Conferences are officially back! I never thought I’d see the day where I was genuinely looking forward to walking around a trade show floor and making small talk with strangers – nothing like a year-long pandemic and spending months quarantining in a one bedroom apartment to make you change your perspective on attending industry events. In just a few weeks, I’ll be heading out to Las Vegas to attend the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference (hope to see you there!).
While I’m excited for the opportunity to see countless clients for the first time in-person since 2019 and mingle with hundreds of members of the franchising community, I’m admittedly a bit nervous that my networking skills may be a tad rusty. After more than a year of virtual events and social distancing requirements, I doubt I’m the only one who’s wondering if they even remember how to actually have an in-person conversation without any awkwardness.
Even if you considered yourself a networking pro pre-COVID, we could all likely use a refresher. Here’s some helpful tips to help prep you for your next conference.
Prepare some conversation starters
Before you leave for the event (or even during your travel time), think of some conversation starters to use in a variety of different contexts. Learning how to network at a conference can be intimidating, but preparing yourself in advance can help shake off any nerves you may be feeling. Don’t worry about sounding scripted either. Brainstorming a list of questions to ask can make them sound more natural when you’re nervous and helps you avoid drawing a blank when you approach someone. Some simple ones to start with: “Where are you from?” “What brings you to this conference?” “What sessions/speakers are you looking forward to most?” OR “Which ones did you enjoy?”
Plan your exit strategy
A good close is the key to leaving a lasting and positive impression on the people you meet while networking at an event. But sometimes, you may find yourself in a conversation you wish you had never started or one that drags on and takes up valuable time you could be using to meet new people. Plan your exit strategy so you can politely leave a conversation if necessary. This networking tip from the Science of People comes as an easy-to-remember formula: “Genuine compliment + Follow-up Item + Handshake = Lasting Impression.”
Repeat names out loud to help you remember them
At the same time as you plan your exit strategy, you should also make a plan to repeat the names you hear. Before you leave a conversation, make sure you use the person’s name to reinforce your memory of it. A simple “Talk to you later [Name]” or “Well [Name], it was great meeting you.” will do. If they haven’t offered their name yet, you can say something like: “Actually, before I go, I didn’t catch your name. What was it?” before you part ways. Being interested in someone’s name and saying it out loud is one of many quick tips for networking and making a good impression.
Use conference badges to your advantage
One of the handiest networking tips is to use conference badges to their full advantage. Name, job title, organization – all the key information you need to put your conversation into context is right there. And, if you’re lucky, the event organizers will have put some thought into a top-notch conference badge design to make networking easier for you. Use this tool to your advantage at every conference, even if it’s simply to help you remember names.
Take advantage of idle time
One of the most valuable conference networking tips is to take advantage of those fleeting moments between main events. Capitalize on these moments. If you have time sitting in a session before the first presenter speaks, chat to someone sitting next to you. If you’re waiting in a line-up for food or coffee, ask the person behind you how their day is going. Many people automatically resort to their phones to pass this time, but they’re often sacrificing valuable interactions as a result.
Bring business cards (but don’t rely on them)
Business cards are an old reliable in the networking tip toolbox, and it’ll be a long time before they go out of style. Put some thought into yours and make sure you print enough cards to last you the entire event. Include basic information like your name, organization, and email. Also, consider adding your social information and a photo to make it easier for others to remember you and keep in touch. But be cautious of falling into the business card trap (i.e. robotically passing on your details without engaging in truly valuable networking). Attempt to strike up a genuine conversation first. Then, if someone doesn’t have the time or has to move on before the conversation has finished, you can exchange cards and plan to get in touch later.
