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Do networking at events is a very important activity for companies and for professionals looking to expand your network of contacts and job opportunities. In particular, physical events, such as trade fairs, congresses and conventions, offer the opportunity to meet other professionals in the sector in person and to exchange ideas and information.
To effectively network at physical events, it's important to be prepared and devise your own strategy, so that you arrive at the event prepared and with a plan to follow. Here are some tips to help you make the most of networking opportunities at physical events of any kind.
1. Make a list of people to talk to
Before the event starts, you need to have the goals what you want to achieve. Based on those, just prepare a list of people you would like to talk to or would like to meet. This may include potential customers, suppliers, contractors or other industry professionals. Build an agenda in order to have a detailed program and not waste precious time and, if you think it is necessary, contact the professionals before the event via email or LinkedIn, in order to arrange any appointments in time. A'event app, when foreseen by the organization, can certainly help you in this networking operation because in most cases it provides for an integrated agenda, giving you the possibility to connect to the audience of participants even before the event itself.
2. Attend specific event networking sessions
Many events deliver specific side networking sessions, such as cocktail parties, dinners, presentations or aperitifs. Participating in one of these informal occasions will give you the opportunity to meet other people in a less classic and "plastered" context, giving you the possibility to share your ideas and experiences, learn to compare yourself with other professionals in the sector and make new acquaintances .
3. Use networking APP
As already mentioned before the event, it would be very advisable to start your networking via social networks or, even better, through the specific app of the event, connect with people you are interested in. This way, you can have a first approach with them, talk to them, select those who show interest and maybe make an appointment. This activity will be preparatory to schedule meetings during the physical event and accomplish step number 1.
These tools will allow you to continue the relationship even after the end of the event in question. Also, by curating your profile with the correct information, you will be able to attract more users to your page and connect with more people.
4. Don't forget your business cards
Whether they are the classic business cards to always keep ready in your pocket, or a special one QR code to be extracted like gunslingers, they are the only tool that allows you to quickly exchange your data with the other participants. The digitization of this process is facilitated by platforms and apps for events that allow for the exchange of a virtual business card directly within the system, avoiding physiological problems such as the risk of losing paper tickets, forgetting who gave them to us, or out of stock.
5. Follow up
You have met interesting people of potential value for your business: now all that remains is to start a real business relationship. You can use the event platform or another specialized social network such as LinkedIn to continue the conversation where it left off, for example sharing the link to the article you mentioned or information about a product.
The advice is to do this activity within 24/48 hours from the conclusion of the event, in order not to risk that the interlocutors forget about us.
Networking at physical events can be an effective way to expand your network and to find new job opportunities. Technology also helps in this type of activity, in fact, thanks to event platforms such as LetzFair, getting in touch with visitors, exhibitors and speakers is much easier. Furthermore, artificial intelligence automatically suggests professionals with a profile similar to yours based on the interests expressed, in order to facilitate networking at events.
In conclusion, by following the suggestions contained in this article, you will be able to make the most of the opportunities for networking in a physical event and make new acquaintances that are important for your career.
