101 Tips & Tricks fromSalesforce MVPs & Dreamforce Veterans

TIPS & TRICKS

THE ULTIMATE

HANDBOOK

We have some tips for you…

Whether it’s your first time to Dreamforce or you just want to

add some extra hacks to your repertoire, we interviewed

numerous Dreamforce veterans to create the Ultimate

Dreamforce Tips & Tricks Handbook. Enclosed are insightful

recommendations from Salesforce MVPs, enthusiasts, and

Dreamforce veterans, some of which have 10 conferences

under their belts. These tips provide a guide to planning and

navigating the biggest tech conference in the world!

Dreamforce is an unforgettable time, and these 101 tips will

set any attendee up to create the best possible experience

at the world’s biggest software conference. Stress less and

take away more. Enjoy!

Ready for Dreamforce?

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“Plan your days geographically. The various venues can be a logistical nightmare. You will not travel 3 blocks between

back to back sessions. Organize to tracts, geo centric, daily.”

Charlie Johnson | 9 Year Veteran

“It's not about doing everything, everywhere. Find the right things to take in, and let the rest go. Come with a strategy: "This year, I'm going to connect with colleagues," or "This year, I'm going to take all the Hands-On Trainings I can fit."

Tracy Kronzak | Salesforce MVP | 7 Year Veteran | @TracyKronzak

“Work out what your key objective is before you go. Then set yourself goals and sessions according to that, otherwise it can get overwhelming. Work out the layout of the land so you know how long it will take to get from place to place.”

Vickie Jeffery | 3 Year Veteran

“Attend the Newbie Bacon Breakfast!”

Misty Jones | 5 Year Veteran | @mistyraejones

“Figure out the peak times and avoid them! Typically mornings and big-name keynotes are perfect times to visit the expo. If you have a Full Conference Pass, avoid the tourists and crowds in the expo by going at times when only Full passes can attend.”

Niki Lotte | 2 Year Veteran

“Make a list of goals for the event, then spend time planning out your agenda. Goals can include items like diving into a previously unknown area, like Lightning or Communities, taking a Certification Exam, meeting some of those amazing Community folks!”

Denise Carbone | Salesforce MVP | 8 Year Veteran | @DeniseCarbone4

TIPS ON HOW TO PLAN FOR DREAMFORCE

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“Pick a few things that are the most important to you, commit to those, and play everything else by ear.”

Celeste Keller | Salesforce MVP | 9 Year Veteran | @Salesforcesai

“Leave some time open for exploring, networking, and scoring some awesome swag!”

Adam Olshansky | Salesforce MVP | 2 Year Veteran | @Adam17amo

“View the keynotes from outside on the lawn per the jumbo-tron TVs – avoid the crowd and get a great view.”

Wendy Close | 10+ Year Veteran

“You'll be on the Dreamforce app and maps a lot, which can drain your phone by mid-day. Bring a portable charger! That way you can charge on the go, and also offer up some power to fellow attendees as an ice breaker.”

Zoe Jong | 3 Year Veteran

“Make sure you leave extra room in your luggage to bring back the Salesforce backpack and all the other swag.”

Michael Lim | 1 Year Veteran

“Plan ahead. Use the agenda builder & know what sessions you’re going to ahead of time so you don’t miss out.”

Elle Odysseos | 4 Year Veteran

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“Water, water, water! Keeping hydrated will really help stave off total brain fry and headaches. You will still be tired, of course, but you probably won't want to die.”

Jamie Buck-Tomek | 4 Year Veteran

“YOU BELONG!!!”

Nana Gregg | Salesforce MVP | 5 Year Veteran | @nanahg3

“Shoes and 'tude are essential. Have a couple of pairs of good fitting shoes that your feet don't slide around in. You

will be walking tons and need to protect your feet. Happy feet will help your 'tude be smiling, flexible and gracious!”

Carol Enevoldsen | 7 Year Veteran | @cee4625

“Just plan to be tired. You'll be running around, learning, meeting people, going to dinners & trying to make it to every event. It’s a whirlwind of fun & learning. Just go with it! Plan to catch up on sleep after you leave.”

Melinda Smith | 3 Year Veteran | @girlygeeksocal

“Take it all in at your own pace. Sessions, parties, and the hype can start to get to you after a day or so. Pace yourself and be a sponge! Oh and caffeine... You'll need it.”

