Planning and making the physical poster are just the first steps in preparing for a poster session. You must also prepare to engage your audience and discuss your research.
Here are some general tips on this last step in the process.
- Clothing at professional conferences is generally business casual. Check the conference website to see if this is true for your meeting and dress accordingly. Wear your name tag.
- You will generally be given a time during which you should mount and remove your display. Respect those time frames. After all, you want people to see your poster!
- Be present and on time for your designated poster session.
- Conferences may provide supplies such as tape, thumbtacks, etc. but not always. Always bring some with you, just in case!
- Bring multiple copies of supporting information, such as a handout with a reprint of the poster and your list of references. If you have business cards, you should also bring those. If you don't have business cards, put your contact information on the handout. If there is a table, you can place your handouts there. If not, you can hang them in an envelope near your poster.
- Consider leaving a pen and a pad of paper for comments from viewers. You may get some good feedback that way!
- Stand to one side of the poster so your attendees can see it clearly, but also stand close enough to engage with others.
- Smile and make eye contact with those who pass by your poster. Allow people to read the poster without interruption, and then introduce yourself and ask if they have any questions about your research.
- Prepare a set of talking points with a brief 60 second maximum "elevator pitch" prepared to introduce and summarize your poster to others. Check out this handout from Loyola University Chicago for advice and tips about your pitch.
- It's great to have engaging conversations with people who are interested in your poster, but be cognizant of others around. If there are multiple people, don't spend too much time talking to one person.
