I have been to many networking events over the past few years. I’m sure you have too. Whether it be a company happy hour, a tech conference, or a meetup where you need to talk to strangers and make connections, these events can be intimidating. For me personally getting into a conversation with someone that I don’t know is difficult. It’s like putting yourself out there without knowing what to expect. It’s like going on a blind date! You’re still presenting yourself, but no one really knows you yet.
In this blog I hope to share some tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of your next networking event.
First and foremost, I would start by saying…
Have confidence in yourself!
Networking events can be intimidating. You walk into a room full of people you don’t know and hope for the best.
If you are an introvert like me, I feel your pain!
I have put together a few tips on how to overcome this fear and make the most of networking events to grow your business or career.
1) Smile: This may sound obvious, but it is the easiest way to make yourself approachable. A smile will open doors and get you talking to strangers.
2) Take Notes: Some people struggle with names and remembering details about people they meet so take some notes down on your phone or bring a notepad along with you.
3) Make an Introduction: If you see someone you know at the event, ask them if they want an introduction to someone you don’t know. This will help get the conversation started between both parties and introduce you to more people at the same time!
4) Know Your Elevator Pitch: Be prepared to talk about yourself and what you do in 30 seconds or less. If you are not prepared, it will show!
5) Ask Questions: A good way to keep a conversation going is to ask questions about the other person. People love talking about themselves, so
Preparing for a networking event can be a very stressful time and if you are not prepared, it can be very easy to get lost in a crowd of people. In this blog, we will explore how you can best prepare for an upcoming networking event and how to get the most out of it.
Networking events can occur at any time during your career. Whether you are just starting out or have been in the industry for 20 years, there is always something new to learn. It also gives you an opportunity to meet with people in the industry you may have never met before. This is invaluable because when you are looking for your next job, it is typically not what you know but who you know that matters most.
Before attending any networking events, you should do research on who will be attending these events. The best way to do this is by using LinkedIn or other social media tools that are available. Look into the backgrounds of everyone attending these events and find out what their strengths and weaknesses are. This will help you determine whether or not that this person will be able to help your career path or not.
As soon as you arrive at the event, make sure that you introduce yourself to everyone in the room. You can
Before we get into the tips, lets first discuss why you would want to go to a networking event in the first place. Networking events (and conferences in general) are great places to meet people that share your same interests. The best part is that they are already interested in talking with you. As soon as you walk into the room, there is an instant topic of conversation, what brought you there? How do you know the host? What do you do for work? What projects are you currently working on? It’s so much easier than starting at a bar or coffee shop where people don’t exactly have a reason to talk with each other.
So now that we’ve gone over why these events are so valuable, lets go over some tips on how to prepare and approach networking events.
The most intimidating part of any networking event is walking in the door. You know you have to meet new people, but you don’t even know where to start. Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your next event.
1. Take Control
The first thing you need to do before entering a networking event is think about what you want to accomplish (if you’re not sure, read this). Do you want to get new clients? Get introductions to other people? Discover your next business opportunity?
Once you’ve decided on your goal, take control of your thoughts. Don’t worry about being nervous or shy – be excited! Get yourself into a positive frame of mind and then walk through that door with confidence. You’ll be amazed at how much more comfortable everyone else will feel around you.
2. Learn Names
I like to call most networking events Name Games because it really is just a game to see who can remember the most names. The best way to play is to listen closely when others introduce themselves and repeat their name when you respond (“Hi John, nice to meet you!”). If someone introduces himself as John Smith, say “Hi John” when he’s walking away from the conversation so he knows that you
You’ve just been invited to a networking event. You are told that you will be introduced to some influential individuals, business owners and high profile people. Your initial reaction is excitement, but soon turns to fear as you realize you will be speaking to these people!
The good news is that it’s not as scary as some might think. There are many ways in which you can prepare for a networking event:
Research the topic of the event
Carefully choose what to wear to the event
Read up on some of the guests that have been invited
Practice, practice, practice!
You may feel uncomfortable talking about yourself at first, but this is where the practice comes in. If you’ve done your research and practiced your pitch beforehand, then this shouldn’t be too difficult for you. And remember, it’s all about building relationships with people and having fun!
The first thing that you need to do is find events that are happening. There are several ways to do this:
1.) The news: Newspapers and other news media will often have articles about upcoming events. This can be a great source for finding out what’s about to happen in your area.
2.) Social Networks: Websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter can be used to find upcoming networking events. If you follow the right companies and people on these networks, you will often get event updates.
3.) Search Engines: Searching Google, Bing or Yahoo can often be a good way to find events happening in your area.
If you’re having a hard time finding any events, consider creating your own!
