Remember the country song, “If you love me, tell me so; if you don’t, just let me go?” Maybe that’s a good way to think about networking events. In other words, if you’re going to attend, do it right. Or else don’t bother. It costs you and your company time and money to go, and not to do it well is a total waste and makes you look bad. So here are five Do’s and five Don’ts.
DO’S
• Be realistic about the quantity and quality of the events you commit to attend.
• Polish, rehearse, re-vitalize your elevator speech.
• Be persistent. It takes a while for networking to work.
• Do your homework. Do some research about the industries that will be represented there, or if you know the people you’ll be meeting, learn what you can about them.
• Follow up! The power of a personal message is immense.
DON’TS
• Don’t forget your business cards! Yes, we see that happening … a lot.
• Don’t just talk to your friends. You’re there to meet new people.
• But don’t blow off “old” acquaintances either, acknowledge them and chat briefly.
• Don’t wear clothes that make you feel self-conscious. You have to be able to focus on engaging other people, not on pulling your dress or adjusting your necktie.
• Don’t be afraid to be the first one to arrive. It gives you the chance to study the layout and plan where you should stand. And it makes you look like you’re part of the organizers.