Networking in an event, irrespective of the platform, online or real-time, is
very crucial and revolves around more than just one factor. It is not just
showing up at the event, a little chit-chat, and leaving the place after handing
over your cards to people.
This is a great opportunity for your business and you as a person; it builds your
ideas and helps you make something out of yourself. It’s great exposure for
anyone in any industry to meet new people who might be interested in what
services your company has to offer.
PRE-EVENT PREP
Preparing before an event is a very crucial step that most of the professional
tend to skip. Research the topics of talk or the subjects related to the theme of
the event. Try to list down some of your points or some questions that you
might be willing to put forth the panellists or experts at the event.
PITCH YOURSELF
Be prepared with an elevator pitch before-hand. Keep it simple and not so
professional, but something which blends in well with an ongoing discussion.
Don’t forget to dress the part and feel confident about yourself. Remember if
you are prepared almost 99% of your problems are already out of the window.
Tell them your story and make them recognize you for who you are. Be
impactful.
SET YOUR GOAL
The preparations we talked about before must always have a goal, what you
want to represent at the end. Any new product that you might have released
or just expanding your network. One must remember not to rush into talking
about your brand in the middle of a conversation. Build relationships, avoid
selling.
QUESTION YOURSELF
Ask yourself what are the factor that will keep them engaged in what you say.
Ask yourself, why would they be interesting while you prepare and also while
you speak over any topic. Short and Simple go a long way.
TRY TO CONNECT
When you start talking and getting into the conversation, you will soon find a
link within the chain that may connect you and the other person, hence
helping you build trust through a known source.
Listen and understand what the other people have to say and catch on where
you think you found the link.
INTERACT RIGHT
Familiarise yourself with individuals who you think are worth investing your
time in for a conversation. Don’t try to build many but meaningless
connections but try to get along well with important people and be in their
inner circle.
Trying to get along with many will keep you at a disadvantage of building a
brand from scratch in each environment.
TO SPEAK OR NOT TO SPEAK
The start may not be in your favour. Is this your first time, don’t worry, and
stay calm. There can be fall-outs from the discussion and maybe a long waiting
pause between it too, but that is not your ticket to give up. Nod and hear them
out, convey just enough, and don’t spill out everything you know, to keep up
for another chance to speak.
Wait for them to finish and then introduce yourself to the group by ending on
a note or opinion over the ongoing discussion to make it look perfect.
TAKE NOTES
Keep tabs on people you meet, what field they work in, and what was the
discussion you had. This will be helpful for post-event interaction with these
people to keep the relation with them.
When you exchange your business cards, put short pointers at the back of it
after they walk away.
CARDS HOLD A VALUE
If you haven’t built enough rapport with someone to encourage them to ask
for your card, don’t offer one. Keep your credible, don’t go everywhere
throwing them.
“According to Performics’ 2012 Life on Demand Survey, 40% of
people feel more comfortable engaging with people online than in
person.”
The factors that we discussed above are relevant even in a virtual event where
you have to introduce yourself, get in a conversation, and interact with people.
One can always try asking questions whose answer has more than a yes/no as
a possible response to not make it a dead-end for any conversation.
FOLLOW UP
A few days after the event, send follow-up emails to anyone you met.
Personalize the email and send a connection request on LinkedIn to know
about them and letting the person know you enjoyed meeting them and
mentioning something that you talked about.
Remember the quick decision-smile rule is simple: Once you make eye
contact with someone, you smile with maybe a short nod and at that
moment, you decide if you will go to them and talk.
Check your facts and insert the latest news about the particular field in your
talk to take personal opinions from every individual and let them feel
important.