Maximize Your Networking Potential in 2023
Ellie Perlman
Founder and CEO @ Blue Lake Capital | Multifamily Investment Opportunities
Real estate conferences are a great way to learn new things, meet new people and expand your professional network. They provide an opportunity to learn about the latest industry trends, share ideas with peers, and make connections with potential business partners or investors.
While conferences are a lot of fun, it’s important to know how to meet new people, remember who you met and what you talked about, and follow up after the conference in order to build strong relationships that will last beyond the event. For many of us in the industry, networking is one of the things we like best about attending a conference, but it can also be intimidating for those that are new to the industry or those of us who may be more introverted.
Whether you're new to real estate or a networking pro, here are some ideas on growing your professional network and maximizing its potential in 2023.
Preparing Ahead of Time
Before attending a real estate conference, it’s important to do some research on who else is going and what topics will be discussed. This will give you an idea of which sessions or events might be most relevant for your interests or career goals.
If there is a list of attendees available online ahead of time take advantage of it by researching potential contacts before arriving at the conference so that you can identify specific people that you'd like to meet.
Personally, I'm not trying to meet every single person attending a conference or see how many business cards I can collect. It's not a numbers game for me, I want to focus on two, three, maybe four people that I speak with throughout the entire conference, but really speak with, really get to know them better, have a real conversation, grab a coffee or lunch with them. It's all about making sure that you're talking with the right people, those that are right for you.
Make Connections That Count
If there's anyone specific you want to meet, start by introducing yourself as soon as possible. Don't hesitate to strike up conversations; even if they don't lead anywhere right away, they may open doors further down the road.
Make sure to listen carefully; ask questions about their work or experiences in order get them talking more freely (and remember names!); it will help make your connection stronger.
Also, consider joining social media groups associated with the conference beforehand or, if the conference has an app it may also have some messaging features where you can reach out proactively. This is an easy way stay connected with other attendees throughout (and after) the event even if you don't have a chance to exchange contact information directly.
Remembering Who You Met And What You Talked About
It can be difficult remembering everyone you meet at large events; luckily there are several strategies for keeping track during such occasions:
Follow Up Post-Conference
Following up with people you meet seems so obvious, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people fail to follow up post-conference. In my opinion, it's an essential step to maintain momentum gained during initial encounters. Here are a few easy things to try:
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Key Takeaways:
Attending real estate conferences are informative and a lot of fun, plus they provide numerous opportunities for making valuable connections within industry circles– but only if done properly.
By preparing ahead , engaging actively, taking notes and, most importantly, following through once the conference ends, you'll see tremendous success and the power of your network will grow exponentially.
Here's wishing you success in maximizing your network in the the year ahead; maybe I'll see you on the conference circuit soon.
As always, be well, be strong, and keep pushing forward!
Invest with Blue Lake Capital
If you are interested in learning more about passively investing in multifamily properties, click here to schedule a call with the Blue Lake Capital Team.
About Ellie Perlman
Ellie is the founder of Blue Lake Capital, a commercial real estate investment firm specializing in multifamily investing throughout the United States. At Blue Lake Capital, Ellie partners with both institutional and individual investors to grow their wealth by achieving double-digit returns by investing alongside her in exclusive multifamily deals they usually don't have access to.
A defining factor of Blue Lake Capital’s strategy is founded in utilizing machine learning/artificial intelligence throughout the course of all acquisitions and asset management. This advanced technology enables the company to produce accurate and data-driven forecasting for all assets on a market, property, and even tenant basis. In doing so, Blue Lake is able to lead commercial investments with the full capabilities of today’s technology.
Ellie is the host of REady2Scale, a podcast that highlights the assets, processes, and strategies for the multiple approaches to successful real estate investing.
She started her career as a commercial real estate lawyer, leading real estate transactions for one of Israel’s leading development companies. Later, as a property manager for Israel’s largest energy company, she oversaw properties worth over $100MM. Additionally, Ellie is an experienced entrepreneur who helped build and scale companies by improving their business operations.
Ellie holds a Masters in Law from Bar-Ilan University in Israel and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.
You can read more about Blue Lake Capital and Ellie Perlman at www.bluelake-capital.com.
Partner
2 天前Ellie, I really appreciate what you've shared!
CEO – Royal Moving & Storage Inc | Strategic leadership and operational Efficiency
6 个月Ellie, thanks for sharing this! How are you?
Consulting, Analytics
2 年I find networking events overwhelming, so I appreciate this article. My biggest takeaway is to take pictures with people. If you post a pic with them, you're likely to keep in touch!
IT Architect | Business Owner | Real Estate Coach | Veteran | Father & Husband | Active Secret Clearance
2 年Taking notes is something I've been doing ever since I started. Being able to send a follow up with a small detail you wrote down, is quite powerful.