Making the most of an aesthetic conference to boost your business

These events offer more than just lectures and CPD points—they are powerful tools that can grow your industry knowledge, brand awareness, and give you the opportunity to network with peers in ways that can have a genuine impact on the growth of your business long-term. Yet for some, the conference calendar can sometimes feel repetitive, and leave you wondering “what did I gain from that?” The good news is, with the right preparation and mindset, every industry event you attend can be transformative.

Here are a few of our main tips to keep in mind before attending your next industry event...

1. Plan ahead
In order to get the most from the event, preparation begins before you step foot in the venue. Review the agenda in advance and highlight the sessions most relevant to your current practice— whether that’s women’s health, hair loss, or another speciality. Consider talks that explore areas you’re curious about or are planning to expand into, and prioritise learning something new over revisiting familiar topics. It also goes without saying, but arriving on time sets the tone for a productive day and gives you a moment to check in, grab a coffee, get your bearings, and squeeze in a bit of early networking before the sessions begin.

2. Network in 2025 style
These events are golden opportunities to build meaningful connections with peers, and also industry experts who you may have admired for years. Make sure to bring business cards—yes, they still matter, but make them 2025-ready. Add QR codes linking to your Instagram, website, or LinkedIn. In addition to this, make sure your digital presence is up-to-date and active in the days and weeks leading up to the event so that people know clearly who you are, and what you offer. This is a great opportunity to post some content showing the face behind the business and inject a bit of personality into your social media. Being visible makes it easier for others to connect with you, both online and in person. Also, don’t shy away from striking up conversations during breaks—you never know who you might meet!

3. Don’t be scared to attend alone
If you’re nervous about going solo, don’t be. Many delegates attend alone and end up having an enriching experience. When you’re not coordinating with others, you have the freedom to attend the talks that interest you most and are often more open to spontaneous conversations.

4. Engage on social media
Share your conference experience in real time on social media. Whether it’s posting educational takeaways from lectures, tagging exhibitors, or snapping selfies at the photobooth, it’s all valuable content for your online presence. Use the event hashtags to boost visibility— which is particularly helpful if you meet someone briefly and forget to exchange names, as it will allow people to find and connect with you online. One important tip however: always be mindful of what you’re posting during educational sessions. Some presentations may include sensitive content, such as patient before-and-afters, where permission for social sharing hasn’t been granted. If a speaker requests no photography, it’s essential to respect that. When in doubt, snap your photos before or after lectures, or focus on general atmosphere shots that don’t include presentation slides.

5. Stay open-minded
Don’t fall into the trap of pigeonholing your business to one brand alone. We know that at conferences, there are a multitude of brands exhibiting their offerings, and it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But during the down time, make sure that you do visit the exhibitors, engage with the brand teams and try out new products to get an insight into the emerging trends and latest innovations. The Gen Z patients of today are more brand-fluid than previous generations, so they expect a range of different products and tailored solutions. Ensure that your business reflects this by staying open-minded and informed about new product ranges and trends.

6. Say yes, and enjoy it!
Finally, just say yes! Say yes to the post-conference networking events, to asking questions in the panel Q&As and to exploring new products and brands. At the end of the day, you are investing time and money into attending these events, so make sure to be present, curious and most importantly, enjoy yourself.

...you are investing time and money into attending events, so make sure to be present...