Are Learning Conferences Worth It?

By: Justin Ferriman • August 5, 2012
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In planning for the next calendar  year for WPLMS, I have circled some key dates for attending the larger Learning Conferences in our industry.  Get togethers like DevLearnCon, MLearnCon, Enterprise Learning Conference & Expo, Training Conference & Expo, Learning Solutions Conference & Expo, and ASTD’s slew of conferences are great resources for the learning industry.

My goal in attending these conferences is two fold: First (and most importantly) I want to put a face to the WPLMS offering, evangelize the product, and engage in general networking within the industry.  I have been fortunate thus far in the project to meet some very intelligent people who have graciously offered pieces of advice for WPLMS, and the industry as a whole – I find great value in this. My second intention is to attend the presentations and learn a thing or two in order to stay on top of current and emerging trends.

While making a list of potential conferences to attend (all of which require some sort of travel and accommodations), I realized that going to all of these various events probably doesn’t make good business sense.  While it is impossible to put a price on the value of networking, the cost of hitting the road to attend every event adds up quickly.

Which makes me wonder – are these industry conferences even worth it?  I would still say “yes”, but perhaps all of them aren’t necessary.  As such, I’ll likely be attending only one (perhaps two) that makes the most sense for WPLMS (please feel free to make suggestions), and maybe a few smaller local conferences as applicable. Beyond that, the focus will be on building out WPLMS, focusing on support never seen before in this industry, and serving our clients.

I would be curious to know if you have attended any of the conferences I listed above – if so, feel free to share your thoughts.

Justin Ferriman

Justin started LearnDash, the WordPress LMS trusted by Fortune 500 companies, major universities, training organizations, and entrepreneurs worldwide. He is currently founder & CEO of GapScout. Justin’s Homepage | GapScout | Twitter