HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Offline Networking Events. Mollie Vandor is the Product Manager for Ranker.com and Media Director for Girls in Tech LA. You can find her on Twitter and on her blog, where she writes about the web, the world and what it’s like to be a geek chic chick. If you work on the web, chances are a good chunk of your day is devoted to developing relationships online. You talk to people on Twitter, follow them on Foursquare, share photos with them on Facebook, swap music on MySpace and let them know what you're working on via LinkedIn. Of course, contrary to the stereotype, that doesn't mean we techies spend every day in keyboard-covered caves. In fact, from conferences to networking events, there are plenty of opportunities to turn those online connections into real world relationships. Make The Most Of Meet & Greets First of all, you have to find the right events.
Once you're actually at an event, focus on putting a face to your name - your username, that is. If you want people to come to you, then don't be shy. Follow Up. How to Make Networking Work. The Harvard Business Review has a good article on how to make networking work for you. Among their tips: The most universally agreed upon networking tip is this: Offer to help others first, and they will return the favor.
“You should always ask new contacts to tell you about a business challenge they are confronting,” says Dr. Ivan Misner, PhD, lead author of Networking Like a Pro: Turning Contacts into Connections, and chairman of global networking organization BNI International. “That way, you might know someone who can help, and that’s the start of a relationship.” Networking well makes for a brighter future, so Misner advises people to think beyond a current need. Lillian Bjorseth, author of Breakthrough Networking: Building Relationships That Last, reminds her clients to share information.
Read more here. Five Offline Networking Strategies That Work Online. Social Media Monitoring: Measuring the Metrics that Matter... How to Effectively Blend Online and Offline Networking.