Next Level Executives

Networking events are social but they are not birthday parties. You should have fun and enjoy the event but remember you are there for a reason.

Laura Fitton (aka Pistachio), of Pistachio Consulting, wrote a blog post this week titled “Make Conferences Rock More” that I think is a must read. She really got me thinking about how I approach my preparation for attending events.

While Pistachio’s post focuses on using social media tools to prepare for an event she more broadly hits on a challenge many people unwittingly face when they make a decision to attend an event for business.

The typical process goes a little something like this:

1. RSVP
2. Put the event on your calendar
3. Tell a couple of friends you are going. Ask if they are going?
4. Pick out an outfit
5. Do you have everything? Business Cards, cash for drinks at the bar, iPhone, breath mints….
6. Okay good to go!

With this kind of preparation, what are the chances of meaningful business resulting from the event?

Here are a few suggestions for making your next event a winner:

1. Decide why you are attending the event. Are you there to meet prospective clients or cement existing relationships? Maybe you are going to learn something new or take existing skills to the next level. It can’t hurt to remind yourself of the reason you are investing time in this event.
2. As Pistachio mentions early on in her post, take a look at the list of planned attendees. For each Next Level Executives event we post a list of who is coming on the registration page.
3. Make a note of who you want to meet.
4. See if you can let the person know of your desire to meet ahead of time. That way you can ensure you connect.
5. Promote the event to people who may benefit from attending. Note: this is not the same as asking your buddies if they are going. Take a look at your contacts with an eye out for people who should go either because they will make the event better or because they will get a lot out of the event. In short, do your part to raise the event’s profile.
6. Frank Damelio of Target Intellect says that most people frivolously waste their investment of time by not being prepared with a memorable introduction. Is there a chance that you will be asked to introduce yourself at this event? Do you know what you will say? Will people remember meeting you?
7. Have a post event plan. Rick Roberge of David Kurlan & Associates is a big fan of setting aside time after a networking event to follow up with the new contacts he met. If you have no plan to follow up with the people you meet then why bother to go in the first place?

Did I miss anything? How do you prepare for events? Feel free to leave a comment.

Tags: Events, Networking

This entry was posted on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 3:36 pm and is filed under Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.