Forgive us for sounding like a scheduled out tweet/broken record, but – Confluence is all about community. And it’s also about building relationships and connections with really cool people in the area. You know what they call that in business? Networking.
Don’t act like you didn’t know this was coming! You’ll be networking like it’s your job (oh wait, it is) at Confluence. And we’ve rounded up some quick and dirty schmoozing tips for totally normal, not stalker-esque networking pre-, in-, and post-conference.
Pre-conference
- Hype it up. Let people know, via social media platforms and actual human interaction, that you’re going places. (Your mom was totally right). If there’s a Twitter account, Facebook event, hashtag, whatever – join the existing conversation.
- Creep on the crowd beforehand. Nothing gives away a creep like poor planning. Find out who will be attending the event (hint: those social media accounts are designed almost exclusively for this purpose) and put those hours of Facebook Graph Search stalking to use. If you find a kindred spirit when you’re combing through tweets, be bold: follow.
- Plan ahead and reach out. Reaching out individually to your “targets” is a great way to make sure you get to speak in person at the event. If you’re going to speak to someone, though, make sure you’ve gotten to know a bit about them first: read a few blog posts, find out what their interests are, and see where they work.
At the conference
- Get there early. Ready for some real talk? If you arrive early, you’ll feel more comfortable in the room. People will approach you to ask where the bathroom/registration/free food is. You’ll have answers. And you’ll be able to more easily strike up a conversation if (like me) you’re not one to waltz up to nearest warm body and make small talk.
- Be present. Once things get going, try your darnedest not to blend in with the wallpaper. (Because Confluence will be in the Lyric Theatre, you’d have to wear red velvet to do so.) Make an effort to at least say hello to people. Generally, people are friendly – and in Oklahoma City, sometimes overly so. Take advantage of your proximity to good-natured extroverts.
- Be (physically) present. Yes, you should try to keep your nose out of your phone/laptop/walkie-talkie when it’s mingling time – but it’s also important to be actually, physically present. If it’s applicable and you’re able, make plans to stay at the hotel where the event is being hosted or where presenters are staying. It’ll be that much easier to make plans and coordinate with your new connections – or, hey, just to run into someone. (Of course, there’s no hotel at Confluence. Sad trombone.)
- Be a real person. Listen, lady/man – I don’t want your business card until you can properly remember my name. Treat every person you meet with respect and attention. Listen, listen, listen; ask good questions; try to find something in common. (If you did some stalking research beforehand, you should have a few things in your toolbox.) Chances are, if you’re at the same conference and listening to the same speakers, you’re probably going to have something. When you feel like you’ve made a real connection, you can hand over that business card and the other person will probably keep it. This tip is probably the most important of the bunch. Don’t botch this one, and you’ll be just fine.
- Use the buddy system. If you’re an awkward bird,
- that’s endearing, and
- you should consider bringing a more outgoing friend/colleague. See the tips above and below for making new buddies.
- Play cupid. You coy conference-goer, you. If you meet two people who seem like they’d benefit from being introduced, make it happen. And if you meet someone who you’d like to introduce to a friend/coworker/your mother, that’s great, too. Your newly introduced friends will be grateful for the connection and will remember you well.
- Ask plenty of (good) questions. Listen closely to all the material presented – and then ask an informed question that requires more than one syllable in answer. If you want to discuss something with the presenter one-on-one, position yourself appropriately or email him/her after the presentation.
Post-conference
- Follow up, follow up, and follow up. Regular and prompt communication is crucial to maintaining healthy networking relationships – and not appearing like you only show up when you need something. Check in every 2-3 months after the conference – without asking for anything. Be a friend for now, and if you ever need a favor, your connection will help you out.
- Put a blog on it. A blog post about your experience at the conference is a great way to stay engaged with your new connections – whether you’re summarizing a presentation or just giving a personal recap and commentary.
Even if you show up wearing red velvet or shooting out business cards with a Nerf gun, we’ll be excited to see you at Confluence.