Andy Golden | 3 Year Veteran | @owtdoorguy

“Dreamforce isn’t a fashion contest. Even if you’re dressed to the nines, wear comfortable sneakers. You’ll be on

your feet all day. Comfort is the most important part of the Dreamforce experience. Don’t even think about heels.”

Steve Feyer | 3 Year Veteran | @SteveFeyer

“Be sure to Book one or more lunch reservations at nearby restaurants now – before they fill up. You will need to

get a break from the box lunch.”

Wendy Close | 12 Year Veteran

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TIPS ON HOW TO SURVIVE DREAMFORCE

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“It is important to ‘refuel and refresh’. Carry snacks in your backpack in case you don’t have time for lunch in between sessions. While you should plan for breaks, be prepared to not have them.”

Gemma Davies | 3 Year Veteran | @gdavies2

“Remember to bring your pass everywhere. Guard it with your life – it is your only ticket to many of the events during Dreamforce. Especially make sure you don’t lose it right before U2 begins – it is your ticket to the Gala too.”

Zack Alspaugh | 3 Year Veteran | @ZackApttus

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“Be prepared for hot and cold weather, including air conditioning inside the Dreamforce campus. SF can be very unpredictable for those travelling from Overseas. It may be in California but it doesn’t mean it is warm!! ”

Gemma Davies | 3 Year Veteran | @gdavies2

“Plan for recovery days post-Dreamforce. Most people think of Dreamforce week, but don’t forget that there’s life after Dreamforce. Plan to take a few days for a staycation.”

Niki Lotte | 2 Year Veteran | @NikiLotte

“Find your places where you can get off your feet – friends with a close by hotel room, lounges, areas of grass, etc. Memorize them.”

Mitchell Kreadan | 10 Year Veteran | @mkreaden

“Get plenty of sleep – when you’re having fun, time flies and you won’t realize how much energy you’re spending in one day. Get plenty of rest so that you’re prepared for the long hours of walking, learning and having fun ahead.”

Dandrew Cruda | 3 Year Veteran | @dandrew_c

“Dr. Shool’s in-soles! Helps with weary feat on day 4. Better to be ‘Jelling’ than miserable.”

James Lustenader | 7 Year Veteran | @JamesLustenader

“Pack some hand sanitizer – you will be shaking A LOT of hands.”

Elle Odysseos | 4 Year Veteran | @Elle_Apttus

“Be aware that there are cameras everywhere.”

Alex Cohen | 8 Year Veteran

“In addition to sleeping with your feet propped up on pillows and remembering to bring some bath salts to soak them in, make sure you bring a pair of shoes for the second half that are a half size larger than normal. This literally saves me every time.”

Maria Pergolino | 10+ Year Veteran | @InboundMarketer

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Key Takeaway:h

SaaS solutions can be

delivered in a matter of weeks

and months compared to legacy

e-commerce solutions that can

take years.

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“No matter which sessions you attend, you will always feel FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) b/c there are many

fantastic sessions going on simultaneously. Just go with the flow. Focus on the session you're in and enjoy it! Have

fun.”David Giller | Salesforce MVP | 5 Year Veteran | @davidgiller

“Don't just focus on the hands on training and sessions. Keep enough time to network throughout the Admin and Developer Lodges as well as meet Salesforce partners that can be a good fit for your business needs.”

Jayesh Bhatnagar | 3 Year Veteran | @jbhatnagar

“Sign up for all of the partner events you can! It's great to have options and be able to make decisions in the moment. Many of them fill up so you won't be able to register later.”

Kerry McDonough | Salesforce MVP | 7 Year Veteran | @SForceKerry

“Go to 'True to the Core' session to see Parker Harris and his product management team speak openly about the SFDC development process and roadmap.”

Diana Wells | 5 Year Veteran

“Pace yourself! There is a lot to see and do and you simply won't be able to do it all. Focus on hands-on sessions. Those won't be recorded and available after the show is done. Most everything else will. Allow for travel time between the venues too!”

Adam Marks | Salesforce MVP | 5 Year Veteran | @AdamMarks1224

“It happens every year, but don’t be THAT guy that walks in late to a session. Automatically build in at least 15-30 minutes between sessions. The campus is big and the hotels might be a 15 (or more) minute walk away.”

