If you attend the right types of conferences and know how to connect with people at them, you can build a lot of new relationships and significantly impact your business. However, there are some differences between conferences and regular networking events. In this article, we cover some of these with tips on how to get the most out of your conference experiences.

Tailor Your Communication

You may have an elevator pitch for certain business networking events that you go to, such as meetups, Chamber of Commerce events, or BNI meetings. But it’s important to adjust your pitch to the specific audiences at the conferences that you attend. Also, rather than focusing on what you can get from a conference, concentrate on what you can contribute. This will make your time more enjoyable and will attract more opportunities.

Approaching People

Have you ever been to a conference and felt unsure about how to approach the people there? You can ask simple questions related to the event to get a conversation going such as “What is your favorite part about the conference so far?”, “What brings you to the conference?” or “How was your lunch break?”

Whenever you need to decide where to sit at an event, rather than choosing to sit alone in an empty spot, choose to sit in areas where people are already seated. By doing so, you can easily start conversations with them. Before a conference, it is also a good idea to reach out to important people on social media that you may want to connect with at the event. Let them know that you look forward to meeting them soon.

Your Marketing Materials

One of the obvious marketing materials that you need to take to a conference is business cards. It’s best to have your photo on these so that people can more easily remember who you were at the conference. Also, putting an interesting conversation starter on your cards can get conversations going. Your badge is another place where you can market yourself and add a conversation starter. Make sure that you also have a professional online presence because people may look you up on social media and on your website before, during, and after an event.

How to Take Your Exit

Besides knowing how to approach people at a conference, it is also useful to know how to make your exit after speaking to someone. One approach is to let them know that you enjoyed your conversation, next tell them how you will reconnect with them (such as through LinkedIn), and then smile and shake their hand to say goodbye.

Keeping Track of Your Connections

Right after the event, while your mind is still fresh, add the people you connected with into a database along with information about them and what you discussed. You can also connect with them on LinkedIn to remind them about who you are and continue your conversations. Remember to also thank the organizers. They can become great connections and introduce you to new people.

A coach can give you guidance for building business connections that will help you to grow your business. Get in touch today!