to remember that San Francisco weather is infamous for its unpredictability, and known to change throughout the day. Reviewing snapshots from past years, you’ll notice that most professionals dressed business casual. Indeed, it’s important to feel comfortable, but not sacrifice elegance. Polished, comfortable layers are the way to dress for success at Dreamforce.
10. Party Pants
There are Dreamforce parties scheduled for every night of the conference, so don’t forget to bring the appropriate attire. The Dreamforce Kickoff Party, hosted by WalkMe, is on Monday, September 25th, 2018 from 8:00 PM until midnight, at Mer At Terra Gallery, 511 Harrison St, San Francisco. Come dance the night away and network at the same time! The event will have complimentary food, drinks and great music – all on us!
11. Mints or Gum
No one wants to be the guy who passes along a strong odor with the business card. To ward off this phenomenon, be sure to carry a few breath mints or gum, particularly after meals. Be cautious not to chew gum during networking sessions. You don’t want what’s in your mouth to detract from your elevator pitch.
12. Hand Sanitizer
The world is a dirty place, and it is always wise to carry a hand sanitizer — especially with all the handshaking and business cards exchanges! However, be smart about how you go about this. Don’t offend new associates by immediately dousing your hands in sanitizer right after the handshake.
13. Research on any new contacts you want to meet
Speaking of new acquaintances, Dreamforce is full of networking potential. Scout out who you want to meet before you get there and do your research on how you can create mutually beneficial professional relationships.
And don’t pass up an opportunity to meet someone who isn’t on your list! You never know who the person you met in line for the bathroom will introduce you to next.
14. Umbrella
Having your own umbrella is useful, just in case it rains. Salesforce often provides some freebies, but you never know what you’ll get. You do, however, need to be a little careful when using your umbrella at the venue to avoid social faux pas. Remember these simple guidelines: don’t dump your wet umbrella on the seat next to you and when grabbing your umbrella to walk out, make sure you’ve grabbed the right one.
Once the big day arrives, go and enjoy the conference. Meet new friends, gather new ideas and most importantly grow your business.
Who is WalkMe?
WalkMe provides sales teams with an indispensable tool to simplify Salesforce training and user experience. The widget empowers both new and existing Salesforce users to complete tasks effortlessly. By using interactive on-screen guidance, user tasks are broken down into short, step-by-step instructions.
As a result, both during the initial Salesforce orientation process and beyond, users are freed from having to focus on the technical aspects of operating Salesforce. This allows for improved productivity and reduced errors through even the most complex processes.
WalkMe helps sales administrators to accelerate Salesforce employee time to competence, remove the barriers of entry from other CRM systems, and increase Salesforce user productivity. All this while reducing onboarding and training time and costs.