HOW TO WORK A ROOM at a Business Networking Event - 10 Tips From A Pro: Arthur T. Corry
1. Don’t Stop
Talk To Randoms, one after the other after the other. A business event is not JUST a social event. It’s full of opportunity. Pros know to talk to stragers. Shy is not an option. Don’t stop. If there are a thousand people at an event, make a goal of making cold introductions to a hundred that night… And try for more. I managed 500 personal introductions once at an event I sponsored called #AccellerateTO. We pulled in an audience of 2000 tech entrepreneurs and investors and flew in Jack Dorsey (Twitter founder). I was also top tweeter that night, which I didn’t intend. The secret: INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO GROUPS OF PEOPLE at a time. 2000 people you’d like to meet? Try introducing yourself to 20 at a time. You need to be brave and not worry about looking a little foolish in some people’s eyes in the moment. They will respect you when they see you move on to the next group as they see what you’re up to.
2. Start With a Simple: Eye Contact, Smile, Handshake, “My name is… I am a (insert your profession or agenda for the evening with an elevator pitch.)
That’s all you need to start a conversation. Now do that all night.
3. Limit Time With Each Conversation To Very Short.
Five minutes is long for me. That gives you time to work a big room but also time to explore reasons to follow up with that person later. Excusing yourself politely is an art that needs to be learned. Start practicing. Wear a watch that is big enough to see without your glance to check the time being too obvious.
4. Leave a trail of Business Cards like Hanzel and Grettle leaving breadcrumbs to find their way home.
I am fully digital from my notes to calendar, but in my experience there is no digital tool yet that can match a stack of business cards in your pocket.
5. Use Your Smartphone Like Augmented Memory.
Take pictures on the spot that will help you remember people and their professions as well as the conversations you have had. Snap a pic of a person’s business card, next to their app they are demo-ing, or their face, or their product, or whatever will help you remember. It’s not rude. People like it. Take photos of printed websites URLs to look at later, and anything you want to follow up with later for research. Take audio notes. Ask other people to give you an audio note (that is always hilarious). Take video. Connect on social media right there. Focus on Twitter, LinkedIn and AngelList. Live blogging is amazing if you are brave enough. Use the event’s CORRECT hashtags!
6. Schedule Time After The Event To "Follow Up”.
For a big event I give myself a full day later that week when my memory is fresh. Sooner the better. Go through your pictures and business cards. Call people then. Send emails. Tweet at them. Blog ABOUT them.
7. Post Pictures & Videos From The Event.
Blog or Tweet People’s Names So They See Themselves. This is my SECRET WEAPON. It’s how my humble personal blog,http://ArthurTCorry.com sees thousands of visits per day and my Twitter account holds Fifty Thousand engaged followers. Google search is my tool, as well as Twitter and LinkedIn. AngelList is good at venture capital events. Learn some SEO and basic HTML for blogging hacks and to create long term googlejuice. My ultimate technique at an important event is to hire my own professional photographer or videographer to follow me around at the event. Then I blog the media or send the media to press outlets. This creates waves of enjoyment for all event attendees that radiate out from your blog or wherever you post. People have an uncanny ability to find pictures of themselves if they are tagged with their names and/or the names of their business or product. Sometimes it takes a while, but most people Google themselves or their business / product name on a regular basis and will enjoy the media you post. Boom! SECRET WEAPON REVEALED. I have fun with this. I must have created hundreds of profile photos for people by now. Casual gratitude is the best kind of social capital to keep a large network engaged.
8. Be Positive. Have Fun.
Drink a little wine if you need to! Or better yet have an energizing Green Juice to perk up. Alkalize your system. I rely on juices and green smart drinks with ginseng and ginkgo and such herbal stimulants to rev my brain beforehand. Be rested and happy for the event. If you work all day before the event, find a hidden bench somewhere for a 20 min nap, or go out for a quiet dinner first, or whatever it takes to put you in the mood. I used to drink energy drinks - such a bad habit - don’t do that! Make yourself really ready. Make people enjoy themselves. Networking events should be fun. People who enjoy each other are more likely to explore business opportunities together.
9. Don’t Snub… But Do Not Waste Time On Dead Ends.
If a person is not someone you wish to network with, move on immediately. 30 seconds of “Hello I am…” And then “Nice to meet you. Enjoy your evening.” is fine! Normal social graces do not apply at networking events and this is part of the fun. I often even tell people things like “I have a goal to meet everyone in the room tonight.” And then I move on and the person is left being amused rather than put off.
10. Be Memorable & Clear. Give Your Elevator Pitch To Everyone.
Have it memorized. Give it again and again, a hundred times that night if you meet a hundred people. Don’t feel silly. It works! Practice before the event. Combine it with handing out your card or even a brochure or other material to give out. Make a goal for the whole room to remember you. Hustle with a drink and cards in hand. WORK the room!
As always, tweet me to discuss this post.
Sincerely,
@ArthurTCorry