Networking is regarded as giving your business cards away to people you meet. It probably happened to you as well... but networking for business is so much more. Learn how to prepare for an event!
Get ready for success - Networking for Business IS Working!
Networking is widely regarded as giving your business cards away to people you meet. It probably happened to you as well, you came to a meeting, shook hands, give out your business cards and left. But do you know exactly how many follow-up meetings you have had after such a meeting? I’m sure you may have followed up with one person, but most likely it was none. In this article, you will learn how to effectively prepare for a networking meeting, as well as how to establish relationships that could change your life.
Many of us think that networking IS NOT working because we are convinced that it is just an attempt to sell our products or services and someone will always try to make you buy something. Surely, you were disappointed at some events because nothing special has happened and as Derek Coburn described it in his book: “Networking is Not Working”!
How to prepare for a networking for business event to make the most of it and achieve your goal?
You’ll find the answer IN the question: first set your goal. When preparing for a networking meeting, you should first think about what you want to achieve through attending that meeting. What are your main goals? It may be a desire to meet people who will help you develop your business, e.g. suppliers and distributors, or maybe you’re just looking for more clients. However, don’t limit yourself to clients or business partners, your goal may also be to meet industry experts from whom you can learn tips and tricks of the trade.
Here are some questions that will help you clarify your goal and pursue it more effectively:
- Why am I going to this meeting?
- How can it help me grow my business?
- What kind of people would I like to meet and why?
- In what sector do people who I would like to meet work?
- How many people would I like to meet at this meeting?
- What else I’d like to learn from this meeting?
For many, a networking event can be a difficult experience. Entering a room full of strangers may require a lot of courage. Remember, it’s worth being prepared for the meeting, starting with setting a specific goal that will give us reason to overcome fear and take the first step.
As you may have heard, the most effective goal setting is to set it using SMART Goals. Even regarding networking, your goal should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-limited.
“At a networking meeting on Wednesday, I’d like to meet 5 people working with startups, with whom I’ll follow up the next day.” If you know the name of the person you would like to meet, the better!
Writing your goals down will allow you to focus your energy, and you’ll also be able to establish relationships more easily. What’s more, it will allow you to measure how successful the meeting was and how many goals you achieved.
Who is attending networking for business event?
Meanwhile, to be able to set your goals, it’s also worth finding more information about the meeting: who is the organiser, who will be attending, who are the speakers, what dress code is required, what time the meeting starts and ends. Finding out the details is one of the most important steps without which it is impossible to set achievable goals.
Why is it so important? Imagine that you arrived late because you did not check the details of the event and the people with whom you wanted to talk have already left!
If the guest list is not publicly available before the meeting, you can ask the organisers to send you a copy. This will help you find out who will be attending the meeting, as well as help you decide who you would like to meet first.
It’s a good idea to search for people on Google and learn more about them through sites like LinkedIn and Facebook.
If the guest list is not available, don’t panic! Search the Internet for information about the company organizing the meeting and find out what their target market is and in what sector they work in to get valuable information about possible guests.
Contact the people you would like to meet before the event
Sounds weird? Maybe, but it is one of the techniques that helps me and will definitely help you achieve better results because by contacting someone before the meeting, you will establish an initial relationship and, although you have not met live yet, you will have a connection. Surely, you have met a person whom you only know from social media, and it was much easier for you to establish a relationship with them!
This technique is proven to help to prepare for a large meeting or event where it would be harder for you to meet everyone. A quick message via Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn in which you introduce yourself and confirm that you will be at the meeting will help you be more recognizable and visible during the event.
Preparation is key
At a networking meeting, you will have to effectively talk about your company and what it does. It is worth it to prepare your Elevator Pitch in advance to grab the other person interest within seconds.
It should contain information on how you help people and who your ideal client is. You can also present one of your achievements through a client’s short success story.
But networking is not talking about yourself, so you should also prepare some questions to get to know the other person, e.g. where they travelled from, what they do, their passion.
Plan what to wear, how to get there and what to bring with you for networking for business
You should choose the right outfit for the event to make the best first impression, and think about how you want to introduce yourself and your company. It is a good idea to prepare your clothes in advance so that the first impression is positive. Make sure you feel comfortable in your clothes so that you can focus your energy on your goals and not on constantly fixing your jacket or tie. Also, think about whether you may be too cold or hot if the temperature changes.
Remember to plan your trip so that you can arrive at the destination before the event, and check alternative routes in case of traffic jams or accidents on the road. Also remember to take with you everything you need – a notebook, a pen and business cards.
Keep in mind that by setting specific and important goals, finding the right information about the event and guests, contacting the people you would like to meet before the event, preparing for a conversation, planning the right outfit and planning how to get there on time, a networking meeting will be a success! What’s more, once you’ve set your goals using SMART, your success will be measurable, which means you’ll be able to assess to what extent this meeting has brought you closer to your main goal.
