6 tips for those who want to make new acquaintances at the conference, and not just "change business cards"

Any major event - be it a conference or barcamp - today is a great place for establish business contacts and to enter the circle of people with unique skills, ideas, and often - opportunities. But due to lack of time and communication skills, developers, managers newly minted startups and even many bloggers make their "march to the conference" in a dull exchange of business cards and pinned down in their smartphones. Of course, exchange business cards and all contact information - an important part of modern business communication. Just do not get hung up on it exclusively.

Any new companion, a new acquaintance or a chance meeting at a conference - it is a unique case, from which you can (and should!) "pull" more than just another business card for your collection (by the way, if you have not digitized collected paper business cards, you should do it as soon as possible). Here are some important, though fairly simple ways translate networking to a new level.

It is clear that all met on the sidelines or even thematic discussions during the conference usually see each other for the first time (especially if the conference is very large).

Interlocutors should submit to one another in addition to the exchange of business cards, let people say a few words about yourself and about what they are working.

At the conference, barcamps and various thematic meetings should come early. Opportunity to talk before the official start mepropriyatiya will allow you to get to know more people than during the conference or after it.

Before you arrive at the conference or barcamp, do not forget to refresh the mind and the key figures of industry facts, examine the list of participants and speakers. Nurse on blogs and news feeds to remind yourself the basic facts, achievements, interesting details of those who will be at this conference.

Do not forget to ask questions during the presentations and discussions on the sections. And of course, not only ask, but listen carefully. Ability to listen and hear conferences are often more valuable to you than the ability to speak for himself.

Do not forget about the official hashtag for the event pages on Twitter and conferences / barcamp to Facebook. What you are, for whatever reasons, have missed, there will always be there.

Do not miss the opportunity to continue the acquaintance and communication outside the conferenceNot reduce everything to the banal stack of business cards and promise "to phone / written off later." Drink coffee or find a reason for the non-formal / formal negotiations - One of the key tools for new ideas and projects in your work (remember that the book "Never eat alone," was written for a reason).

Networking itself is not bad. But do not forget to expand its borders and flexible use of all opportunities to network and meet new people in offline life.

(Via)

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