Going to networking events can be very rewarding if you are prepared and know your purpose for attending. Whether you are looking for a new job, need new employees or just want to meet other professionals, networking is the way to go. Always have a plan in mind and an expectation of what you want to happen. Set a goal of how many people you plan to meet and connect with while at the event. I have listed some suggestions that will help make your networking event a big success.
- Register for local networking events
- Connect with others who want to attend
- Plan to arrive early and stay late
- Create a marketing strategy for the event you are attending
- Create your marketing collateral
- Bring business cards
- Wear a name tag so people know who you are
- Dress for success
- Be prepared with a great pitch of your business and ask lots of questions that help create connections
- Be prepared for great things to happen
Networking is an extremely important to tool to advance your career and create a strong customer base. A few suggestions for finding the right networking events are Eventbrite, Meetup, Eventful, Lanyrd, Facebook events, and of course word of mouth. If you can’t find the right networking event that fits your needs, how about creating one yourself.
