How to Make the Most of a Networking Event
- Laura Doman
- Mar 31
- 9 min read
Networking is an opportunity to connect ... and learn!
Everyone talks about the power of networking, but do you know how to leverage an event to its full potential?
I'm not talking about just walking around, shaking hands, clinking glasses, or passing out business cards - paper or virtual variety. I'm talking about CONNECTING with people. Beginning a relationship grounded in mutual interests or goals.
At its core, networking is expanding your circle of people whom you know and who know you and what you're all about. Properly used, it allows you to...
share resources
refer good people to other good people who can help them
build a solid reputation as a generous soul who provides value and is worthy of being liked, known, and trusted. Yup, you've got earn that trust.
This past week, I attended four events, each one different from the others, and targeted to different areas of my life. They were fun, too, because the organizers made sure to target their potential attendees as a match to what they were offering - and to honor everyone's time by keeping to a publicized schedule. As a result, people received the value they were expecting and were engaged with the programs from start to finish.
Network strategically. You only have so much time (and investment) to go around.
Before signing up as a member to anything, take time to check it out. Many organizations welcome guests, just for this very purpose.
Different types of networking
There are SO many networking groups around. How do you choose which to join?
First, do your research as to what they offer and ask yourself:
What do I want to achieve?
Who do I want to spend time with?
Is this an organization I want to invest time and money in or is this a one-time event?
Your time and money are limited resources, so don't exhaust yourself with a scattergun approach. Talk to others familiar with the group or organization and see if meets your criteria. Or if something sounds particularly interesting, dip your toe in the water and find out if you like the people involved or if the event will help you make the new connections you're seeking.
Broadly speaking, there are three categories of networking:
Industry-related
Educational
Social
Industry-related
If you're looking for networking events, the majority of them are business-related. Networking is practically synonymous with business and it takes many forms:
Business mixers
Conferences
Trade shows
Workshops
Happy hour meetings
Speed networking
Meal-based presentations
Roundtable discussions
Career fairs
Joint venture partnerships
Three events of the past week fell into this category, each quite different from the others. I certainly hadn't intended to schedule so many together within a matter of days, but I had good reason to attend each one.
The first was a panel discussion hosted by FUSE, a local marketing association on a topic that I found interesting and relevant to my work: the pros and cons of in-house vs. outside advertising agencies. The evening also gave me a great opportunity to meet people who may be interested in my voiceover and on camera services - and I did make some valuable connections. Most importantly to me and the other attendees was that the evening was very well run. They made sure to include plenty of time for networking both before and after the panel discussion. Overall, it was a great opportunity to meet potential clients and partners, as well as learn from the guest experts.
The second industry event applied to my work as a film and TV actor. It was an acting workshop hosted jointly by an LA-based acting coach and a well-known Southeastern-based casting director. While it was primarily educational in its focus, the networking was key. Not necessarily amongst the students, but honestly, the main draw was to perform for the casting director, with hopes of making an impression and being remembered for new casting opportunities. Secondarily, we were all there to learn from the coach. (Sorry, Shari, but you're really not surprised.) Finally, because we were a group of only 35 people, we expanded our industry social circles, which has become rather important since Covid. The seismic shift brought on by the pandemic is that in-person auditions have pretty much become a thing of the past. Once casting directors saw the efficiency and speed of their work accelerated by viewing many more taped auditions vs. seeing actors in person, it was game over for running from one casting location to another.
The third business event fit squarely into this category of Industry-related. A conference for business women, focusing on sharing trends and strategies in marketing, branding, scaling, technology, and innovation. I was literally front and center as the MC and panel moderator for the Women in Business Expo and Symposium and the one to introduce our celebrity keynote speaker. I was also given a table to promote my On Camera Confidence coaching services, but honestly, I was too busy running around keeping things going to be at my table much. I even forgot to eat the lunch they'd brought for me! Still, I met tons of people and as MC, encouraged everyone to turn to their neighbor and meet someone new. It was a wonderful whirlwind of energy and excitement.
Educational
As the name implies, the main draw for this type of networking category is the opportunity for learning. Beyond formal education, this includes such things as cooking classes, chess tournaments, and lecture series.
My fourth networking even last week was a short lecture series hosted locally by our children's university, which took its program on the road as a means to encourage fundraising from those associated with the school. I love a good lecture series! They featured three short presentations, preceded and followed by a networking social with food and an open bar. It's good business to take care of your potential donors! They didn't lean too heavily into the fundraising either, focusing instead on value that will bring us back to future events. The topics ranged from an overview of AI applications in the medical profession, to how emotion impacts science, to how plants are being genetically modified to better tolerate drought while producing higher yields. Not only did we meet a few new people, we were delighted to run into old friends who we didn't know had ties to the school. All around, it was very educational, a lot of fun, and ultimately conducive to their fundraising efforts.
