The Importance of Event Networking: Before & After

“The richest people in the world look for and build networks. Everyone else looks for work.”
Robert Kiyosaki

Networking for conferences is no longer restricted to the conferences themselves. With the current social network boom comes a myriad of ways to make the best of the conference long before it even begins.

Eight easy steps to start networking before a conference:

1. Research the audience/attendees
   Make sure that you know who the attendees will be and what their areas of expertise are. This can be done by looking at the conference site and using networking tools made available by the conference organisers. Also find out who the presenters will be and connect with them. They can share ideas with you, help you to clarify your ideas and get you connected with more people in your industry.
2. Use social networks to connect
   Read the blogs, tweets and Facebook pages of potential business partners before the conference so that you get a good idea of who they are.
3. Introduce yourself. Stay ahead of the pack
   Contact the organisers and presenters and let them know that you are looking forward to the event and talks. By showing that you recognise their valuable expertise you are starting to develop a relationship. The presenters will value you taking the time to contact them and it is likely that they will email you to thank you. When you get to the conference you can introduce yourself in person with the ‘ice’ already broken which can lead to even more introductions.
4. Plan ahead
   Avoid being side-tracked by setting up meetings by yourself. Use the network tool to find all of your existing networks and potential partners – this is a great way to connect and set up appointments with people you want to meet. When you are at the actual conference you might be overwhelmed by the amount of content. It is a good idea to research speakers and make a list of which talks and presentations you want to attend beforehand.
5. Prioritise appointments
   With so much happening at these conferences it is hard to choose. Make a list of who you want to meet with, parties you want to attend and then prioritise them.
6. Find the Twitter hashtag for the event
   Many events now have a Twitter hashtag so people can follow the stream of content being tweeted about their event. If there isn’t a hashtag, be proactive and make one to alert your network and make new connections.
7. Connect other people
   Be the link between people. When you meet someone who has specific business needs, connect them with other people who might be able to help them fulfil these needs. This doesn’t have to be restricted to the conference, this can happen before and after the conference. Ask the right questions and you’ll easily spot the right connections. Don’t be selfish about it and worry about what’s in it for you – it’s a great feeling to connect people and you will find that they will reciprocate.
8. Connect with new networks
   After the conference connect with and follow potential business partners on LinkedIn and Twitter. Write them personalised messages outlining the conversation that you had with them at the conference and ask if you can link up with them on other social media networks that might be seen as more personal like Facebook.

Networking tips for while you’re at the conference:

• Keep notes
  Jot down notes of who the person is, why they are important and what makes them interesting on the back of business cards.
• Mix with new people
  Sit next to people that you don’t know – this is a great way of getting out of your comfort zone and making new connections.
• Don’t miss the experience
  Be careful not to get swept away in a sea of texting, tweeting, posting and blogging instead of actually experiencing the conference. You will get far more out of it if you give it your full attention and just take brief notes to jog your memory when you are documenting it later.
• Be approachable
  Don’t hide behind technology, put it all away. Working on your laptop, your tablet or your phone will create a barrier and make you seem unapproachable.
• Attend evening events and parties
  Don’t skip them in favour of bed. This is a great time to meet people in an informal way and have conversations about all that took place during the day. Interact with people in the bar, the restaurant or the hotel. If you don’t drink, go anyway. Worry about catching up on sleep on the flight home. Make the best of your time there. Also make sure that you get to evening events and parties early. When you are part of a cluster of conversation right from the start you can be there as it grows around you and you won’t have to try and work your way into clusters as you would if you arrived later.

Networking is key to business success at a conference, so get out there and start, it’s never too late or too early!

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About the Author

Fortune Affiliates are proudly sponsoring the London Affiliate Conference Networking tool. This fantastic online tool will not only help all delegates to plan their time at the event, but also meet, talk and arrange meetings with fellow attendees. To make use of this amazing tool, simply register and you will receive login details within 24 hours. 

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