Today marks 30 days left until Xerocon London 2018. Every year, a number of key figures and thought leaders in the Xero-sphere take to their blogs and social media channels to share the wisdom they've gained from Xerocons past. We've rounded these tips up before in both 2016 and 2017. And these figures, they share these tips all in the hopes of helping first-timers make the most of the event, and to remind us old guard not to become cocky or complacent.
For Xerocon is a marvellous and dangerous beast. Often dubbed the 'Coachella for Accountants' (and honestly, I wouldn't disagree with that), Xerocon is paradoxically polarising. You'll be immersed in an audience of silence transfixed on amazing keynotes, then be thrown into a buzzing trade show floor. There's incredible industry insights interwoven with voracious nights of networking and partying. It's a conference for accountants, but I'm sure a swathe of designers could walk in and mistake it for an event of their own. It's gorgeous, electrifying, and insightful. When it's all over you'll simultaneously want to immediately do it all over again and sleep for a week.
To make the most of this event, as with anything, we should look upon prior art. Speak to the veterans of this most magnificent event of the accounting year, and drink from the cups of knowledge they so readily offer up. So with that, welcome to 30 Days of Xerocon.
With Xerocon London 2018 hovering a mere 30 days from now, we're speaking to 30 key figures and thought leaders in the Xero-sphere to learn their top tips for attendees this year. And we're recording it all on video and posting them here for your benefit. So keep your eyes on this post over the coming month, as each day we'll be updating it with a brand new tip to make the most out of Xerocon London this year.
1 day left until Xerocon London 2018
Know your 3 P's - Passion, Planning, Patience
With just 1 day left, we spoke to the living legend Sir Chasealot (Invoice-chasing Knight in Shining Armour, Chaser) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
2 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Collaborate and communicate on social media and comms tools (+ remember to just be human)
With 2 days left, we spoke to Damon Anderson (Director of Partner & Product, Xero) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
BONUS Q&A! How to make the best use of social media
As a bonus today, we spoke with Alex Falcon Huerta (CEO & Founder of Soaring Falcon Accountancy) about how to make the best use of social media this Xerocon.
3 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Pack some vitamin C
With 3 days left, we spoke to Ash Lambert (Partner Marketing Manager, Xero) for her #1 tip for attendees right now.
BONUS TIP! Be confident about who you want to work with (and learn to say NO when you mean it)
For a bonus tip today, we spoke to Sam Wood (Director of Innovation & Transformations at Blu Sky Chartered Accountants) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
4 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Leave some wiggle room in your schedule
With 4 days left, we spoke to Caroline Harridence (Cloud Manager, MHA MacIntyre Hudson) for her #1 tip for attendees right now.
BONUS TIP! Get to sessions early
For a bonus tip today, we spoke to Paul Bulpitt (Co-Founder of The Wow Company, and Head of Accounting at Xero) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
5 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Make sure you have buying authority (or quick access to it)
With 5 days left, we spoke to Gavin Fell (VP Sales, Receipt Bank) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
6 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Ask your Xero Account Manager for introductions (+ grab a Debtor Daze!)
With 6 days left, we spoke to Ian Phillips (Partner Team Manager, Xero) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
7 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Check out Xero's existing resources before you go
With 7 days left, we spoke to Nick Houldsworth (GM Ecosystem, Xero) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
BONUS TIP! Make the most of the precon day (Tue 13 Nov)
For a bonus tip today, we spoke to Grant Smith (Partner, Armstrong Watson - winners of Xero's Accounting Partner of the Year 2017) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
8 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Take action immediately
With 8 days left, we spoke to James Ashford (Founder of GoProposal) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
9 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Revisit apps you think you already know
With 9 days left, we spoke to Matt Flanagan (Director of BlueHub) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
10 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Remember to pack these things
With 10 days left, we spoke to Rachel Astall (Small Business Platform Partnerships, GoCardless) for her #1 tip for attendees right now.
11 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Split actions and ideas
With 11 days left, we spoke to Della Hudson (Founder of Hudson Business Advice) for her #1 tip for attendees right now.
12 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Get passionate about cashflow
With 12 days left, we spoke to Edward Berks (EMEA Director - Platform Business at Xero) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
13 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Hit up the precon party
With 13 days left, we spoke to Trent McLaren (Global Head of Accounting Sales at Practice Ignition) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
14 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Build relationships with app partners
With 14 days left, we spoke to James Coleman (Senior Developer Evangelist at Xero) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
15 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Use your phone well
With 15 days left, we spoke to Karen Reyburn (Owner & MD of The Profitable Firm) for her #1 tip for attendees right now.
16 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Embrace the community + come say hi
With 16 days left, we spoke to Catherine Walker (Community Manager at Xero) for her #1 tip for attendees right now.
17 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Learn what app partners are doing next
With 17 days left, we spoke to Paul Lodder (Partner at Sagars) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
18 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Come with a long term plan
With 18 days left, we spoke to Stephen Paul (CEO of Valued) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
19 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Share your challenges
With 19 days left, we spoke to Will Farnell (Founder & Director of Farnell Clarke) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
20 days left until Xerocon London 2018
No one’s got everything right yet
With 20 days left, we spoke to Malcolm Pope (Audit & Accounts Partner at Shorts) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
21 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Book in time to reflect during Xerocon
With 21 days left, we spoke to Nathan Keeley (Partner at MHA Carpenter Box) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
22 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Think about who you’re bringing
With 22 days left, we spoke to Glen Foster (Director of Partner Sales at Xero) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
23 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Book out time post-Xerocon
With 23 days left, we spoke to Jonathan Fox (Foxability) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
24 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Plan to feed back to your firm
With 24 days left, we spoke to Hilary Dyson (Cloud Accounting Senior Manager at Anderson Anderson & Brown) for her #1 tip for attendees right now.
25 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Keep an eye on the schedule for a surprise
With 25 days left, we spoke to Ben Johnson (Business Development - FinTech Partnerships at Xero) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
26 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Be smart about what you wear
With 26 days left, we spoke to Sharon Pocock (MD & Chief Innovator at Kinder Pocock) for her #1 tip for attendees right now.
27 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Plan a mid-conference catch-up with your team
With 27 days left, we spoke to Colin Hewitt (Founder & CEO of Float) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
28 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Plan your schedule in advance
With 28 days left, we spoke to Emma Fox (Founder & Managing Director of Fresh Financials) for her #1 tip for attendees right now.
29 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Come armed with the right questions
With 29 days left, we spoke to Andy Muir (Strategic Partnerships at Xero) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
30 days left until Xerocon London 2018
Get face-to-face time with your digital connections
With 30 days left, we spoke to Colin Goldstein (Head of Partnerships at Iwoca) for his #1 tip for attendees right now.
Come back tomorrow for another top tip on how to make the most out of Xerocon London this year.
