Top 10 Conference Networking Tips

About.com Entrepreneurs by Scott Allen: One of the main reasons that people site for attending a conference is the networking opportunities. Yet they often leave the event feeling they made few or no connections. Here are 10 Tips to help you get the most out of connecting with others at a conference:
1. Have a plan. Know in advance whom you want to meet (directly or the type of people), which speakers you want to hear, and what tradeshow booths you want to visit.
2. Set appointments in advance. If you know that there will be people in attendance whom you know that you would like to see, call or email a few weeks in advance to schedule a time to meet for coffee, a meal, or a drink.
3. Do not focus on meeting the celebrity speakers. Place you focus on meeting other people in attendance at the event. It is the other attendees who you are most likely to bond with and create real long lasting mutually beneficial friendships.
4. Talk to the people sitting next to you. Once you have said something as simple as “hello”, it will be easier to talk with them later in the week if you see them again.
5. Ask questions of people you meet. People are more interested in themselves than they are in you, so ask them questions to help them get to talking.
6. Put your technology away. Do not run to your phone, BlackBerry, or laptop at every break. Utilize the time on breaks to converse with others.
7. Do not automatically send a LinkedIn or Facebook request. Best is to ask people if they would welcome such a link at this time. Be respectful of the fact that they might use social networking differently than you do.
8. Read their stuff. Many people are active bloggers, twitterers, authors, etc… If people create the written word, seek out their work and read it. It is a great way to get to know people by reading their stuff, but they will also be honored when you tell them that you read their blog or follow them on Twitter.
9. Introduce others. When you meet cool people, be the conduit who connects them with others who might be beneficial to them.
10. Follow up. If you meet interesting people and you never follow up, it makes no difference. Own the follow up after you meet people and send them an email (or better yet, a handwritten note) telling them how much you enjoyed talking with them, and plan for future discussions.
About the Author:
Scott Allen is a 20-year veteran technology entrepreneur, executive, and consultant. His latest venture, Link to Your World, LLC, is a full-service consulting firm that helps Global 2000 companies transform virtual relationships into real business. He is co-author of The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Online and The Emergence of The Relationship Economy and a popular speaker on how entrepreneurs and professionals can use social media and social networking to grow their business.