6 Things you Need to Know about Dreamforce '16 (aka #DF16)

Dreamforce is coming! If you're a nonprofit looking to maximize your Dreamforce investment, it's best to plan ahead so you can make sure you'll be able to apply the lessons you'll learn all year. Big changes are coming to #DF16, so let's go over them:

1. The campus will be significantly different. Get to know the new layout of where things are and be sure to plan extra travel time between those Hands On Training sessions in the Hilton, the Salesforce.org Zone (which is farther away this year in the Westin St. Francis Union Square), and sessions on other parts of the campus.

2. Marc Benioff's keynote will be in a much smaller room (Moscone North Hall D, about one half the size of the previous keynote space). That means if you want to be physically in the room (which I highly recommend doing at least once), I suggest lining up at least one hour in advance of the keynote start time (currently scheduled for 1:00pm on Wednesday, October 5, 2016). 

3. Trailhead, Trailhead, Trailhead! Trailhead will be the major theme again in the Developer and Admin Zones. I know this isn't a surprise, but remember you can do Trailhead at home for free, so catch up now so you don't feel overwhelmed when you arrive in San Francisco. One great way to get started is the Get Ready for Dreamforce badge here.

4. One expo to rule them all: There's only ONE cloud expo this year. This is great so you don't need to walk between Moscone West and Moscone South, but it may mean you want to plan accordingly to make the most of your visit.

5. The U2 concert is far away! The Cloud Palace, aka the Cow Palace, is not in San Francisco, it's in Daly City and is almost 20 minutes south of San Francisco (driving with no traffic) and is not BART (subway) accessible. While I'm sure there will be shuttles and so forth, be sure you plan accordingly! (The road to DF16 also mentioned that the majority of us will be watching the concert from outside since the venue only seats 12,000 people, so bring many layers of clothing and, as always, extremely comfortable shoes).

6. UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Remember that Moscone is under construction! This means less sessions but the same amount of people (or maybe more people). Be sure you register in advance as soon as agenda builder goes live at the end of August, arrive early to sessions to claim your spot, and plan extra travel time for the larger campus (especially if you're going to nonprofit sessions). I know this is the same advice you hear every year if you're a Dreamforce veteran, but due to this year's construction, fewer sessions, less rooms, and more people, I recommend taking this advice seriously, especially if there's a session you really want to get into on Tuesday or Wednesday (there's a lot more wiggle room on Friday and Thursday after the concert).

Want more? Longshore Consulting is offering a small group (3 to 10 people) Salesforce training for nonprofits and foundations on Monday, October 3, 2016 - the day before Dreamforce, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Included in the session will be a 20 minute review of your Dreamforce agenda. The training will focus on charts and dashboards, data cleanliness, and user adoption. What's unique about Longshore Consulting trainings is that the entire time you will be in your organization's Salesforce instance, immediately applying what you're learning. To indicate your interest, get more information, or ask questions, fill out this form.