7 Money Making Business Networking Tips To Use at Your Next Conference

How to be An Effective Networker at Conferences and Events

Do you have social anxiety?

Are you scared of networking and meeting new people at conferences and big events?

You may not believe it, but I am an introvert, too. And just like you, I used to feel scared and intimidated at the thought of meeting new people at big events.

I know how it feels when your knees start to turn jelly as soon as you enter the conference room. But, it doesn’t have to work that way.

You may be an introvert, but you can still learn how to network effectively.

A word of advice: don’t shun this off, because you will need these tips sooner or later.

Besides, you need to network your butt off, because that’s how big money comes in. And, take it from me, your fellow introvert: networking pays off.

By the way, this episode is the last video in our three-part series on all about conferences and event networking. If you haven’t yet, check out the first two videos:

Video Number 1 is all about how you can build a basic Manychat Business Card bot. You may find this super helpful in networking events as this bot allows you to discard all your business cards and still be able to follow-up on your prospects — easily and effectively.

Here’s the link to Video Number 1.

Video Number 2, on the other hand, is all about upgrading your basic Business card chatbot to include follow-up features using Zapier Integration.

Here’s the link to Video Number 2.

In this third and last video, I will be sharing with you my secret tips and tricks on how I managed to overcome my social anxiety and attract potential clients in big events.

So, are you ready to make it big at your next conference, and start raking in BIG MONEY?

Try these tips:

Plan and set a goal.

When it comes to networking, a little planning can go a long way. Weeks (or even months) before the big event, ask yourself the following questions:

• What type of people do I want to meet?
• What type of connections do I want to make?
• Where can I find them?
• What is the best way for me to connect with them?

Focus your goals and objectives around these questions.

Keep in mind that your goal is to connect with like-minded people. If someone stands out as a good connection, you might want to invite them for a short digital chat. I’d like to call these digital chat sessions as ‘virtual coffee.’

Try to connect with people a month or two before a big conference.

Most people think that attending conferences require very little preparation. I beg to differ.

If you wish to conquer your social anxiety, you need to have warm connections over at the actual event. So, you don’t have to go in cold.

The best way to create warm connections months before the event is to have digital meet-ups with attendees. A 30-minute ‘virtual coffee’ via Zoom usually does the trick.

The goal with these virtual coffees is for you to try creating a genuine connection with new people. I strongly suggest you go with a 30-minute video chat because it helps make the digital meet-up more substantial, and it’s closer to the real thing.

Don’t sell to your new connections.

Your goal is to make genuine connections to help people remember you, like you, and trust you enough for them to refer business to you.

Take it easy. Be patient, and forget about pitching to your newest connections.

Find some common ground.

What better way to create a genuine connection than to find common ground with your prospect?

That’s right. Create deeper connections with people who share common interests with you. Chances are, they’ll remember you better because you have similar interests.

Be flexible.

And, be prepared to miss out on a session or two.

Conferences are super awesome because they give you the opportunity to learn, and the chance to connect with others.

In some cases, the chance to connect outweighs the opportunity to learn. When such occasions arise, you’ll have to go and miss out on sessions, to have a conversation with someone.

Remember this: the relationships you make and deepen will pay you back in gold far beyond the sessions that you may miss.

Knowing when to take it to the next level, and when to let it go.

Sometimes, a potential lead will lead to nowhere. If it happens, don’t be rude, but also don’t try to take it too far.

You may find a serious lead. If you do, you might want to consider missing out on sessions to grab a bite or coffee with that prospect.

Alternatively, you may want to set-up a virtual coffee a week right after the conference. And do it while it’s hot. Book your prospects right then and there. Don’t wait for the follow-up.

The fortune is in the follow-up.

Days after the conference, contact the people who you had common ground with. Remind them of something that you talked about. Or better yet, send them the selfie you guys took, and help them remember you.

This way, you can take your relationship a bit further, and hopefully, you could establish business connections with them later on.

Now that you know my secret tips, which do you think is the most valuable? Let me know by commenting below.

If you haven’t built your business card bot yet, go ahead and follow these links: Video 1 and Video 2.

If you want to learn more about Chat Marketing, you should check out my 57-page guide here. It includes case studies, data, and other information on how you could leverage chatbots for the Future of Marketing. This guide also includes my step-by-step guide on How to Create A Lead Magnet Delivery Bot. All for only $10!

Anyways, it’s your time to shine. Go ahead and harness your new networking superpower!