Thank you for all the tips you gave me after my post on networking solo. Some of them came in handy at events I recently attended. Like finding someone sitting alone who looked as scared as I felt. It worked! It turned out he works at a business for which my company recently subcontracted. This led to using another tip: find something in common to discuss. With the experience of attending a couple more speed dating type events under my belt, a pattern is emerging. Here are some of their common elements:
- Gobs of people on their phones
- Carbohydrate loaded snacks
- People continuously scanning the room for other people they already know
- The chair at the end of the row is always claimed first
- Booths stocked with swag to lure attendees into conversation
- An extrovert working the room like a circus ringmaster (“Register for our mailing list!”)
- Opening remarks asking if this is anyone’s first time (not cool to out us newbies, btw)
- Presentations that were WAY too busy (Slides with lists and pictures crowding the screen so badly they are exhausting to read)
- Speakers who seemed to be fund raising (Sponsoring a hole for your next golf outing will guarantee me revenue. Really?!)
- Microphone issues
- Dignitaries telling us how great we were, how they appreciated us, and now go forth and connect!
- Help desks staffed by knowledgeable and friendly people
One event offered an app with PUSH notifications which came in handy when one of my scheduled meetings cancelled because that’s the only way I knew it was off. Another event had great signage from the moment I pulled into the parking lot. I made the most connections talking to the vendors, eating lunch with other attendees, and talking to other participants waiting in line around me for our turns at the popular exhibition booths.
These events felt like Kindergarten recess. You walk up to the tetherball pole (in this case a booth). You wait for someone to make eye contact, then you say, “Hi! I’m (Your Name Here), what’s your name?” and the game begins. It’s not so painful since a connection is all you’re looking for. You just need someone who will hit the ball back for a few minutes, am I right?
Any more networking tips for me? What about for following up after an event? Please leave your advice in the comments section.