10 Tips for More Efficient Event Networking

Networking is a crucial aspect of attending events, whether it be for business or personal reasons. It provides an opportunity to make new connections, and learn about new ideas and potential collaborations. However, networking can sometimes be overwhelming, especially for those who are not naturally outgoing.

In this blog article, we will provide you with ten tips for more efficient event networking. These tips will help you maximize your time and efforts, make meaningful connections, and potentially increase your chances of achieving your goals at the event.

Set clear event goals

First thing first, setting goals is an essential aspect of event networking, as it helps you identify what you want to achieve and how you can go about achieving it. Before attending an event, it's important to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.

For example, your goal could be to meet at least five potential business partners or to attend three informative sessions related to your industry. Setting these goals will help you focus your efforts and increase your chances of success. Additionally, if you are the one planning a networking event, utilizing the b2match business matching platform can be an effective way to achieve your networking goals. The software can help you identify potential matches based on your interests and preferences, schedule meetings, and manage your contacts efficiently. By using b2match, you can in the end see if your goals are met.

Plan your schedule

By planning your schedule, you can maximize your networking opportunities and make the most out of your event experience. The b2match event networking software can be an effective tool for both event organizers and attendees to plan their networking schedules.

For event organizers, the software can help them create and manage the event schedule, including sessions, workshops, and networking events. Attendees can use b2match to browse the schedule, identify the sessions that are most relevant to them, and schedule meetings with potential business partners or other attendees. The software also allows attendees to set reminders for upcoming events, ensuring that they don't miss any valuable networking opportunities!

Do your research

Before attending an event, it's important to research the event's schedule, speakers, attendees, and sponsors. This information can help you identify the sessions and activities that are most relevant to your interests, and potential contacts that you may want to meet. Additionally, researching the sponsors and exhibitors can give you insights into the products or services that will be showcased at the event, and potentially identify opportunities for collaboration.

The b2match b2b networking software can also be a valuable tool for conducting research. The software provides attendees with access to a database of other attendees and their company profiles, allowing them to research potential contacts and identify matches based on common interests. By doing your research, you can effectively prepare for the event and increase your chances of making meaningful connections.

Prepare your pitch

If you are planning on introducing your company, brand, or skillset to other event participants, and hope to create meaningful connections that could lead to business partnerships and/or customers, prepare yourself accordingly. Have a concise elevator pitch ready to introduce yourself and explain what you do. This should be no more than 30 seconds and focus on what makes you unique or what you can offer!

Listen actively

When meeting someone new, always remember to be present and listen actively to what they have to say. Ask open-ended questions and follow up with thoughtful responses. This will help build a rapport and establish a genuine connection. Whether you are attending an in-person, virtual, or hybrid event, this rule never changes!

Exchange business cards

If you are attending an in-person event, bring plenty of business cards and exchange them with people you meet. Don’t forget to write notes on the back of the card to remind you of the conversation you had. This will help you follow up with them later and keep track of who you met.

If you are attending a virtual event, worry not! There are many ways you can exchange business pieces of information with your newly made networking connections. To make business-to-business matchmaking easier and to ensure that your participants get the most out of their networking experience, b2match allows you to collect virtual business cards. Even interesting profiles from other participants can be saved for future use.

Use social media

Social media can be a powerful tool for networking. Use hashtags or event-specific apps to connect with other attendees. You can also use social media as a tool for matchmaking event follow-up with people via LinkedIn or Twitter to continue the conversation.

If you are the one organizing such event, use social media wisely, and utilize it for event promotion, event reminders, and after-the-event follow-ups. You can share the best moments of your events, using photos or clips of live streams you made during your event. This will not only show your event participants you care but also give you opportunities to reach a wider audience.

Take breaks

Networking can be exhausting, so be sure to take breaks throughout the day! Use this time to recharge, review your notes, and plan your next steps. If you are using the b2match smart event platform, you can easily set your schedule to have time for a breather!

Follow up

After the event, follow up with the people you met. Send a personalized email or LinkedIn message to thank them for their time and continue the conversation. Remember to reference something specific from your conversation to jog their memory. Follow-up is an essential aspect of event networking, as it helps you solidify the connections you've made and potentially turn them into valuable business relationships.

It's essential to personalize your follow-up messages, referencing the conversation or topic you discussed during the event. This can help jog the contact's memory and reinforce the connection you've made. Additionally, b2match networking software can be useful in following up with contacts. The software allows attendees to export their contact lists and notes, ensuring that they have a record of the people they've met and what they discussed. You can also do follow-ups by using post-event matchmaking.

Keep in touch

After all, don’t let all the matchmaking to waste! Building a network takes time and effort, so keeping in touch after the networking event is crucial. Keep in touch with the business people you meet by sharing relevant articles or industry news, or even updates about your brand.

In conclusion, a smart event networking platform can be a valuable tool for building relationships and increasing the success of your event's networking program. By following these easy 10 steps, there is no doubt in our minds that your matchmaking experience will go with ease!