First things first: breathe; you’ve got this.
We know that networking at a conference can be daunting: it’s a very rare person who can swagger nonchalantly into a large venue teeming with strangers, rivals, and figures they’ve long admired from afar, and work the room like a pro. With a little research and preparation, however, you can learn to quell your anxieties and become a confident, efficient, and effective networker. You might even relax enough to start enjoying the hustle and bustle of a big conference.
If you want to start prepping right away, we’ve got some networking tips you might find helpful. Read on, and you’ll never have to Google the phrase ‘how to network at a conference?’ ever again!
Pre-Game…
Before you even set foot out the door, you have to lay the groundwork for success. Start by familiarizing yourself with the schedule of speakers and requesting a delegate list from the organizers of the conference; you can then use this information to inform your own plan of action. Compile a list of those with whom you’d like to connect so that you have clear goals in mind when you walk into the venue.
It’s also a good idea to contact some of your networking targets ahead of time. Send emails to simply introduce yourself and let people know that you’re excited about the prospect of meeting them or attending their talk. This will give you an ‘in’ of sorts and should make it easier to approach them at the conference itself. If you’re feeling particularly bold, you can even request a few minutes of their time. Hey, the worst thing they can say is no!
In a world where most networking happens online, conferences present a rare opportunity to make face-to-face connections. However, to get the most out of such an event, you will still need to play the social media game just a little. In the days beforehand, tweet about the event using the official hashtag, and interact with others who are doing the same. This will allow you to make connections in advance and will give your Twitter following a nice little boost to boot.
Don’t Lose Sight Of What Networking Is Really About…
Networking is not an exercise in simply collecting or distributing business cards, in making sales or delivering flawless elevator pitches; it’s about forging lasting, mutually beneficial relationships.
Remember this when you’re gearing up for a conference.
While it is important to be armed with enough business cards and to have some idea how you’re going to introduce yourself, it’s more important to be authentic, natural, and in the moment.
We’re reluctant to use a cliché like ‘just be yourself’, but there’s a reason that phrase has become clichéd: it’s good advice — especially when it comes to networking.
People need to walk away from a conversation feeling they’ve genuinely learned a little bit about you, not that they know your business inside out.
Judy Robinett is a big believer in the idea that good business relationships need to start on a more personal level. The best-selling author, entrepreneur, and networking guru recommends that people forgo elevator pitches in favor of a less formal approach.
“I suggest you develop a share that tells who you are, what you’re about, and what you’re interested in. Talk about your family, hobbies, civic or community involvements—anything that shows you have a personal life,” says Robinett. “Only after that should you talk about your business.”
Ask not what your connection can do for you…
When you finally get around to talking shop, it’s important – once again – to resist the temptation to go into sales mode. You should be the one asking the questions, and you should be listening intently to the answers. Listen for opportunities. Not opportunities to promote your own business with this person’s help, but for opportunities to lend them your assistance!
Ultimately, we network to help grow our own businesses, but it’s best to play the long game. Ivan Misner, a New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur whom CNN has referred to as “The Father of Modern Networking,” put it perfectly when he said that networking is about “farming not hunting.” Before you can reap the rewards, you have to cultivate relationships; and there is no better way to nurture a budding relationship than by providing much-needed assistance.
Bon Appétit…
Conference interactions tend to be somewhat brief, which makes it more difficult to establish the sort of strong connections we keep harping on about. In an ideal scenario, you’d be allowed to pick the most interesting people you meet throughout the day and sit down with them for dinner that evening.
Well, why not create the ideal scenario for yourself?
There’s nothing stopping you.
Dorie Clark, a (you guessed it) best-selling author and entrepreneur, often makes dinner reservations for a number of people in advance of a conference and then invites some of those she meets throughout the day to join her. This creates a wonderful opportunity to make deeper connections and establish more meaningful relationships that are likely to last.
Follow Up…
No matter how well you think you’ve hit it off with somebody, a relationship is unlikely to blossom unless you follow up effectively in the days and weeks after the conference.
In recent years, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn have made following up a great deal easier, but they’ve also made it a little less intimate and meaningful. Sending a friend request or hitting ‘connect’ makes people feel as though their job is done: they’ve followed up and they’ve added yet another person to their ‘network.’ This may bolster their social media accounts and give the impression that they are well connected, but the lack of dialogue means their numbers are somewhat superficial and their relationships never fulfill their potential.
It’s important that you don’t fall into this trap. By all means, connect using social media, but make sure that you continue your conference dialogue as well. And don’t just reach out once: make contact on several occasions.
Networking expert Andy Lopata’s ‘24-7-30’ strategy provides a useful guideline for following up post-conference. In his ‘A-Z of Networking’ video series, Lopata says that he likes to make contact 24 hours after the initial meeting, again seven days after, and once again at the 30-day mark. We like this approach, as it’s a great way of ensuring that the relationship doesn’t become dormant as time passes.
So, that’s it: networking made a little simpler! Be prepared. Be proactive. Be authentic. Listen. Follow up.
And breathe; you’ve got this.
Seamus is a Content Specialist at Zazzle. He is quite happy in the role. So, if you’re following, that makes him a content Content Specialist. Seamus likes to write, read, watch sports, drink good beer/coffee, and spend time with his two beautiful kids. To say that he doesn’t like ketchup is an understatement.
