Be a Top Networker at Your Next Event or Conference

“It’s great to spend time at a networking event with someone you know and like. But that’s not what you’re there for. Your goal is to expand your network by meeting new people.” — Beth Ramsay

Professional events and conferences provide unparalleled opportunities to expand your network, gain industry insights, and forge meaningful connections because you are with people. However, for many, the prospect of networking in these environments can be daunting. This article will guide you through effective strategies to prepare for, navigate, and follow up after networking events and conferences, helping you maximize these valuable opportunities.

Preparing for Networking Events and Conferences

It starts with choosing the right events, conferences, or meetups for you. Events and conferences may be organized by topic or by industry. Look for local opportunities in your area, or for events that are available virtually. Many organizations hold them regularly, so there may be an upcoming event near you or an area you can easily travel to. Consider trying a variety of events and start becoming a regular once you find the events and groups that are most interesting to you.

Once you’ve chosen events to attend, successful networking begins long before you step into the venue. Proper preparation can significantly boost your confidence and effectiveness.

Try following these steps:

1. Research the Event: Familiarize yourself with the event’s schedule, speakers, and attendees. Many conferences have apps or online platforms where you can view profiles of other attendees. You can also look up and connect with key people on LinkedIn or other platforms.
2. Set Clear Goals: Determine what you want to achieve from the event. Are you looking to learn about industry trends, meet potential mentors, or explore job opportunities? Having clear objectives will help focus your efforts. By the way, meeting new people should always be part of your goals.
3. Prepare Your Elevator Pitch: Craft a concise, engaging introduction of yourself that highlights your key skills, experiences, and goals. Practice it until it feels natural.
4. Bring Business Cards: Despite the digital age, physical business cards are still valuable networking tools. Ensure your cards are up-to-date, true to your personal brand, and professional.
5. Dress Appropriately: Choose attire that’s comfortable yet professional, aligning with the event’s dress code and your industry norms.

Do what you can to set yourself up for success before the moment arrives, and you’ll be able to attend with more confidence and focus.

Techniques for Initiating Conversations and Making Lasting Impressions

Once at the event, it’s time to put your preparation into action and start making connections!

When you meet someone new, here are a few things to consider:

1. Start With a Smile: A warm, genuine smile can make you appear approachable and confident, even if you’re feeling nervous. In fact, some studies suggest that smiling releases endorphins and serotonin to improve your mood!
2. Use Open Body Language: Keep your arms uncrossed and maintain eye contact to appear open and engaged. Again, your body language changes how you feel and can help you feel more confident as you meet new people.
3. Leverage Common Ground: Begin conversations by referencing shared experiences, such as a session you both attended or the venue itself.
4. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage dialogue by asking questions that require more than a yes or no answer. For example, “What did you find most interesting about the keynote speech?” or “What’s one thing you’ve taken away from the event so far that you’ll personally implement?”
5. Practice Active Listening: Show genuine interest in others by listening attentively and asking follow-up questions based on what they share. Don’t just listen to respond. Be present.
6. Share Your Insights: Don’t just ask questions; be prepared to share your own thoughts and experiences when appropriate. Adding your insights to the conversation helps keep the dialogue alive.
7. Be Authentic: While it’s important to present yourself professionally, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Authenticity can help you form more genuine connections.

Remember, networking at events is about quality, not quantity. It’s better to have a few meaningful conversations that start or deepen a meaningful relationship than to rush through dozens of superficial interactions that you and they won’t remember.

When going to events, you’ll likely go with other people or have people you already know that are there. A good rule of thumb is to seek to spend 50% or more of your time with people that you haven’t met yet, while still spending some time deepening relationships you already have. This will help you maximize your chances of expanding your network meaningfully instead of just hanging out with people you already know!

Following Up with New Contacts After Events

The real value of networking often emerges after the event. Connecting with people at the event is one thing, but it needs to continue to turn into a meaningful relationship.

Here are some ideas to do just that:

1. Act Quickly: Follow up with new contacts within 48 hours or so while the interaction is still fresh in both your minds. This means you’ll have to make sure to get their preferred contact information - phone, email, etc.
2. Personalize Your Message: Reference specific points from your conversation to jog their memory and demonstrate your attentiveness.
3. Connect on LinkedIn: Send a personalized connection request, mentioning where you met and what you discussed.
4. Provide Value: Share an article, resource, or introduction that might be helpful to them based on your conversation. Ideally you’ll be following through with something you talked about in person.
5. Suggest Next Steps: If appropriate, propose a follow-up meeting or call to continue the conversation. You want to continue the conversation and relationships somehow.
6. Be Patient and Persistent: If you don’t receive a response immediately, don’t be discouraged. Follow up politely after a week or two.

In the end, it’s about keeping things going. Growing the relationship. Are you considering a job? A collaboration? A mentoring relationship? Something else? Clarify that and work towards it together.

One more note - when you go to events you won’t know immediately how and if those relationships will benefit you in the future. That’s okay. Or maybe you didn’t connect as widely or deeply as you would have liked. For example, one time I spoke at an event early in the process of starting my coaching/training business, and left a bit disappointed thinking that none of the people I met were aligned with the industry I was seeking to impact. But it turned out that some of those relationships continued to grow and help me in ways I never could have predicted.

So, sometimes it’s just the connection itself that is the success, not always what it leads to.

Maximizing the Value of Professional Associations and Groups

Professional associations and groups often organize networking events and conferences. Each industry has their own professional association, and often it is international. They have websites, groups on LinkedIn, and often local chapters.

Engaging with these organizations can provide ongoing networking opportunities for you specific to your industry.

One of my clients Rasmus has been a member of CMAA (Construction Management Association of America) because he’s an engineering manager in the construction industry. After being a member and contributing in many different ways, he became a Fellow of the association because of the ways he engaged in the field, held leadership positions, and served as a mentor to many. He’s been a member for over 30 years and keeps coming back to events because of the relationships he’s built over the years.

Whether you engage at the local, national, or international level doesn’t matter at the moment, but associations are great places to meet people, build leadership skills, and even present your work in a professional setting!

The more you contribute, the more you’ll get out of the experience!

Conclusion

Remember, networking is a skill that improves with practice. Each event is an opportunity to refine your approach and build your confidence.

By preparing thoroughly, engaging authentically, following up diligently, and addressing challenges proactively, you can transform networking events and conferences from potentially stressful situations into valuable opportunities for professional growth and relationship building. These interactions can lead to mentorships, job opportunities, partnerships, and friendships that can significantly impact your career trajectory.

Take Intentional Action

Identify one event, meetup, or conference that you would like to attend.

Take the time to prepare and make the most of your attendance. Meet someone new, have a great conversation, get their contact information, follow up, and set something up to talk again.

Accelerate Your Progress

This newsletter is an adapted excerpt from my newly released book, The Intentional Career Guide to Professional Networking.

So grab a copy of it, and if you are interested in being an early reader and becoming part of the “Book Army” to help launch it as well as the rest of the Intentional Career Guide series, sign up at https://www.intentionalcareerguide.com/bookarmy.

You can also find more related resources, courses, and more of The Intentional Career Guide at www.intentionalcareerguide.com.