Professional conferences can be costly: there’s the registration fee as well as travel and accommodation costs. More significant is the time you must spend away from the office. So, it is important that you ensure you’re getting the most out of every conference you attend.

Here are some steps you can take to help make your next conference a success:

> Plan ahead
Take some time before the conference to go over your objectives, says Sylvia Garibaldi, business coach and founder of SG & Associates in Toronto. Map out the connections you want to make and set clear goals.

For example, make a list of questions you want answered and people you would like to meet. Review the conference schedule and note the sessions you plan to attend and what you hope to learn from them.

“If you don’t go in with a purpose and something you’re interested in learning about,” Garibaldi says, “you will leave with nothing.”

> Use breaks for networking
Too many conference attendees turn to their mobile devices during conference breaks, rather than using that time to network with the people around them, says Joanne Blake, business etiquette expert from Style for Success in Edmonton. Networking, she adds, is one of the most valuable activities you can engage in at a conference.

“You should be fully present” for face-to-face interactions, Blake says.

Try to limit your technology check-ins to a couple of times a day, Garibaldi says, to ensure you won’t miss any opportunities to talk to people you would not normally get to meet.

> Mind your etiquette
While the standard dress code for most conferences is “business casual,” Blake says, you should dress up — not down. “When in doubt,” she says, “it’s better to err on the side of being more formal. If you wear a jacket and others are more casual, you can always remove it. If you don’t have a jacket, then you’re out of luck.”

And when it comes to the delicate task of managing food and drink, Blake recommends keeping one hand free to avoid that “awkward dance” that occurs when introductions are made.

> Don’t overbook
You might be tempted to fulfill a demanding schedule and attend every session possible, from breakfast until end of day — and evening social events. But this approach can be counterproductive. It’s often the unplanned discussions or networking opportunities that prove most beneficial.

Overbooking can be exhausting and result in a stressed state of mind that is not conducive to learning or effective networking. It can also reflect badly on you if you are constantly arriving late for sessions. “It’s always better to under-promise,” says Blake.

> Follow up
Garibaldi recommends jotting down ideas during the conference for reference when you get back to the office.

Schedule some time after the conference to follow through with contacts you have made, Blake adds. She recommends using LinkedIn to connect with contacts. Go beyond the template message, she says. Write a personal note to each contact.

“If you personalize that,” Blake says, “it will take the relationship to another level.”