How can you make the most of industry conferences for networking?

1. Be thorough with the leaders/speakers of the event by checking their LinkedIn profile 2. Try to talk to as many people as you can in the event 3. Exchange as many business cards as you can 4. Be very active during the conference, and write down who could be your prospect, and then drop them a message on LinkedIn that you listen to them and explain how you can help them grow 5. Write a detailed post on LinkedIn after you attend, regarding the event, that helps to build your personal band

Le meilleur moyen de tirer profit de quelque chose est de faire deux choses : 1) Savoir ce qu'on aimerait en tirer 2) Savoir ce qu'elle est capable de nous apporter. Il faut aligner ses objectifs avec ce qu'une conférence et ce qu'elle comprend comme experts, sa durée, son organisation permettent. Ensuite, il faut se fixer des objectifs. Je conseille deux types d'objectifs : 1) Des objectifs généraux comme : parler de sa marque, faire connaissance avec des fournisseurs, sonder des prospects...2) Des objectifs précis : échanger avec Martin de la société X sur le sujet Y. Le mieux est de se fixer 2 à 4 objectifs est d'aller jusqu'au bout. Je recommende également une capacité à s'adapter et s'ajuster le jour J.

Before the conference > Build out an initial schedule, plan, and goals. You can get the easy but important travel arrangements out of the way. Also, please plan and schedule out each day as much as you can ahead of time. And let's not forget your goals! I try to always have 2-3 themes of goals when attending a conference. New contacts. Reconnect with current contacts. Meet with current prospects and/or clients. These are all examples.

Partnerships and networking is our bread and butter so here are 7 tips to follow: 1. Set clear goals: You should know what the heck you are doing there :) 2. Research the event: Check out the exhibitors and make a list of those you'd like to meet. Get feedback from past attendees or sponsors. 3.Social media: Tell all your partners and followers that you'll be there. 4.Elevator pitch: Prep 1 min intro for yourself and how you can add value to them and vice versa 5. Book meetings on the spot during the event and do those in the following weeks. 6.Follow up and Follow Up Again: Connect on LinkedIn or email within a few days after the event ... let them get home first :) 7. Give each person you speak a small gift so they can remember you!

Check your phone in your pocket as much as you can and only pull it out to scan someone's LinkedIn QR code :-) Smile and say hello > conferences are in-person experiences that, surprise, are much better when you engage with as many folks as possible. And if you are shy, keep this in mind. Many of the folks working their tradeshow booths are just as shy...

There are three important steps to take after the conference: 1. Follow-up 2. Follow-up 3. Follow-up I've been going to 3+ tradeshows a year for the last 20 years and it always blows my mind with the lack of follow-up some folks have. You prove the ROI of conference attendance after the conference!

This one is simple but you have to be patient. 1. Attend the speaker's session/panel. 2. Once they are done, you and likely others should walk over to wherever the speaker goes. At most conferences, it will be on the sid of the stage or near the audio table. Most speakers are also at the event to network so they are ready to meet folks. Introduce yourself and ask a question regarding a topic or point the speaker made in their presentation.

Go to their booth. Ask to learn more. Thank them for sponsoring. Bonus points if you find the sponsor's team member who organized the event.

If you have ever had the thought that being "too present" is too much for your lifestyle, take this principle as a guidline: - 90 minutes rule: don't spend too much time networking, when things are stressy all around. Limit yourself to 1 and a half hour. Enough space for getting those, who really want to talk. - shake hands with your neighbours: if you are sitting in a conference keynote and a break is around the corner, introduce yourself to your neighbours and you will end up with at least 4 new people. in the next keynote, take a seat somewhere else you will leave with probably 10 contacts in your network. - ask to grab a coffee and get some fresh air in: if you spend too much time in an expo hall everyone could use some fresh air.