People to meet. Sessions to attend. Swag to steal (I know most of you didn’t stop by my booth just to talk). With so much to do – and so little time – how do you know where to go, what to do and who to meet?

Well, it all starts with having a gameplan. And whether you’re attending the show or following from home, we’ll show you how to get the most out of SES. So without further ado, let me present…drumroll please…The Ultimate Guide to SES San Jose 2009!

Before the Show:

• Arrive a Night Early – The heaviest industry hitters usually get to the show a night early. Make the most of the chance to hang out in the hotel bar and make friends with some search bigwigs.

Read through the conference agenda before you arrive and note sessions you want to attend.

• Do Your Homework – Read through the conference agenda before you arrive and note of the sessions you want to attend. Trust me, you won’t make time to do it once you check in. Check out our list of must-attend sessions!

• Use the Buddy System – If you’re at SES with a colleague, split up the agenda so that you can cover more ground. You can share what you’ve learned when you get back to the office.

During the Show:

• Don’t Miss the Keynotes – Sure, SES San Jose offers over 70 sessions to choose from. But keynotes are singled out in the agenda for a reason: It’s a golden opportunity to dive into some of search’s most pressing issues with the most influential figures in the industry.

• Be a Nerd – Grab a seat at the front of the room. It can be really hard to hear in the back, not to mention hard to see the presentation slides. Also, take notes. No matter how good your memory is, chances are what you’ve learned will slip your mind by the time you get back home.

• Check Your Shyness at the Door – Stay after sessions to talk to people, and I don’t just mean the speakers! Get to know your fellow attendees. Make a few new friends, and you might even discover new business opportunities in the process.

• Be More Than a Thief – Let’s be real: we all love free swag. And of course, the expo floor is full of cool giveaways and gadgets. But remember, the expo is a prime networking opportunity, not just a place to pick up collateral and listen to sales pitches.

Conference veterans know parties, events and bars are where the real business gets done.

• Don’t Wait to Reach Out – Be sure to follow up each evening on the business cards you received that day. Whether it’s through writing a quick email or sending a LinkedIn request, following up sooner will help keep the conversation fresh and allow you to more effectively personalize each contact.

• Party, Party, Party – Now, I’m not saying you should treat SES like Spring Break San Jose. But conference veterans and seasoned networkers know parties, events and bars are where the real business gets done. Get the latest on the SES San Jose hotspots.

After the Show:

• Follow Up Promptly – Don’t let all your networking go to waste! Be sure to follow up again on any potential leads, partners or contacts you may have made at the show.

• Debrief – Whether you’re an exhibitor or attendee, don’t forget to do a post-mortem on what worked and didn’t work for you. Build upon any successes, identify any missteps, and apply these learnings toward your next conference experience.

Remember, beyond the hectic schedule and crowds of people, conferences are one of the most important stops on a marketer’s itinerary. It’s a place where business gets done, connections are made and lessons are learned. So take full advantage!

And in case you can’t make it to SES San Jose this year, don’t worry. Just because you can’t attend doesn’t mean you have to miss out!

If You’re Not at the Show:

• Get on Twitter – Everyone live-tweets, so be sure to follow the industry experts. Also, look for the most searched twitter topics – the cream will rise to the top.

• Read the Live Blogs – Set aside some time each night, say 30 minutes to an hour, to read through conference session recaps. For example, seoroundtable.com does a great job of listing all the best session live-bloggers, and a little bit of reading will go a long way in making sure you’re up-to-date.