Welcome back to Episode #47 of The Daily Interaction podcast. This episode brings you the best of my networking tips as we explore How to Network at Events. I want to share with you fun networking tips, and bring the FUN back in it even as we do it with the utmost professionalism. I share practical tips that are going to make your next networking event the MOST fun event on your social calendar, so get ready!
Networking at events scares the living daylights out of most people and this can really hurt your business and even your personal goals, because connecting with others is part of life! Networking does not have to be a nerve-wracking prospect! This is just a gathering of people who come together to share ideas and food in the course of fun conversations. You generally speak the same language, and if it’s an international event, your organizers can always use professional translations to make communication possible between the attendees.
I realize that some of this is easier said than done, and I do get slightly nervous when I attend a new event, and especially when I do not know any of the attendees. Then I remember that this is an incredible opportunity: meeting new people who may then connect me to even more new people, learning things I did not know and expanding both my network as well as my knowledge.
If you can let the positive thoughts take over, and see it both as fun and as a huge benefit to your life, perhaps you can begin to embrace the next networking event awaiting you because you will know how to network at events. Now we can get on with the networking tips I have for you in the podcast. Are you ready?
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Your Weekly Friday Show Notes:
1. The first topic on how to network at events is a simple one: relax! Because your body language gives away your secret if you are tense or uncomfortable, and have fun especially if you are not the speaker! Don’t forget this perspective.
2. How to set expectations for yourself in what you hope to accomplish in every networking event, so your time is well-spent and how to know if you are attending the RIGHT networking event in the first place. Every industry has its own niche. For instance, I have focused on networking with bloggers and social media experts in the last year.
3. A revision: Why connecting with people is valuable? First, let’s establish that before you run off to the next networking event.
4. What is your body language saying to everyone at the event? How do you show that you are open rather than close? How can you become approachable? Why there is nothing to lose in making eye contact and smiling to people?
5. The art of managing your business cards. How to be fully expressed, and why the best thing to do is to always ask for business cards rather than handing yours out first? And what kind of picture to put on your business card?
6. How to move around and about in the space that the networking event is held, and how to enter and exit conversations smoothly?
7. Things to avoid and how to be respectful and present during the conversations with each person and how one true connection can go further than many half-true ones!
8. How to really think about networking and why the process is not a linear one. If you think of it this way, you are going to miss the whole point!
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Are you fond of networking with people at events? Do you have some killer tips to share on how to network at events? Do tell in the comments and do share the podcast if you know someone else will find it useful!
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{ 4 brilliant comments, Care to add another? }
Hello Farnoosh; another excellent program. I am almost ashamed to admit that I have never been to a networking event. I am hoping that this winter I will get to go to some of the conventions that take place for people in the amusement industry. I’m pretty good on eye contact even if I do have to depend on looking at wherever their voice is coming from. smile but it would be helpful to know some of the body positions or gestures that make you appear open to others. As a blind person these are often some of our biggest concerns. Thanks for answering the question about the business cards and when and how to give them out. And i would have never considered putting a photo on a business card. Not because its associated with real estate people, but it just would have never occurred to me. I did have what i thought was a rather unique idea for a card given the industry i work in. I thought of having some cards printed that would be like a roll of oversized tickets where I would tear one off each time someone asked. I haven’t had the courage to actually have them done, but for some reason the idea is still stuck in the back of my mind. Thanks again, i always look forward to friday for your podcasts. take care, max
Hi Max, thank you so much. No shame in it at all. THere’s plenty of time to go! And THAT is a brilliant idea for YOUR industry and the cards, Max. Do it. What’s the worst thing that can happen? The best thing, however, is people chuckle, laugh, and forever remember you as the guy who had those cards. I love your creativity. Thank you so much for continuing to listen to the show. Let me know when you go on that first networking event, Max. take good care.
Hi Farnoosh; one of the reasons that I love you and your site is you make people feel so welcome. you are always so positive. as for the cards that’s what I thought but i could also see how it might come across as hokey or cheesy. Now, that i feel more confident in the idea, next is to find a company to make them. I have considered asking one of the companies that makes tickets, but they might charge more since it would be a special project for them. Perhaps i should contact some people who specialize in custom printing. Perhaps there is someone that visits your site that will know just who i should ask. smile well, it worked with a web master, and i didn’t even know i was looking. thanks for the encouragement and take care, max
Hi Farnoosh,
You are so good at the networking thing. You make it look effortless. My tip would be to prepare ahead, plan who you want to meet and line them up in advance so you don’t miss them. That’s probably what we did when we met at Blogworld!
The other thing (and this sounds snobby but I think it’s important) is to get good quality cards. Those bendy, cheap ones make people look cheap and bendy. I remember you had the fun photo ones which are a good talking point. I always talk people through mine (they’re double-sided) so hopefully that gives the card a story and makes it more likely they’ll look at it again later rather than just throwing it away.
Thanks for linking to my post too, that is much appreciated. I wonder when we’ll meet again?!
{ 1 brilliant comment, Care to add another? }