Make the Most of Business After Hours Events

You’re on your way to a Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Business After Hours networking event. You know that the best networking happens face to face. You know that these events are one of the best places to make connections.
 
Do you know how to make the most of the event?
 
Here are some tips from Chamber member Michael Whitehouse, local author of The Guy Who Knows A Guy:
 
Collect Business Cards and Follow Up
A common misconception is that you want to give out business cards at a networking event. You certainly should bring your business cards and give them out, but the real value is the business cards you collect, if you follow up with them. An event is about two hours long, which doesn’t give you a lot of time for in depth conversations. Fortunately, that’s not what its for. You just need to make a connection. There’s plenty of time to get to know them the next week over coffee or in a visit to their office.
 
What you want to do is make connections with a number of people, get their info, and follow up by phone or email the next day. It’s fine to contact people right away. This isn’t high school where you don’t want to appear to eager so you wait three days. In fact, it’s best to reach out immediately because you want to catch them while the initial contact is still fresh in their mind.
 
Everyone Wants to Meet You
If someone is at a networking event, it’s a safe bet they came there to network. It can be intimidating to go to a networking event for the first time (or the twentieth time), so people will often gravitate to people they already know. This can lead the new attendee to get the impression that everyone already knows each other.
 
This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Everyone is there to network, and they are probably just as nervous to walk up to a stranger as you are. That means that if you do approach them, you can expect a welcoming reaction. After all, you just saved them having to approach you, so mingle and talk to everyone.
 
People Are Happy to Help You
Maybe you’re not ready to just walk up to someone, or maybe you don’t know whom you want to meet. At any networking event, there are plenty of people who are happy to help you. The Chamber staff is invested in your success. Feel free to approach them, share whom you are looking to meet, and they’ll introduce you to people they might think are a good fit.
 
In addition to the staff, many of the people who attend these events regularly love making connections. Let them know what connections you are trying to make, and they will be happy to walk you over to the right person. Don’t feel like you’re imposing. For a certain kind of person, they really enjoy using their network to benefit others. I know because I am that certain kind of person.
 
More Great Tips
For more great tips, be sure to check out these articles on Michael Whitehouse’s web site at www.guywhoknowsaguy.com, or just talk ask him at the next Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut business after hours. He’ll be happy to help.
 
Five Tips for Networking Events
The Networking Approach
Start a Conversation at a Networking Event