Elle Odysseos | 4 Year Veteran | @Elle_Apttus

“If you want a good seat at the keynote, plan to arrive well in advance – even an hour or more. The keynotes this year will be even smaller than years past, so space will be extra limited.”

Liz Medlicott | 4 Year Veteran

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TIPS ON SELECTING & ATTENDING SESSIONS

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“You can’t do all the sessions, and have time in between for you to get to them all (you may need to go to the other side of the Dreamforce Campus). Give yourself some needed buffer time.”

Gemma Davies | 3 Year Veteran | @gdavies2

“Avoid double booking – or scheduling 2 sessions that are at the same time – this will save you from the worry and free up space for others to attend. Choose 1 and stay present.”

James Lustenader | 7 Year Veteran

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“Say hello to at least five to ten strangers every day. Network, network, network! Take some time and go outside Moscone and hang out in the middle on the green. Listen to music.”

Deepa Patel | Salesforce MVP | 7 Year Veteran | @dpcrmguru

“Take the opportunity to meet the MVPs. You'll never regret taking gleaning knowledge from these Salesforce legends.”

Stacey Cogswell | 3 Year Veteran | @Stay_Sea_

“Don't be afraid to meet people. If you're standing in a crowd or a long line, strike up a conversation with the people around you. You never know who you will run into.”

Jean Velonis | 9 Year Veteran | @JeanVelonis

“Expect to be overwhelmed at some point, and know that it's OK to be overwhelmed. It's OK to skip sessions. Spend time talking with people - MAKE CONNECTIONS.”

Amanda Matczynski | 1 Year Veteran

“While you are there to learn, be sure to schedule time to network - many partners throw awesome parties, and these are great networking opportunities where lifelong friendships with other SFDC addicts are made!”

Amy Oplinger | 2 Year Veteran | @SalesforceAmy

“Be open to starting a conversation with someone next to you in line. Never know who you might meet.”Chris Whitehead| 1 Year Veteran | @CWhiteHead09

“When attending breakout sessions, never be afraid to introduce yourself and ask the presenters questions after the sessions. We're all in the Community together and can only grow from exchanging ideas, questions, etc!”

Dale Ziegler | Salesforce MVP | 5 Year Veteran | @DZieg11

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TIPS FOR NETWORKING AT DREAMFORCE

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“Get your personal and company pitches down – You’ll be meeting a lot of new people who will be asking what you do in your role and what your company does. Be sure you can answer these questions proficiently. It’ll not only help your own personal branding, but may also open the door for a potential deal or job opportunity.”

Dandrew Cruda | 3 Year Veteran

“Don’t forget the business cards at home, this event is not only an educational event, but, most importantly, a major opportunity to network with peers and industry leaders.”

Liz Medlicott | 4 Year Veteran

“You’re are at Dreamforce for a reason - Don’t waste the opportunity to network with other companies, large and small.”

Alex Cohen | 8 Year Veteran

“If it is your first Dreamforce, get involved in the Communities prior to Dreamforce. Get to know the Community before you arrive at the event. ”

Gemma Davies | 3 Year Veteran

“Make sure to follow up within a week after the conference; it will be hard to remember all the people you met the farther you get away from the event.”

Zack Alspaugh | 3 Year Veteran

“Keep the Dreamforce feeling alive all year long by joining your local user group and attending meetings regularly. With nearly 400 groups worldwide, there's likely one near you.”

Eric Dreshfield | Salesforce MVP | 6 Year Veteran | @ericdresh

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“Don’t drive your own car around town – you will spend more time looking for parking than experiencing Dreamforce. Find a cheap & safe place to park for the whole week and take Uber or taxi around. It’s much simpler.”

James Lustenader | 7 Year Veteran

“Start looking up your routes now on Google maps. I looked up my hotel, as well as the location of the nearest pharmacy, grocery store and tram line. I also looked up the location of my sessions. From then on, I was able to navigate around without a map.”

Lauren Dunne Touyet | 2 Year Veteran

“Staying near Fisherman's Wharf? Getting to DF via street car or cable car is much faster than the Dreamforce shuttle. At the SFO airport you can buy a $40 7 day MUNI pass which includes cable car – each ride is $7 otherwise. There is a low early morning demand for the cable car near Fisherman’s Wharf as well.”

