What are the most effective networking strategies after a professional event?

-Sending a personal thank you -Highlighting his/her contribution to your knowledge -Staying in touch - Referring them if you think they can add value - Do mention your expertise in some of your communication with them -keep updating them about your skill enhancement - never miss a chance to acknowledge their work on social media. - Always share your key takeaways from that professional event

In my experience coaching business leaders and professionals in this area, we always work to set goals before attending the networking event so that they can ensure they show up in a proactive manner. Establish what success looks like in attending a networking event both quantitatively as well as qualitatively. How many introductions will you make with attendees? What is the number of follow up discovery conversations after the event? How many clients will you acquire from your proactive nature at these events? Making out what success will look like with specific measurements will give you objective information to focus on during and after the event so that you can identify opportunities to increase your effectiveness and see results.

Asking questions or providing follow-up that reflects genuine interest, and shows you've been truly listening during a conversation pits you ahead of many others. Asking for someone's opinion or providing some insightful information or some help are a way to keep things balanced. It's about reciprocity and being memorable. At large events I sometimes struggle to remember everyone's names. I use mnemonics to connect a face to some interesting facts about that person, and more easily remember their name. Business cards can be used to make short notes on the back or these days our mobile phones - QR codes (used to transfer contact data from one phone to the other) often transfer a photo of a new contact, plus you'll have room for notes.

Go to every event not thinking what you can get from it, but how you can help others. If you only focus on your needs and goals, people will see through that. Genuinely go there to help others, to meet people, to have great moments and exchanges. One question you can always take with you once you get to know someone is "How can I help you?". The amount of people that will be taken back and want to return the favour so to speak will amaze you!

Go shake some hands! After a networking event the best approach is to go and introduce yourself and ask for the contact information from the people you are interested in following up with. No rocket science, a simple approach, simple introduction and a simple ask.

Whilst the title says ‘after’ event, the first point is about ‘before’, so I’m going to supplement this and this is to rehearse how to enter and exit conversations to be memorable. Give the other person a hook to remember you by so when you do reach out after, they know exactly who you are. Most people do not recognise all the faces and names of people they meet at events .