A beginners guide to attending Xerocon London

Much like going to prom, sitting your driver's license test, or getting into a bar for the first time, attending your inaugural Xerocon will conjure up a lot of nervous excitement!

In this guide, we want to help calm any nerves and prepare you for two days that will change how you see accounting for the rest of your life. To someone who hasn't attended, that might sound over the top, but I warn you - Xerocon has a cult-like following due to the fun and crazy atmosphere it provides. So let's get you ready for what you can expect for this year's Xerocon London.

Before Xerocon

This year, Xerocon will be held in the heart of London across June 12 - 13 and will bring more than 2,000 like-minded industry professionals together in one room. 

Being in London will bring people from all over the world to visit and attend the conference as well as check out the tourist hot spots of Great Britain. Before you even think about stepping on that plane, though, we want to share a bunch of ways you can increase your networking prospects before the conference.

Social media networking

Your best place to start is on social media. On both LinkedIn and Instagram, people post to their networks that they'll be attending Xerocon this year under the official hashtag. 

For Xerocon 2024 London and Nashville this year, the hashtag is simply:

#Xerocon2024

You will be able to find other accountants and Xero users under this tag and engage in their posts. It's a very friendly community, so don't be shy; lots of posts actually ask who will be attending. This is your chance to jump into the comments and let them know you'll be there and that you'll say hi if you see them.

Another thing you'll find under the hashtag is app partners that have booked booths to showcase their software. A great part about Xerocon is being able to explore apps you may not have heard of before that connect with Xero. For example, you might have clients in construction and find a great job management platform that connects with Xero that you could tell them about when you're back.

A lot of the time, booths will also offer deals for those attending, giveaways, or have fun games you can partake in. It's worth looking at some of the posts from companies that are attending and noting down any booths you want to stop by. On the day, you might have limited time, so having a list of booths you want to attend can help you confidently navigate the "app alley."

Represent your company/practice

As well as being a great way to learn the latest benchmarks and trends in accounting, Xerocon can be a huge marketing opportunity for you to take advantage of. Think about how you will rep your practice or business. You could wear branded t-shirts or hats or use branded bags, badges, pens, or lanyards.

Note: for all those coming from the southern hemisphere, remember it won't be winter in London, so it's best to leave your wooly jackets and beanies at home!

If you're looking for a quick, easy, and cost-effective way to get your business branded accessories, I've used Vistaprint in a pinch with good results (we have no affiliation with Vistaprint).

There are also other fun ways you can stand out. Xerocon is a fun atmosphere, so feel free to let your freak flag fly and wear that sparkly jacket, bright "Xero blue" suit, or rainbow headband. All these things will work as conversation starters and help you network on the day.

Review the agenda

Know what to expect on the day by looking at the agenda. You may even want to bookmark it on your phone so you can check in when you need during the day. 

Set up meetings

If you know other people attending Xerocon that you want to catch up with or have made a professional connection online that you want to meet in person, plan this in advance! 
We all say, "we have to catch up at Xerocon," but once you get there, everyone puts their phones away and focuses on the fun of the conference. If you are seriously hoping to meet with someone around Xerocon, you will want to organise it in advance.

A good time for meet-ups is during the breaks, which on day 1 is:

Lunch: 12:00 - 1:30 pm.
Afternoon break: 3:00 - 3:45 pm.

And on day 2 is:

Lunch: 11:45 - 1:00 pm.
Afternoon break: 3:00 - 3:45 pm.

Another option is to meet at the afterparty - but don't expect to get much business done!

Want to remember all the things you need to do before Xerocon? Visit our website to download our comprehensive Xerocon 2024 checklist!

Planning your trip to London

London - what an exciting location for a conference! Many of you will already be living and attending in London, but many of you will be coming from further away. Our team will be flying a full 24 hours to attend from New Zealand!

No doubt that for those of you who are traveling, your time in London will be a big highlight of this year's conference. So, in this section, we want to share some travel tips with a focus on options around Xerocon.

Book those flights

First things first, you'll need to book your flights. Keep in mind the 2 days of Xerocon are super fun and rewarding, but can also leave you pretty exhausted by the end of it - especially the introverted amongst us.

Don't get me wrong - it's a good kind of tired, but you'll want to be on peak form when you arrive on day 1 so you can get the most out of your Xerocon experience. Due to this, we recommend flying in a day early or on the morning of the 11th, not at 10 pm the night before.

If you're booking your own flights, my two favorite booking sites are as follows:

1. If you are wanting to look at multiple options across different carriers, Skyscanner will help you find the right flights for you and then redirect you to their website to make the booking.
2. If you're wanting to get the best deal, Kiwi.com is a great website to check out. This site offers flights worldwide and uses a "self-tranfer hack" to get the best deals in the market. I've found flight paths on here that no other website has pulled up.

(Again, we have no affiliation with these products; they have just worked for me in the past).

Where to stay at Xerocon London

Xerocon London is being held in the ExCeL center, East of the city center and near the London City Airport (not to be confused with Heathrow International).

Conference Address: ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL, United Kingdom.

There are two ways you could go about booking accommodation for this year.

1. Book your stay in the area for quick access to the conference.
2. Book a place in the city center and take the Elizabeth Line 30 minutes East to the conference.