Anna Loughnan | 3 Year Veteran

“While not always better than walking, if you need a taxi don’t forget about Lyft. Uber is a household name, but

Lyft is usually cheaper and less crowded than their more popular competitor.”Ai Nguyen | 2 Year Veteran

“If you are coming from the UK, be prepared to be on a full plane with lots of others also going to Dreamforce –

make friends, you never know who you are sitting next to.”Gemma Davies | 3 Year Veteran

“If you are new to the city, find out which areas to avoid in San Francisco. While San Francisco is largely a safe city,

there are some areas that are best to avoid if possible.”Gemma Davies | 3 Year Veteran

“If you’re leaving the vicinity of Moscone Center, plan to take public transit. A bus will take you almost anywhere else in the city within 30 minutes. A taxi or Uber—if you can even get one—will take just as long at 20 times the cost.”

Steve Feyer | 3 Year Veteran

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TIPS FOR TRAVELING AT DREAMFORCE

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Expanding from domestic to international sales

Offering complex, highly configured products along

with aftermarket parts in bulk quantities

Evolving from selling through wholesalers and

distributors to selling volume products direct

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58 “Arrive at least a day early, get some rest and make sure to pick up your badge the

day before the conference starts. Most people arrive jet lagged to the long

registration queues on the first day of Dreamforce, making it difficult to be

productive.”

Gaurav Kheterpal | Salesforce MVP | 5 Year Veteran | @guaravkheterpal

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“Take advantage of the lounges & private lunches. Dreamforce can be very crowded and this will give you a chance to

meet new vendors/peers in a relaxing (and quiet!) environment. I've met some of my favorite people and AppEx

Partners this way.”Kelly Bentubo |Salesforce MVP | 5 Year Veteran | @Kellybentuby

“Yerba Buena is the best place to have a lunch... GO OUT and enjoy the grass and the DJ, don't miss this time to

network with other attendees or meet new passionate friends from the Community. Don't forget your sunglass and

enjoy your time there too.”Jean-Michel Mougeolle | Salesforce MVP | 9 Year Veteran | @jmmougeolle

“Grab as many giveaways as you can – who doesn’t love free stuff? Try to visit as many vendors as you can and you’ll end up leaving the conference with a bunch of goodies.”

Dandrew Cruda | 3 Year Veteran

“RSVP for some of the Dreamforce lounges. Is it your 3rd day of Dreamforce and your feet are starting to hurt? Stop by one of the lounges for rest, food, and even a possible foot massage. Make sure you sign up ahead of time though.

Maria Pergolino | 10+ Year Veteran

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TIPS FOR THE DREAMFORCE CAMPUS

MORE TIPS AND TRICKS“Email registration to yourself on themorning of Dreamforce so that you have it on hand and don’t have to rely on WiFi.”

“Make sure you do your homework before attending the event. Watch the Agenda Builder demo to learn everything new about this year’s tool, and begin planning your time now!”

“Explore the new Trailmaps on the Agenda Builder, new segmentations by persona that provide recommendations on what sessions to see and how best to plan your day.”

“Remember that 25% of the sessions are available for first come first serve. If you are unable to sign up for a session, don’t fret – there will most likely be space available.”

“Visit at least one of the Keynotes. While the more specific session are extremely valuable, Salesforce brings in some of the most influential leaders in the world to speak about current trends and issues. Don’t miss out.”

“Think about leaving the laptop at home. After hours of carrying it around, you will find that it somehow gets heavier than you last remembered, especially if it loses power on you.”

“Dreamforce is not just a weeklong, 9-5 event. There are opportunities to network and learn throughout the event at night and in the morning, as well as a 24/7/365 Salesforce ecosystem.”

“Plan your Dreamforce Pack like you are going on a backpacking trip. Count every ounce that goes into you backpack, and never carry more than you need. With the amount of walking and time spent on your feet, Dreamforce is a cross-country trek.”

“Don’t Hog the Outlet – If you know that you are going to need the power for hours at a time, bring a power strip.”

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“Update your Success Community profile picture. The Dreamforce badges will use your community picture as your headshot, so make sure that the picture is updated and looks professional.”

“Don’t be afraid to say no to scans. Some companies can be a little pushy when it comes to the QR codes, so don’t be afraid to refuse them.”

