Networking is the key to becoming a successful entrepreneur. When you meet more people, you are able to grow your business through partnerships, fundraising, and word-of-mouth connections. One of the best ways to grow your business is to attend business-related conferences.
These tips will help maximize your time at business conferences:
Be Prepared: One of the best ways to be prepared for a business conference is to look up the hashtags associated with it. Check out the Twitter feeds and posts to see who will be there and what will be presented. Plan your schedule before you go so you do not miss anything and anyone.
Get Social: After you’ve checked out the hashtags and you’ve found out who is attending, connect on Twitter and use the conference app if the event has one designated.. Whatever you do, don’t send too many Tweets or you’ll be a spammer and your reputation will go way down.
Find Old Friends: The old saying about birds of a feather is true when it comes to conferences and you will no doubt see some people you already know. If you can connect with them in advance, through social media, arrange a time and place to reconnect so you can share your new connections.
Come Up with an Opening Line: Breaking into a group of people can be very intimidating, even for the most extroverted people. If you can come up with a strategic collection of opening lines, you will be prepared to approach any group. Remember that you aren’t prowling for dates, but trying to make business connections, so lines like, “Do any of you know where the meet and greet event is taking place?” is better than asking about their signs.
Be Memorable: People tend to ask the same questions, so be prepared with good answers. You will get asked what you do and where you live. Describe your job quickly and impressively so that you will be easily remembered for the good things that you do.
Get Busy on Social Media: While you are attending presentations, use the hashtags to connect with other attendees online. New presentations ask people to get involved with their phones and tablets making the events interactive. You are missing out if you do not participate.
Don’t Work the Room: This is not an event about you. It is about building relationships and connections. Let people talk to you, ask the questions, and be memorable. When your connections see that you care, they will be more inclined to remember you and your business.
Good Manners Pay Off: If you need to exit a conversation, be gracious about it. Don’t make the exit about you, but about the person you are speaking with by saying something like, “I know you have other people to talk to, so I will let you go.”
Socialize in Person: Go to the evening events and relax. At a conference, it is better to be where the people are then going to sleep early. It is better to connect with people than to listen the first speaker in the morning.