If you choose to be in the area, here are four hotel options nearby:

• Marriott Aloft London ExCel - 4 stars (1 minute walk)
• Novotel London Excel - 4 stars (4 minute walk)
• DoubleTree by Hilton London ExCel - 4 stars (10 minute walk)
• Dockside Apartments at ExCel - 3 stars (12 minute walk)

Packing list

If you're anything like me, bring a checked bag, as you'll be picking up free swag left, right, and center from the booths and maybe even a London teddy or two for family/friends back home.

Here are some key things you'll want to bring to Xerocon:

• Business cards - bring more than you think you'll need. They are small, light and you don't want to be caught without one. One fun idea is to create business cards with QR codes for people to book meetings with you. Here's a great free Q-Code maker.
• Notepad and extra pens - you may want to take notes during keynotes, and having a pen on you will be helpful for filling out customs slips on the plane.
• Travel visa - on that note, don't forget to apply for your travel visa if you're coming from overseas, and remember, if you are flying via the US, you will need a US Transit Visa even if you're just passing through.
• Chargers and power bank - the days are long at Xerocon, especially with the afterparty, bring a way to charge your device on the go.
• Comfortable shoes - expect to be walking a fair amount during the conference and dancing at the afterparty.
• Water bottle - stay hydrated by bringing a reusable water bottle. There will be water stations for refills.
• Tote bags - it's a good idea to have a tote bag to hold all the swag and flyers you'll pick up along the way. We will be giving out tote bags, so make sure to visit the Projectworks booth to snag one.
• Summer clothing - it will be summer in London, pack lightweight and breathable clothing and a hat. London is also known to rain so a lightweight rain jacket might come in handy on your trip.
• Sunscreen - there are a number of parks in the area, keep your skin safe while you dip out for some fresh air.
• Afterparty outfit - each year the Xerocon party has a theme you can dress to. Last year in Sydney it was a tropical island. Once we know the theme you can buy accessories to party in!

Need a copy of this packing list? You'll find your copy in our comprehensive Xerocon 2024 checklist here!

What to expect at Xerocon - Day 1

Woo hoo! The day is finally here! Doors open at 9:00, and you have till 10:00 to sign in and get your lanyard. You will be let in after this, but if you want to see the opening performance, you'll want to be in the venue by 10. Have your tickets on your phone or printed for a smooth sign in process.

Xero always puts on a great conference, so there will be plenty to do and see around the venue. Remember to take photos and post them on social media to connect with others at the conference and make the most of the marketing opportunity.

After the welcome, at 11:10 - 11:25, there will be a quick presentation at the main stage about getting the most out of Xerocon. This year, Sue Perkins, comedian, writer, actor and co-host of the great British bake-off, is hosting, which will be a treat! 

From there, the conference will be in full swing with the first cloud accounting leader speaker. Before you know it, it will be lunchtime, where you can grab a bite to eat at the venue and explore the apps with booths. It's normal for people to walk the booths and ask the exhibitors about their products. The people there are keen to talk to accountants and bookkeepers like yourself, so don't be shy; say hi!

As the day goes on, multiple talks and breakout sessions occur at the same time, so refer to your agenda to pick which ones you want to attend. You can view the agenda here.

The day ends at 5:30, and the wrap party starts at 7:30. If you are nearby, you'll have time to go change into your afterparty costume. 

Xero says that at the afterparty, there will be "live music and entertainment that will have you on the dance floor well into the evening!"

In the past, there have been "stilt walkers, fire breathers, trapeze artists, bands, DJs, festival make-up stands and an array of free-flowing drinks on offer" - Accounting Web. So prepare for a fun night.

Prepare for Xerocon - Day 2

If you survive the wrap party, you'll have the opportunity to enter the conference at 9:00 and get a well-needed coffee that Xero will be serving to attendees on the expo floor.

Day two runs very similarly to the first day and wraps up at 4:20 - 4:30 with a reflection.

Before the day ends, refer back to your list and make sure you've visited all the booths you'd hoped to over the 2 days.

After Xerocon

Once the dust has settled, you'll want to do a few things to ensure you follow up on all the great people you met and intriguing apps you saw at the conference.

Here are some key actions you should take post-Xerocon London:

• Review your notes - take time to go over the notes you've taken during sessions and key points from speakers.
• Check your emails - you will likely receive a number of emails from app partners who scanned your badge. Take your time to look through these emails, as they often include links to webinars where you can learn more about the software or juicy exclusive deals for you or your clients!
• Reflect on insights - think about the new ideas and perspectives you gained from the conference and brainstorm how you can apply them to your work.
• Organise your contacts - connect with the people you met at the conference on LinkedIn.
• Follow-up emails - send personalised emails to people you want to continue conversations with or collaborate with in the future.
• Follow-up meetings - schedule meetings or calls with contacts made at the conference to further connections or collaborations.
• Share learnings - discuss key takeaways from the conference with your team members to share knowledge.
• Write a recap blog post - consider writing a blog post summarising your experience and the main things you learned from the conference. Share it on social media and ask others to share their experience, too.
• Read the flyers you picked up - sort through your stack of flyers and visit the app's websites to learn more about what they offer.
• Schedule calls with app partners - book demos with app partners to learn more about their products and what they can provide for your clients.

Make the absolute most of your trip to Xerocon London with our downloadable checklist. Don't forget what to do pre, during, and post Xerocon with this simple asset.

We'll see you there!

Our team loves attending Xerocon, we always meet great accountants, bookkeepers and software partners who end up joining our partner program.

This year, we are super excited to be at both Xerocon London and Nashville. So, if you are attending, make sure you come over to say hi to our team and grab some Projectworks swag!

Thank you for reading our full guide, and we can't wait to meet you there.