Lego My Ego.....What do I do After a Networking Event?

So you went to a business networking event the other night and have a handful of business cards and notes from each conversation and now you’re ready to make contact with your new prospects, possible future contact and another professional in your network. You read blogs and posts about how to network like a professional, talked to your friends and colleagues and you quickly realize what happens next? Lucky for you we have this article get you to the next step of networking, Business Networking Tips: The Do’s and Don’ts After a Networking Event.

1) Review Your Goals: So you set goals for the event you attended. Review them and see if you need to raise your goals, if you didn’t accomplish your goals, its OK, eventually you'll surpass your goals and will be able raise them.

2) 24 Hour Rule: Don’t wait until the next day or the next week because chances are you won’t get around to it and there’s a chance they will not recall who you are. We suggested that you send an email to everyone you took a card from. Even if you don’t see an immediate connection just sending a note saying: “It was a pleasure meeting you and I look forward to meeting you at the next networking event”. This is also a good chance for you to “Pay it Forward” and connect people with the resources or contacts they need.

3) Email blast: Don’t be that professional that sends out a mass email with the same general messages from your contacts for the past networking event. Just like when you’re at a event you want to be personal, approachable and professional, sending a personal email to your new contact is a good way to show that you actually listened to them and you want to make the effort to get to know them. You can keep it brief but add some personal notes from your previous conversation at the event.

4) LinkedIn Message: If you would like to add someone to your LinkedIn account don’t use the preset message: “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” . Again make it a personal message, show them you are making that effort to connect with them.

5) Unsubscribe Please: You have a stack of business cards and you think to yourself this is a good way to add these new contacts to your newsletter right? Wrong, it is Socially unacceptable to add someone to your newsletter without their permission and this a good way for someone to block your email and avoid business contact with you. There’s nothing wrong asking your new contact if they would like to be on your newsletter.

(TIP: If you want add more value to your newsletter use someone of your new and existing contacts and ask them to post a professional tip from their profession.)

6) Be Prepared: Before you meet your new connection at their business, your business or at a coffee shop, spend the extra time and effort to look them up on Facebook, Google, LinkedIn or some other social media to learn more about them and how you can help them in business. Have a plan on what you want to talk about and how you two can help each other in business.

7) Keep it Casual: This is your first meeting so take the time to get to know them more, ask more questions about them than they ask about you. Don’t dominate the conversation and by asking more questions about them you’ll make a better connection with them.

8) Now vs. Later: And as you know this first meeting you most likely won’t be doing business but there will be potential business in the future so don’t worry about it, have fun and get to know them.

9) Second Impression: Just like a first date, first meeting or going to a networking event you should dress for success. It’s OK to dress casual if you know the person pretty well but on this case, dress to impress. By looking professional your new connection will take you more seriously.

10) Social Media Check: Make sure you have enough business cards for your next event and that all your information is still correct. Also check your website and all your social media’s to make sure they are also up to date. Finally, go to the Facebook page and do some likes and replies from the past event and most of all mention how you enjoyed your night and the people at the event.

11) Calling vs. Meeting: Everyone will have different views on this but Actual Networking feels its better to meet in person than talk on the phone or via Google chat. By meeting in person you’ll make a better connection, show your potential contact that you want to make the time and effort to get to know them and also business is evolving back to the handshake instead of emails and phone chat. The question you have to ask yourself “Would I prefer to meet in person or talk on the phone or via email? Will it help me get to know the person better?”

Networking takes time and energy but if you put some effort into this you'll reap the benefits by following our networking tips on before and after the networking event. Just a little fact: According to the New York Times, 65% of all new business comes from referrals. That means on average, two-thirds of consumers make purchases because someone they know recommended a particular product or service. Furthermore, you are four times more likely to buy when referred by a friend. To sum it up, networking is a huge part of growing your business and by attending networking events is only half of the whole process by following these 11 steps. We hope you enjoyed and learned something from this blog and took something useful from this to help you on your next after event meeting. 

Carpe Diem,

Michael Roberts