There are other types of educational events that you just fall into through friends and other members of your family. Case in point: parents with school-age children. I'm talking team sports, school theater departments, or music programs, to name a few. When your kids are young and you're playing mom (or dad) taxi, you get to know their friends pretty well, and often their friends' parents turned into our friends, too - simply because we spent so much time together.
When my kids were young, I became their elementary school's chess mom. It's not like I'm some grandmaster. I've never learned to play chess. Really didn't care to learn. I honestly don't have the patience to play a game that could take a few hours to win (or lose). But I sure know had to organize things, and before long, not only was I the chess mom herding the kids along, but I ended up assisting the coaches, running training sessions, carpools, and small tournaments. Rather quickly, that morphed into running large statewide competitons with other dedicated chess moms, joining the board of the Georgia Chess Association, and creating marketing strategies and materials to move the whole organization online. I met people from all walks of life, including friends that are still with me, long after my kids have grown up and relegated chess to an occasional pasttime.
And yeah, I still don't know how to play. Just not my jam.
Social
Social aspects are certainly a part of both industry-related and educational events, but don't forget that we build networks through friendships, classes and workshops, and shared interests and hobbies.
Have you ever volunteered? Cheered on your kid's soccer team? Or attended a chocolate-tasting event? All opportunities for social networking! Tuning in to the chocolate (I love chocolate!), I'm looking forward to a very different type of event next weekend: a chocolate seder for women 50+.
For those who're wondering if "seder" is a typo - it's not. It's the formalized dinner service for the Passover holiday. It's just that this event turns the idea on its head and makes it a purely fun social event, held a week in advance of the actual holiday. Believe it or not, chocolate isn't mentioned anywhere in the Haggadah (the short book with the order of the Passover dinner, the story of the Biblical Exodus, and the prayers, actions, explanations behind the rituals). I have no idea what to expect, just that it should be delicious. No doubt I'll come away with a stomach ache and an extra pound or two out of it - but I bet I'll make some new friends and truly enjoy what's being served!
Group games and sports are also networking events, because friends enjoy introducing other friends, and sometimes those meetups turn into business relationships. Yup, I've networked on the pickleball courts. Not intentionally, but people from all industries like to join in the game and conversations naturally go to inquiring about family, hobbies, and what line of work one's in (if not retired). It's an easy way to get to know someone - and you can tell a lot about a person by the way they play and handle wins and losses.
Networking for introverts
What about those of us who like the idea of networking, but can only take so much at a time? Or not at all? At least, not in person? Or who want to network, but just don't feel comfortable initiating conversations?
Networking isn't just for the extroverts who like getting out there and mixing with large crowds of people in noisy rooms. Truly, that can be a bit tiring for anyone.
If you're more introverted, you can go about it in one of two ways. First, consider looking for smaller events. Ideally, networking groups of 16-30 people allow you to meet most everyone and have time for more than a superficial conversation. But if that's more than you want, there's nothing to keep you from attending for a short period of time, with the goal to only meet two or three others. I know a very introverted individual who attends conferences, but schedules plenty of breaks during the day to return to his hotel room for quiet alone time before venturing out again.
Another idea is to frequent virtual networking events, of which there are quite a few. I belong to several and thoroughly enjoy them. Virtual events can be especially helpful to an introvert, because you're never "trapped" - you're physically in your own space and you always have the option to step back and disengage for a bit by turning off your video. Some of my favorites include the Grand Connection, the JV Directory, and Innovation Women.
Another way to network virtually is through social media. If your purpose is primarily self-promotion, then you can post photos, videos, and comments on Instagram, TikTok, and even Facebook and meet new folks. (Or Discord, X, Threads, YouTube, or any number of other platforms.) Personally, I and so have many other business-minded individuals have found LinkedIn to be the best to building authentic relationships. Quite a few of my contacts over the years have become friends that I've even met in person!
You can also join groups with specific interests. I'm a member of numerous marketing, women-focused, acting, and voiceover groups on Facebook and they've been wonderful, both for professional and personal purposes.
What do you really want to get out of a networking event?
Let's go back to that strategy question, so you don't waste time, effort, or money chasing networking opportunities. To recap, what do you really want to achieve? Who are the people you enjoy spending time with or whom you'd like to know? And before signing up as a member to anything, take time to check it out. Many organizations welcome guests, just for this very purpose. Others welcome guests to drop in for events that appeal to them, paying slightly higher guest fees than members to join in.
Here are some basic reasons people join:
Business contacts
Friendships
Information
Social outlet
Group participation in a mutual interest or sport
Free food (yes, many of these events do offer complimentary small bites and desserts!)
A chance to get out of the house (with so many people working from home, this is a real need)
There are really no wrong answers! And usually an organization checks more than one box.
Remember what your mother may have told you: if you don't try, you don't get. If you're like me, you'll probably meet some pretty incredible people along the way, so put yourself out there and have a good time.
coming up...
The Shameless Hussy's Guide to On Camera Confidence
a FREE webinar!
Thursday, May 1
4pm EST
Want to learn more? Let's talk!
I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances.
Comments