How to Prepare for a Networking Event

I hate to break it to you all, but I’m a fraud…. I am not the extrovert that everyone assumes I am. In fact, the first picture you see is me hiding in the bathroom mentally preparing for a networking event. For those who don’t know, a couple weeks ago it was CBC week. Essentially this means everyone and their mother came to DC. Everyday there were a multitude of events from networking and mixers, to late night parties. Despite what y’all see on here, I am not the most outward person (a faćade I know) To be honest, I normally get anxious when networking. I feel awkward randomly walking up to someone I don’t know and trying to start a conversation. I’m scared it’ll feel forced or I’ll seem too overbearing. However, as a young professional, I’ve made a pact to myself to do things that put me outside of my comfort zone and going to networking events alone is one of them. As daunting as it may seem, once you have a strategy for networking, things seem to work out just fine. So here are some things I do to prepare for networking events: 1️⃣ Review event attendees Most events posted on platforms like Eventbrite and LinkedIn will display who is attending the event. I always try to make it a priority to look into the attendees at least once before the event. As I do this, I note who aligns with my interests or work to remind myself to connect with them at the event. 2️⃣ Make a list of common questions to ask If there’s one thing people like to talk about, it’s themselves. Due to that, I have a running list of questions to ask individuals who I meet. I try to ask a mix of questions that are both personal and professional. Here are some examples: ✨Tell me a little about what you currently do. Is there anything you would change about your current role or industry? ✨Where are you from originally? How did you experience growing up shape who you are today? (side note, if they’re from the area in which you’re networking in them, you could also ask about their favorite local spots) ✨If you weren’t in your current field or role, what do you think you’d be doing instead? 3️⃣ Set goals I have learned that you do not have to network with the entire room to have had a good experience or make your mark. In fact, I would argue that having a few good conversations outweighs having 50 basic ones. Thus, the goals I set for myself are focused on making genuine connections. I normally set the goal of having at least 3 genuine conversations over the course of a 2 hour networking event. So far, I’ve been hitting the mark! 4️⃣ Monitor my social battery I do not believe in forcing ANYTHING. So when it comes to a point when I’m all talked out, I leave. There is no shame in it. There is no blame in it. I encourage you all to do the same. You do not need to make yourself stay in a place in which you are overwhelmed. — What are some ways you prepare for networking events? #tipswithtaylor #networking #genz

It's networking week and I haven't talked about networking events yet! Heyo! Let's do this. Yes, I know networking events can be draining and a lot to deal with, but they can be manageable. Here’s the first trick: Realize 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼. No one cares about you -- they’re all up in their heads about how they look and what they say. Now here's some tips: 1) 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 What organization is hosting the event? Who is the contact person? Sometimes the event will publish a list of confirmed attendees - look them up in advance. If there is a speaker, contact them too and say you’re looking forward to the event. And look at that! You have made connections before you even walked in the door. 2) 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 My favorite opening question is, “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺?” Everyone has a reason for attending the event, and this will help you find something in common with the other person. They will likely ask you the same question, so practice your answer ahead of time. 3) 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 “𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵” Speaking of introductions, practice how you will introduce yourself to a new person. Consider your goals - what do you want people to remember about you? For example, if you’re looking for a new job, your pitch will include the types of jobs/industries that interest you. 4) 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱 I wrote about this yesterday. You can attach digital business cards to your email signature block, text the cards to a contact, and generate a QR code. LinkedIn is a great option too - 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗤𝗥 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲. Here's how: 𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝗹𝗻𝗸𝗱.𝗶𝗻/𝗲𝗞𝗫𝟮𝗘𝟵𝗝𝗖. 5) 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 Don’t dress in boring black like everyone else. Wear something noteworthy so you stand out from the crowd and people will remember you. You could choose a colorful jacket, tie, scarf, jewelry, brooch, or glasses. Later, when you’re following up with people, you can say, “I was wearing the red jacket." 6) 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 Find the person who organized the event and thank them before you leave. If they seem too busy or overwhelmed, send a message after the event is over. First of all, this is a nice thing to do because they put a lot of effort into organizing the event. Secondly, no one does this and it helps you stand out. Finally, the event organizer knows most of the people who attended and can be a great addition to your network. I'm rooting for you. 👊 ♻ Please repost if you think this advice will help others. ***** Hi, have we met? I'm Emily and I'm on a mission to get the #greenbannergang back to work, one actionable step at a time. #jobsearch #jobhunt #jobseekers

With New York Tech Week coming up, and based on my experience at another recent event, I wanted to share some points on how founders can effectively network in person. The opener applies to everyone you meet—investors, potential partners, other founders, vendors, etc. 1️⃣ Introduce yourself with a firm handshake. Use first and last name and company. Example: Hi, I'm Katie Dunn. I'm an angel investor and partner in Power To Pitch. 2️⃣ Shut up and listen. Do not interrupt. Do not word vomit. Let them talk, and see how things flow. Example: 🤫🤐🙊 In addition to knowing your name and company 😉, have two other things at the ready. 1️⃣ Your one-liner: Example: Power To Pitch works with early-stage founders on fundraising strategies, helping with their pitch and deck and introducing them to capital sources like grants and investors. 2️⃣ A very short ask. Pick no more than two items. Be specific but concise with your words. Example: My primary need right now is investment / a cofounder / developer / strategic partnership / customers / marketing help. ❗️One important thing: DO NOT ASK THEM IF THEY'LL SEND OUT YOUR DECK TO EVERYONE THEY KNOW. If someone wants to see your deck, they'll ask for it. Trust me. When the conversation comes to an end (or you want it to come to an end 😉), say: Can we stay in touch? What's your preferred method? LinkedIn? Email? WhatsApp? 🤫 Hint: Make your LinkedIn QR code your screensaver or a favorite in your photos so you can quickly bring it up to share. 🤫🤫 Double hint: It's better for them to connect with you because you'll have the list of new connections to approve in your inbox and can message them to follow up. Now, let's break down a few questions you can use as conversation starters: If you meet an investor, ask them: - What's your thesis? - Are you actively writing checks and looking for deals? - What's the last company you invested in? - Where is home for you? - Did you come here looking for deals? - What are you seeing happening in the market? - Can I help you? If you meet a potential Partner/Vendor/Founder: - What are you hoping to gain from this event/week? - What event are you most looking forward to here? - I see a lot of synergies in X. Would you like to explore it at another time? - Is there a certain connection you're looking to make? - Can I help you? TL;DR: Listen more than you talk. Have a direct and simple ask ready, but first look to help them.

After hosting over 150 events for founders and investors, here’s what I’ve learned: If you’re attending events without a plan, you’re wasting time. Founders need to strategize their attendance just like they strategize their product or pitch. Here’s how: 1. Define your goal Are you meeting investors? Developers? Potential users? 2. Know who you need to meet Write names or roles down 3. Figure out where they’ll be Not every event attracts the same crowd 4. Go to the right rooms Targeted events work better than popular ones 5. Don’t network just to network It’s great to catch up with friends, but if you’re raising or hiring, stay intentional 6. Learn how to exit a conversation Not every chat needs to go on forever. It’s okay to pivot and move on Your time is your runway. Treat events like a business asset, not a social distraction #foundertips #startuplife #vcnetworking #eventstrategy #techfounders #entrepreneurmindset #businessgrowth