“Download all the mobile apps prior to the conference, and make sure that you are adept at navigating each one.”

“Avoid searching for the parties you want to attend by joining a party update list. These updates do the work of party research for you, providing a comprehensive list of all the parties on the Dreamforce campus.”

“Don’t have too much fun. Being hungover the next day is not the best way to experience the craziness of Dreamforce. Make sure that you eat and drink plenty of water before a long night.”

“Go with a purpose. With so much to do it is important that you constantly evaluate your current plan over your original plan. Remember that this is not a vacation. Avoid session overload and remain focused on the sessions that complement your Salesforce use case.”

“Take advantage of the hands-on sessions. There are hundreds of hands-on sessions, giving you direct experience with the technology and features. These are the sessions in which you will learn the most.”

“Plan time at the end of every day to reflect. Write down key takeaways, cool notes, tips going forward, etc. Don’t let all the info go in one ear and out the other.”

“Make sure you RSVP to the parties you most want to attend, or even might want to attend. RSVP first, decide if you want to go second.”

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MORE TIPS AND TRICKS

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“Complete registration check-in early. Make sure that once you arrive, you get checked in as early as possible. If you can go Monday and get it out of the way – it is much less chaotic than Tuesday registration.”

“Bring your own reusable water bottle, or make sure you hold onto the bottle Dreamforce provides. There are filling stations throughout the campus, and minimal opportunities to purchase water.”

“Don’t feel like you have to go to every event, every night. While always fun, it is sometimes necessary to take a night off and get necessary sleep.”

“Take time to experience San Francisco (and the Bay area), especially if you have never been. Go out of the campus to eat food, take time after the conference to experience the Bay, and go to some of the touristy spots.”

“Get to the Dreamfest (Gala with headliner U2) early, doors open at 7pm and the Cloud Palace will get very crowded, very quick.”

“Remember to eat. Dreamforce is a whirlwind of activity and before you realize you are having drinks without having eaten food – a dangerous recipe. Plan your meals ahead of time and stick to that schedule.”

“To save money, take advantage of the free meals that are offered around the Campus, either by Salesforce or many of their partners. There are hundreds of dinners and just as many happy hours, take advantage of them.”

“Don’t OVEREAT on all the free food, however. While eating and drinking water are a must, surviving through a long day of Dreamforce can be very difficult with an overly full stomach.”

“Dreamforce is a marathon not a sprint. Don’t try to do everything on the first day.”

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MORE TIPS AND TRICKS

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“Don’t rely on the WiFi or your wireless network. They will be under extreme pressure, and it is important to write down your schedule on a piece of paper as a failsafe.”

“Make sure you pick up the Dreamforce backpack – and the necessities that are inside (such as the water bottle). Every year people avoid picking it up – to their regret.”

“Plan for surprises. Dreamforce is a total of 4 days, so manage your time wisely so that you have enough leeway to attend the many unique and unexpected thing that will occure throughout the event.”

“Patience is a virtue. There are over 170,000 people at Dreamforce – there will be a lot of lines. Once you accept that, you will be able to move on and enjoy the rest of the conference. Take advantage and strike up conversations.”

“You can stay active at Dreamforce by attending the Dreamforce 5k held on Wednesday.”

“Use the Dreamforce App, and take advantage of some of the new features, including a built in map that provides walk times between zones and (Dreamforce) campus buildings.

“Take advantage of some of the cool apps made by Dreamforce partners. Make sure to download Dreamforcebuses.com, which tracks the buses and shuttles around Dreamforce in real time.

“Onsite, be socially active. Follow the Dreamforce hashtag “#DF16” for live updates and surprises.”

“If you’ve been meaning to get Salesforce certified, Dreamforce 2016 is a great time to take the initiative and get your certification. Salesforce offers all of their courses, and daily certifications, in their Salesforce Training Campground.”

MORE TIPS AND TRICKS

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“Do you enjoy music? Don’t just focus on U2. There will be smaller performances throughout the week, including 25 bands playing in the Dreampark.”

“While Dreamforce is sold out for full passes, you can still purchase a pass if you have a code. Use Apttus’ code: EC16APTS and also get $100 off.”

“Be sure to learn the pro tips to Dreamforce 2016 from the Dreamforce pros themselves by registering for the Dreamforce Tips & Tricks Webinar.”

/01

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