It's no secret that networking events are powerful opportunities for young entrepreneurs to connect, share ideas, and learn from one another. Every entrepreneur who ever asked for business advise has gotten the answer "go to networking events" at least once in their lifetime. But attending an event is only half the battle; to truly benefit, you need a strategy. And funnily enough, that's something they don't give you advice on. But don't worry, we got you! Here’s how to make every networking event count.
1. Prepare Before You Go
Let's start at the beginning: You bought a ticket, now what? A lot of people underestimate how important it is to prepare the the event you're going to. To do that you have two things to do:
• Set Clear Goals - Think about what you want to achieve. Are you looking to find a mentor, connect with potential partners, or just gain inspiration? Setting goals will help you stay focused during the event and get out of it what you came there to do.
• Research the Event: Familiarize yourself with what kind of event it is and what's going to happen. Does the event have an agenda or speakers? If so is there time before and/or after the talk to meet the other attendees? If so, for how long?
Also, is there a way to connect or learn about the other attendees before the event? This preparation allows you to make meaningful connections with people you’re interested in meeting.
2. Bring Business Cards and/or Digital Contact Options
You made it to the event and are talking to an interesting person. Congratulations! Now be sure that you have a way to exchange contact details. Business cards are good, but at our events we see a lot of people connecting through LinkedIn and there's a reason why!
While business cards look professional and can show your new business connection a bit of your branding, there is no way for you to contact them if they forget to message you or lose your card on their way home. Being connected on LinkedIn (or any other social media platform) gives you both the security that you can message each other after the event and you can stay in contact more easily by sending each other relevant posts you see on the platform and start/continue a conversation about the topic very easily.
3. Be Approachable and Authentic
Nonverbal cues are key to get the conversation started in the first place. Even if you feel awkeward to approach people you don't know, remember they're at the event to meet new people, too! Saying "hi" with a smile and good eye contact shows you're open to conversation and most likely nice to talk to.
Meanwhile, make sure you are your most authentic self. Approach conversations with honesty, and don’t feel pressured to “sell” yourself right away. People pick up on that and will appreachiate getting to know the real you first. Selling yourself (or your services/product) should really be done once you know someone better and established some trust between you two.
4. Engage in Meaningful Conversations
To keep the conversation not only rolling but also meaningful, ask open-ended questions:
Instead of “What do you do?”, try asking, “What’s the most exciting project you’re working on right now?” or “What inspired you to get into your field?”
Then it's a matter of listening actively. People appreciate being heard and if you do so, you will make a more genuine connection with that person. Take real interest in their answers, and follow up with relevant questions to show you’re engaged.
5. Share Your Story and Value
When it’s your turn, share your story and what you’re passionate about. Try to focus on what sets you apart from the other people, and highlight how you bring value to your community and industry. But don't forget, while it’s great to share, keep it concise and focused. No one comes to a networking event to listen to your grandma's birthday cake (unless it perfectly fits into whatever you do with your business or is relevant to the conversation of course because who doesn't like cake... but you get the drift).
A clear, interesting introduction helps people remember you as well and sets the tone for the conversation.
6. Take Notes (But Don’t Overdo It)
Now this one is for the pros! But even if you're just starting with networking, it's a great habit to have. Taking notes and capturing key details about the person you just talked to and the conversation you had can help you not only remember everyone more clearly, but will also help you personalise follow-ups later. It's a great help when you're attending multiple networking events or talk to a lot of people on one night.
Tip: It's not about writing a novel about the people you talk to. Keep it short and focus on essentials like name, business, and a key point from your conversation. That's all you need for later and you don't want to be too distracted at the event by taking too many notes.
7. Follow Up Within 48 Hours
Sending a Thank-You Note or Message is a great way to connect with someone after the event. Mention something specific from your conversation to remind them who you are as they might have talked to a lot of people and might be thankful for the reminder.
And if you haven't already done so, send a personalised LinkedIn invitation and/or follow them (or their business) on their social media to keep the relationship open for future collaboration or conversation.
8. Reflect and Apply What You Learned
You're back home from your networking event. Time to relax, right? Wrong! You have one more thing to do and that's to reflect!
Take a few minutes to think about your experience after the event. Did you meet someone inspiring? Did you learn something new? This reflection will help you identify how the experience helped you grow.
Based on this experience you can now set goals for your next networking event. What do you want to focus on the next time? Do you want to talk to someone from a specific industry and get more insights the next time? Maybe you want to get feedback on a business idea you have. Whatever it is, write it down and look at it when you prepare for your next networking event.
Making the most out of networking events is about preparation, engagement, and follow-up. Following these tips, you’ll be able to build meaningful connections, learn from others, and benefit from every event you attend. But it's also about practice and using your experiences from previous networking events for your advantage.
Keep connecting and happy networking!