Networking events pop up all over the place. Small local meets, niche conferences, and huge events are all growing in popularity. While you might be eager to meet people face to face, there are some networking mistakes you should avoid at these networking functions.
1. Expecting people to buy from you at the event. Your main reason for going to any event should be to meet people, not to make money or to find investors. You should be there to collect more people in your net, not reel one person in on your line. It’s not wrong to make a sale or schedule a sales appointment during an event but that should just be an exciting bonus.
2. Constantly speaking in “sales” mode. Sure, you want people to know about your business but try to speak “with” people instead of “to” people. Use your conversational skills instead of your salesperson skills. They’ll remember you longer and not avoid you next time they see you in the hall.
3. Not following up with your new contacts. You know the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind”? This applies to the moment you leave a networking event. Don’t expect people to just remember you; follow up with the people that you want to stay in your net. It might take a little work but it will be worth it to send a nice email or connect via social media. Let your business be visible, but not in their face. If there is a way you can help them go for it!
Throughout the networking process you very likely will run into these new contacts at other events. You might be able to take your networking to a next level of a face to face meeting and become friends instead of just acquaintances. If you do become friends with someone you met at a networking event you can write up that event as a success.
You might leave a networking event thinking that it was a total flop, but the event is just a starting point. It’s a place to meet people and to connect. You just never know who you’ll meet at an event – or who will be referred to you by a networking contact – who will have a need for your business.
