It’s inevitable, every time we go to a conference, convention or seminar there are hundreds if not thousands of people to meet. Just like the Internet has provided information overload, attending a conference can lead to relationship overload. The difficulty is finding a way to maintain those relationships over time.
Fortunately, the onset of technology and social media platforms can be of value in managing the countless potential relationships that derive from the conferences. In this blog, I’ll take you through some tactics for maintaining your sanity and maximizing your time networking while still effectively building long-term relationships.
First of all, completely fill out your LinkedIn profile. Make sure that if someone takes a look after meeting you, they have a solid understanding of your competencies and position.
Whenever you exchange a card with someone, take note of his or her position and company. Don’t be afraid to look away from them for 5 seconds and study their card. Carry a pen with you and make notes on the back of their card if room. Find something interesting about the connection with them; may it be a potential partner, collaborator, referrer, or most valuably someone you want to connect them with. Make a reminder of that on the card and store it away safely.
Download a card reader on your smart phone if you have one. I prefer CardMunch because it works seamlessly with LinkedIn. After scanning and the processing of the card you can quickly; add them on LinkedIn, follow up with an email and add them to your phone book. Depending on your CRM program, you may even be able to export when connecting to computer. Check here for more on LinkedIn strategies.
Use a recent and clear profile photo on your social platforms. Look into signing up for Gravatar if you haven’t. This helps others recognize you if trying to connect. Also, check your privacy settings to make sure you can be found by search!
Find out if there is a Twitter hashtag (#) for the event! If there is, this is an amazing way to connect and engage with others at your event. Imagine for example that someone posts into the hashtag stream that sparks a question during a seminar. You could look at their recent posts, check out their personal or company website and then instantly respond back to them with your question for everyone at the seminar to see. Who knows where that relationship could lead! I’ve built valuable relationships that led to clients and referral partners through Twitter conversations without ever meeting the other party!
If you have any other ideas, don’t hesitate to offer them! Above are some ideas and strategies that I’ve used in the past; the opportunities are endless so find what works for you.
