The internet is a great place to make business contacts, but it doesn’t have the same impact as meeting people face to face and actually getting to know them offline.
The amount of trust established through online relationships is significantly less than compared to that which can develop between people who have had real-life interaction at conferences, events, business meetings, etc. This is why it is so important when running an online business to make a priority of making business contacts in person in addition to those you make via the internet. In this post, we will discuss how to go about making business contacts in person like a winner.
Choosing the correct events to go to is, of course, one of the most important aspects of putting your plan to meet people in your industry a success. Where do the people you need to meet gather? What events to they regularly go to year after year? Research the speakers and guests of past events to see where the people you’d like to rub elbows with usually hang out. Then, make it a point to be at the next one.
Whatever event you attend, it is important to have a plan in mind for what you want to accomplish there. Are you a vendor who is looking to meet other product creators and foster some JV partnerships? Would you like to secure a high-level affiliate for your next product launch? Or, maybe you are an affiliate who is working on gaining recognition amongst the top vendors. Whatever your objective is for being at an event, it is best to establish it early and stick to your game plan in order to accomplish it.
Still not convinced of the need to make business contacts in person?
Click Here For 5 Reasons You Should Attend Live Events.
If possible, arrive early and stay late. There is a lot of networking that happens during downtime. While attendees are busy listening to the featured speakers is not a good time to try to strike up conversations. Approach them during breaks in the action. Some events don’t even have key speakers, but group activities that encourage meeting new people. Those types of events are excellent places to start if you are new to networking offline.
Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone. People who work predominantly online can sometimes get out of the habit of participating in a lot of activities requiring social interaction. If you’re one of those people, getting out there at events and meeting new people can be a bit daunting. Plan on going to events and networking gatherings regularly and you’ll feel more and more at ease as you meet more people.
Try to meet at least five people that you don’t already know at each event you attend. You can increase the likelihood of making this happen by choosing seats away from your friends and keeping an eye out for newcomers. See anyone who looks uncomfortable or lost? Go introduce yourself! Your kindness will be welcomed and appreciated.
Keep your business cards handy. Chances are you’ll be meeting people that you’ll want to follow up with later on and vice versa. Exchanging business cards will ensure you each have the other’s contact information for future correspondence and establishing your online connection.
Pro Tip: Put your picture on your business cards! Events are filled with activity. It can be easy to forget who you’ve spoken to or need to follow up with. While many people have a hard time remembering names, a face will usually spark their memory!
Follow up after the event. Don’t allow the memory of your acquaintance fade. Remember that business relationships need to be nurtured, too. Stay in touch with the people you’ve made connections with by interacting with them on social media, shooting them an email once in a while, etc. This way you don’t have to start all over when you need to contact them later on about a big launch or JV opportunity.
Don’t forget to have fun! Events are a great place to learn new things, make new business connections, strategize new ways of earning money online, etc. But, they are also a wonderful opportunity for you to make friends and have fun. Sometimes the best way to enhance your business at events is just to enjoy the company of other people who have similar interests and learn more about each other on a personal level.
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