What To Do Before Attending A Networking Event

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Let’s talk about NETWORKING!  I can be quite outgoing but even I struggle with networking.  The hardest part for even the most confident person?  Not knowing anyone.  Or knowing some people, but extending yourself to meet others. {hint: that’s the POINT of networking!) 

If you lean to the shy side on social matters, you aren’t alone in this.  EVERYONE’s confidence is tested at networking events.  EVERYONE is a little nervous.

I find that with a little preparation I can boost my confidence.  Here are…

5 Things to Do BEFORE Attending a Networking Event

1. Research the event

What is the event about?  Is it a meeting-type structure?  Is it casual and open networking? Knowing a little bit about what you’re going to walk into helps prepare you mentally.  If it’s a meeting, you may have a ‘mingling’ time before being asked to sit down.  If it’s casual and open, you will be *forced* to wander and talk to people.  Sure, it’s easy to hide in the back row of a meeting.  But, your  business will gain a lot more if you are talking with people.  Get yourself in the right mindset to do so.

2. Find out who will be attending

Try to bring a buddy if you can.  And, if you can’t, find out who is attending.  Ask on Twitter or Facebook if anyone is going to the event.  Even if you don’t know the person all that well, it will give you a starting point in your networking.  Finding people who will be there that you’ve been WANTING to meet will give you the opportunity to make the event worth your time and money.  Be intentional with your networking.

3. Make contact

Make contact with others that are attending BEFORE the event.  Let them know that you are looking forward to seeing them.  If you don’t know them very well, send them a little email saying that you admire them and have been wanting to meet them.  This gives you the opportunity to establish a ‘meet up’ with those people during the networking event.  For me, this helps some of the ‘wandering and feeling lost’.  I know that I’m going to see a few people that I know (or want to know) and I can count on spending time with them.

4. Offer to help

Contact the organizers of the event.  Ask them how you can help.  I’m so much better when I have a responsibility at these things.  If someone gives me the JOB of greeting, passing out nametags, or checking people in, I am so much more confident and comfortable.  It allows me the opportunity to meet a lot of people under this ‘veil of responsibility’.  ALSO – people notice you more.  It’s a great way to meet people and stand out!

5. Put on your A-Game

It’s so cliche (and so 1950s) for me to say this, but: DRESS for SUCCESS.  Put on the outfit that makes you feel great.  You KNOW the one! (AGAIN – this is very “Cosmo magazine” of me.  But, it’s so true.)  If you feel good about how you look, you will be more confident and more willing to meet people. It may seem easy to just slide into the networking event wearing the jeans and tee you wore today while editing 500000 images.  But, you aren’t going to be showing your best self.  Put on your nice duds, put on a smile, grab your business cards, and be ready to shake some hands.

The better you can prepare yourself BEFORE the networking event, the better off you’ll be!
Tomorrow, I’m going to share 5 Things to do DURING a Networking Event.  Come back!
Pssstttttt… looking for some easy-going casual networking with other wedding pros?  Check out Thursday Therapy in your city.

Psstttt… need a little more help?  Revisit our 5 Ways to BEGIN Networking.

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