In the U.S., there is no shortage of live events tailored to your business.

Whether it’s an expo, summit or convention, you’re probably a stone’s throw away from something educational for you and your people.

According to Business Insider, there are around 1.8 million trade shows, conventions and conferences held every year in the U.S. alone (more than one show for every person in West Virginia!), and at each event, you’ll find like-minded people gathering.

Event centers around the country cater to these events, with small rooms for breakout sessions and massive exhibition halls for vendors to set up booths.

The very thought of attending all the trade shows for a specific interest can make your wallet feel a little lighter.

It’s even harder to leave your business behind for a weekend to attend an event with thousands of other people.

But don’t count yourself out quite yet, attending these events might just be the next big thing for your business.

TEAM BUILDING

Taking your team on the road can build a lot of unity in a very short amount of time.

Not only is the whole group attending these summits and learning together, but after-parties and dinners give you a chance to relax together and get to know each other.

Spending time together outside of a typical work environment gives people a chance to bond, and that can only help you create a better culture when you get back.

Make sure you plan activities for your team to do after hours. Here are a few ideas:

EDUCATION

Most expos and summits have educational sessions taught by industry and business experts who can teach you things you can’t learn anywhere else.

These thought leaders often present powerful messages, learned through experience, that can take your business to the next level.

PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS

Practical workshops give you a chance to learn skills and techniques that will help better your business.

Sure, YouTube is a great resource, but raising your hand in a class or practicing next to an expert is going to take you so much farther.

You can even bring your team and learn together.

Practical workshops can give you a fresh perspective on the industry and help motivate you to grow.

You can even find summits specific to products you’re using, helping you increase your knowledge of tools and techniques already at your disposal.

For example, JobNimbus holds its JobNimbus Solutions Summit every year to help customers (and even non-customers this year) get the most out of their software.

MEET VENDORS IN PERSON

Have you ever started using a new tool and wondered, “Where has this been all my life?”

Most vendors are attending and sponsoring expos and summits because they know that’s where they can reach potential and current customers.

Meeting vendors in their booths makes for a low-pressure way to explore new products and technologies that can give your business a boost.

It’s important to be focused during these conversations.

Try to do the following when talking to vendors:

NETWORKING

Many people don’t realize how essential building your network is for business growth.

Meeting other professionals can help you and employees understand market trends, offer opportunities for mentorship and even lead to powerful partnerships. Networking at events can be one of the most important parts of attendance.

Trade shows can even lead to recruiting opportunities.

Rachel Rowan met JobNimbus at the International Roofing Expo (IRE), which led to a job as our senior marketing manager.

“I had applied for a position, but I hadn’t heard from the hiring manager yet. So I went to their booth at IRE and spoke with them there. The next thing I knew, I had a great job,” she said.

Your next great employee might just be at an upcoming event.

There are plenty of other reasons that in-person events are valuable, but take heed: Don’t skip out on expos and summits.

You might learn something useful out of one that could be the key to helping your business achieve the next level of success.

EVENTS TO ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR

For your reference, here are some upcoming events in the roofing and exteriors industry: