Networking comes naturally easy to some people because they are genuinely interested in the other person. To some others, it makes the whole process makes them uncomfortable. The networking activity is not only about the exchange of business cards or selling oneself, there is more to it. As we all know, our network is net worth. Doing it the right way would yield more results and far exceed expectations.
People have gotten referrals and recommendations from their network. They even got information that changed their life for good. This goes to show why people should be invested in the right relationships. The following tips show how to successfully attend a networking event:
1. Maximise your business cards
It’s easy to go to a networking event and put the business cards in your pocket or purse and never look at them again. However, this defeats the whole purpose of attending the event in the first place. You must act on making the most of your new connections and do so within 24 hours of attending the event. Don’t procrastinate or you run the risk of your new connection forgetting who you are. Your new contacts will also be impressed you took the time to reach out to them so soon after your introduction.
2. Show your value to new contacts
People are more likely to want to connect with you if they think you would be valuable to them. It’s the classic case of “What’s in it for me?” Therefore, it’s probably best to build a relationship with your new connection rather than straight out asking the person for a job right away. Perhaps you discussed a shared interest or some other timely topic. If you stay in the person’s short-term memory, and continuously prove yourself to be a valuable connection, he/she will be likely to contact you to keep in touch.
3. Don’t be self-centered
Some of the best networkers put their own personal motives aside to connect with other people. This can take place at the networking event or afterwards, but try to make connections between the people who you have recently met. Do you know someone who could benefit from an introduction to your new connection? Could an old connection and your newest connection benefit from knowing each other? This also helps with remembrance because both people will remember you as the person who connected them.
4. Leverage on technology
One of the easiest ways to stay in touch with a contact is to connect with the person on LinkedIn. Instead of sending the boring default message as your connection request, type in a few sentences about the networking event you just attended and a snippet from your conversation. People have an easier time remembering your meeting if you remind them where you met and what you talked about. There are also some apps that can make networking easier while you’re still at the event. Some of these apps allow you to exchange the regular business card information, as well as links to the person’s social media presence.
5. Plan for your next networking event
Networking is not a one-time thing. You should try to constantly expand your network and improve your networking skills. The more you practice networking, the better you will become with this skill. Take a few minutes to reflect on what you could have done better at your last networking event and improve upon those things before your next event. Make a personal goal to attend at least one networking event per month. Reorder business cards to ensure you have plenty for your next event. Don’t forget to prepare beforehand for what you would do.