Thanks to a little thing called the Internet, there are so many ways to learn and expand your skill set. You can read blogs, listen to podcasts, watch endless videos on YouTube, and attend webinars, just to name a few. So why attend a user conference if you can save the time and expense?   

If you opt for online training only, you may be missing out on one of the best opportunities to take your skill set and business to the next level. Live educational events, such as user conferences and workshops, provide unique learning opportunities that you just can’t find anywhere else. 

If you’ve been to one or multiple user conferences, you can vouch for the following five reasons why you should attend live training events, and consider sending your employees as well. 

5 reasons to attend a user conference

To deepen your product knowledge

Whether you’re scouting a new platform or have been using the same business technology for years, there is always something you can learn from attending a product-focused user conference. 

In the world of technical business solutions, everything is evolving. So why shouldn’t your knowledge? 

You can expect annual user conferences to be chock full of product updates that have been released, plus tips for using product enhancements to fit circumstances that are unique to your business.  

“In just two hours of attending my third Jackrabbit BOOST User Conference, I learned four new things that I had no idea Jackrabbit was able to do to benefit me and my job.” – Office Manager, Sandhills Academy of Gymnastics

To network

One of the biggest benefits to attending any live training event is to meet and reconnect with like-minded business professionals and industry peers. 

User conferences bring together people with all different backgrounds. While in attendance, you will be able to mingle with people who you would otherwise never had the chance to meet. And best of all: these individuals could have just the knowledge you’ve been searching for, or to help find a solution to that one nagging problem you’ve been having. 

You can absolutely foster relationships with industry peers online, but there’s no better place to meet new people than IRL.

To get one-on-one support

If you love calling customer support, you may also find root canals enjoyable. Sick. 

It’s becoming more and more popular for product-focused user conferences to host an in-person support center, where you can schedule a time to receive on-on-one training from a live representative. 

Excuse us while we toot our own horn with the following. 

We take pride in the fact that the Jackrabbit Client Services Team is always busy at user conferences. (We’re busy online and on the phone too, but that’s a blog for a different day!)

With every BOOST conference, we add more opportunities for attendees to meet with Jackrabbit Client Services. Your desire for in-person support grows and we provide the resources to fulfill your requests. And we wouldn’t have it any other way!  

All this being said to promote that there are great opportunities for you to experience above par training sessions at user conferences that can be tailored to your personal needs. 

Register for BOOST West

To invest in yourself and your staff

Raise your hand if you have it all figured out. 

Put your hand down. You don’t. And that’s okay! 

Admitting that you and your staff still have things to learn isn’t a weakness. Read that sentence again. Admitting you don’t have it all figured out means you have the opportunity to grow. 

The cost of attending a conference pales in comparison to the product knowledge you will obtain while in attendance. The important thing to remember when you’re purchasing those conference tickets is that you are making an investment in yourself, your career, your staff and your business when you click register.

To learn from your competitors

You read that right. 

Don’t feel threatened that a similar business in your market may be attending the same conference. Fellow business owners should be viewed as a source of ideas, lessons learned, support and mentorship that can help you become more successful. 

“I really enjoy networking with the other owners learning ways that you can bring more utilization to your organization.” Candace Miller, VEGA Gymnastics

There are common threads binding you. Coming together with your competitors to share ideas, challenges, wins and losses is efficient, effective and inspiring. There’s no better place to do this than at a live event such as a conference. 

Why you should attend BOOST West