Networking During Event Planning Workshops

Networking can feel like a daunting task, especially for us introverts (yes, I’m an introvert #iykyk). Walking into a crowded conference room can sometimes feel more overwhelming than energizing, right? Over the years, I've developed a simple yet powerful framework that helps me navigate these situations with intention and actually get the results I'm looking for. I call it the 3-2-1 Networking Framework. Here's how it works: 🎯 3 Strong Contacts: Instead of aiming to collect a stack of business cards you'll never follow up with, go into your event with the goal of making 3 meaningful connections that can genuinely help you achieve a specific goal. This focus allows you to be more present in conversations and truly remember who you've met. Quality over quantity, always! 🗣️ 2 Small Details: Beyond the business talk, make a conscious effort to remember at least 2 seemingly small, personal details about the people you connect with. Did they mention their child's name? Are they excited about an upcoming vacation? Did you both realize you're part of the same sorority? These personal touches create a stronger, more memorable connection. 💡 Pro-tip: Start with the name! This past week at IIEX, I had a few instances where people mistook me for another researcher. While she's fantastic, it highlighted the importance of truly seeing individuals past basic shared demographics. 📣 Another pro-tip (especially when connecting with Black women): Please remember something other than our hair. Our styles are diverse and can change frequently - at least mine does 🤣. Focusing solely on a hairstyle can lead to missed connections – let's move beyond superficial identifiers and get to the heart of the people. 🚀 1 Must-Do Goal: Walk into your networking event with at least 1 clear, actionable goal. Is it to identify potential business partners, find a new vendor, learn about a specific industry trend, or even land one new client? Having this singular focus will direct your conversations and make your time much more effective. You don't need a laundry list of objectives; sometimes, all it takes is one spark to ignite something bigger and better. This 3-2-1 framework has been a game-changer for me, allowing me to turn up the energy when needed, stay focused, and build authentic connections that truly matter. Give it a try at your next event and let me know how it works for you! #networking #introvert #connections #businesstips #IIEX

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

Steal my process to meet the right people at conferences 👇 You get out of a conference what you put in. With conference season upon us (I attended 3 this week), use these 8️⃣ hacks to make your time widely more productive. 1️⃣ Have a plan Download the attendee or exhibitor list ahead of time. Map out the companies and people that are high-target and prioritize those first. 2️⃣ Use pre-conference messaging to set up meetings Use email and LinkedIn to reach out to key targets ahead of the conference & set up meetings while you’re there. Now, they’re already primed on your company, and the meeting will be so much more impactful. 3️⃣ Take (organized) notes!! I come away from every conversation with the name, company, email, and something to remember from our conversation. I keep a running note in my Apple Notes app and add photos (of the booth and business card) directly into the note to help provide context and jog my memory. Take selfies with people you meet so you remember the person and can share them in your event follow-up messaging. 4️⃣ Don’t get stuck It’s easy to lose precious time caught up in long conversations with the wrong people. There is typically a type of person that I’m looking to talk to. When I approach a booth, I ask for this person. Then, I ask early qualifying questions to figure out if it makes sense to talk more about Brij - or if it’s not a fit for our ICP. If not a fit, I politely thank them for their time and quickly end the conversation - saving valuable time for both of us. 5️⃣ Bring your extroverted self It can be extremely uncomfortable to strike up conversations with complete strangers, but networking is part of the entire purpose of conferences. I find it helpful to kick off a conversation by asking the person I’m approaching about their role with the product. Sit with random people during lunch and different breaks - it’s an easy way to strike up a conversation. 6️⃣ Choose your outfit wisely Wear something memorable but comfortable. I have a few go-to outfits that are either bright or polka dot, so I’m easy to remember. You’re going to be on your feet ALL day. I usually opt for sneakers or flat, supportive boots. 7️⃣ Hustle to find invites to post-conference events Find out who’s hosting cocktail hours after the conference. During the show, I’ll ask people about their plans for later and if I can tag along. These more relaxed settings are often a better way to build deeper relationships. 8️⃣ Immediately follow up I use my detailed notes to send a relevant and personalized follow-up, mentioning specific things we discussed in our conversation ASAP. LinkedIn request and a short note that day. Email for the day they’re back from the conference. 👉 How do you most productively use your time at conferences and trade shows? #conferences #tradeshow #networking