With September well underway, the kids have been back at school for a fair amount of time now. Those returning for another year have settled back into their routines and old friendships. Even those who started a few weeks ago have probably formed decent relationships by now. Parents across the nation can breathe a long-held sigh of relief. But, the same can’t be said for your business just yet. While the kids have settled in already, your first networking event still looms large in front of you. And, you have no idea how you’re going to make friends when you get there.
As nerve-wracking as the process can be, though, taking time to attend events like these is a must in any area of business. The most obvious benefit is that you can attract great deals of custom through your efforts here. Though these events are often industry-specific, you may find customers. At the very least, you may find another company willing to recommend you to their customers. That could have long-lasting positive implications for your profits.
But, increased earnings aren’t the only benefit to attending something like this. As we’ve already hinted, making friends is also a beneficial aspect of networking like this. By speaking with front-runners in your industry, you can learn crucial lessons. You also stand to benefit from the ongoing guidance of someone who has been where you are now. Never underestimate how important that can be for your business as a whole.
The only problem is, attending these events isn’t enough in itself to see your popularity soaring. Like a child starting school, you need to consider the following ways to seal lasting relationships.
Make the right first impression
We can convince ourselves that first impressions don’t matter all we like, but it’s a naive belief. Instead, consider that everyone will judge you based on your appearance, and that of your display. You need to make sure that both these work to draw people in, rather than keeping them at bay. For one, consider your outfit, and that of any employees you take along for the ride. No one will be impressed by a team who turns up in jeans and old sweaters. Instead, uniforms are your best bet of impressing. They ensure a professional image you wouldn’t be able to achieve otherwise. By including your logo, you can even turn this into a further chance of spreading your message. If you don’t fancy uniforms, set a dress code so that every member of your team looks professional on the day.
Believe it or not, your outfits won’t be the central area of scrutiny here. Your display itself will dictate the first impression most people make of what you’re doing. If your booth is basic, you’ll struggle to make friends with or impress anyone enough to do a deal with them. Who can blame them when you’ve put so little effort into your presentation? Make sure no one can accuse you of not trying by going all out. Luckily, that doesn’t have to be as complicated as it sounds. A company like Vivid Ads can provide branded banners, tablecloths, and backdrops. All from one simple order. It would also pay to consider how you present your products. A powerpoint presentation on a tablet which is free to use here could work wonders. Whatever move you make, remember that you need to present a professional image. Get this right, and you’ll start making friends in no time.
Give people a reason to remember you
Like the first day of school, networking events mean meeting vast amounts of people. When kids get back from the classroom, there are usually one or two figures who’ve made an impact on them. The rest of the class, however, may struggle to stick in their minds. And, you can say the same about networking events. Most big business figures will look back on the day and only remember one or two of the faces they met. And, you can bet those faces are the ones who will go on to get deals from the interaction. Obviously, you want to be among the remembered. But, how can you make that happen?
For one, you need to perfect your pitch. No one would remember the bumbling fool who didn’t know their own product. You have a short space of time in which to speak with everyone, and you need to make the most of it. As such, practice precisely how to sell your product. While the outline of these conversations changes, keywords ensure you reach the same result each time. Even better, buzzwords like these often stick in the mind.
To further cement those deals, hand out business cards to anyone willing to accept them. There’s rife debate about whether business cards are necessary nowadays. But, passing along a physical object with your contact details will further cement your place in memory. You can be sure no one will remember you later without that visual reminder. So, get cards printed ahead of the event, and don’t be shy about pushing them on people.
Don’t expect everyone to come to you
Every school classroom has that one shy kid who holds back and only speaks to the children who approach them. While such kids can hold down happy friendships, they often take longer than their confident peers. But, you don’t have the luxury of time, so make sure you aren’t that kid. Don’t stick to your stall and expect everyone to come your way. Instead, make sure employees know what they’re doing, then head out and seek friendships. This is a two-way street, after all. People who attend networking events are often looking for mutually beneficial relationships. So, approach people in their stalls. Take charge, and don’t be afraid to let them know what you can offer them. Without a doubt, you’ll walk away with more friends after an initiative like this. Get it right, and you’ll soon be one of the popular kids.