My 5 Tips for Networking at a Conference
As the Cofounder and President of PowerToFly, I've been to my fair share of conferences and networking events. PowerToFly ran over eighty events over the last twelve months!
Needless to say, I know that trying to meet new people at a multi-day event seems overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be exhausting. It can be reinvigorating and lead to useful connections that last for years to come - after all, that's why we go to conferences, right?
So, without further ado, here are my 5 tips for networking at a conference - read them, live them, and make the most of your next conference!
1. Do Your Homework - Conference networking starts well before you pick up your name tag. Review the speakers and program as a whole a few weeks in advance so you can make a plan for who you want to meet and how you can connect with them.
*Pro tip* - Once you've decided who you absolutely want to meet at the conference, ask a mutual connection to introduce you on LinkedIn or send them a connection request with a specific ask. Tell them who you are, why you want to meet them/need their help, and propose a time to meet. If you're delivering any pitches or talks of your own at the conference, you can invite them and ask them to connect for 5 minutes afterwards.
2. Practice Your Pitch - You'll be introducing yourself a lot. Be ready to tell everyone you meet the following info in 30 seconds or less:
- Your name
- What you do
- Why you are at this particular conference
3. Be Genuinely Interested in the People You Meet - Dale Carnegie's old advice definitely applies to networking at a conference… Your ability to drive an interesting conversation that isn't all about you will be a breath of fresh air for your fellow attendees. Try the following:
- When you meet someone, repeat their name and use it in the conversation
- Ask open-ended questions
- Practice active listening
- Smile and ask targeted follow-up questions
4. Take Notes - Once you're done chatting with someone, jot down a few notes about the conversation. If you've done step 3 effectively, you should have several unique takeaways that go well beyond the person's job title.
5. Follow Up & Share The Wealth - This is where the real fun begins. Connect with everyone you'd like to stay in touch with on LinkedIn and/or social media - when appropriate, you can use the notes you took to add a personal message that references something unique about the conversation you had!
Finally, consider sharing what you learned at the conference in a blog post or even a short video (you can share videos throughout the conference too). This is a great stepping stone to connect with fellow conference attendees you didn't have the chance to meet, and to share your key conference takeaways with colleagues/acquaintances who weren't able to attend the conference.
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<p><strong>When</strong>: February 1-5, 2021</p><p><strong>Where</strong>: Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register:</strong> Free!</p><p><strong>Where to register: </strong><a href="https://summit.powertofly.com/" target="_blank">Here</a></p><p>We had to include our own Diversity Reboot on our list of the best diversity and inclusion events to attend in 2021 because we know firsthand how the quality of 100+ expert speakers, the enthusiasm of 10,000 participants, and the cutting-edge tech that enables meaningful virtual networking and job fairs combine to create a truly epic five-day experience. This year, the theme 100 Day Kickoff harnesses the energy of the new government's first 100 days in office to help jump-start personal and professional plans to build more diverse and inclusive workplaces. </p><p>Following the February summit, we'll have a monthly series of smaller virtual summits on topics spanning everything from returnships to LGBTQ+ advocacy, so be sure to stay tuned for updates!<br></p>The Future of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 2021
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