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The Art of Networking: How to Make the Most Out of Your Conference Experience

1155 words · Reading time: 6 minutes
https://ucarecdn.com/7bb89a75-df3f-4d2e-8cfe-4a880caaf1f2/

Networking can be a lot of fun, but it’s not always easy, especially if it’s your first time. We’re here to give you some handy tips to ensure that you make the most out of your conference experience.

If you’ve attended conferences in the past then you’ll know that they can be a lot of fun. However, when you first start out, they can also be intimidating, especially if you don’t know anyone. You might feel that you are out of your depth is a sea of people who seem to know a lot more about the industry than you do. If this sounds familiar then we’re here to guide you through the ups and downs of the conference world.

Getting Started

If you’re standing in a hall filled with people who look like they know exactly what they’re doing and feel like you don’t belong there, then rest assured, you do.

Nobody is an expert when they start out, and the people around you know the troubles you’re experiencing. Don’t be afraid to let people in the room know you are new to the business. More often than not people will like talking to you and telling you all about how they have made a living in the industry and this can lead to some useful advice.

Once you get over this fear, you’ll be ready to go out there and become a mover and a shaker. But you’ll need a few tricks up your sleeve to move on to the next stage.

First Impressions Last

Make sure that you make a good first impression. You can do this by knowing exactly who you are and what you want. Even if you’re a noob you should know the area of the market you’re interested in, as this will help you get the most out of your time at the conference. It will also make you look more professional and people will take you seriously.

For example:

“Hi there, I’m Jake. I’m new to the affiliate world and I’m interested in the online gaming market.”

Obviously this isn’t an exact model of how you are going to advertise yourself, but it gives you a good idea. It shows that you are not afraid to start out and are eager to learn. It also highlights the area you are targeting, and if you strike up a conversation with someone in the same area, you can develop a potentially profitable relationship.

Even if the person you are talking to isn’t involved in the same area as you, the chances are that they will know someone who is. If you make a good impression, then the people you meet will keep you in mind when they speak to other affiliates, and if they find someone who matches your needs, then they might share your contact details.

Dress to Impress

Dressing appropriately will always be important in every area of your life. The affiliate world is no different. This doesn’t mean that you should attend every conference dressed like James Bond. Smart casual is the way to go. You don’t want to over-dress but you equally don’t want to under-dress.

Smart trousers, shirt and jacket are a good way to go. You don’t have to be a trendsetter but you should show that you’ve made a bit of an effort. You’ll see people dressed very casually, and that’s fine, but if you are starting out you want to feel good about yourself. Wearing the right clothes and dressing confidently can really help motivate you to approach people with more confidence.

Business Cards

This is pretty self-explanatory. Take business cards and hand them out whenever you get the opportunity. It is key to making contacts and keeping in touch. They should include your name and email address as a bare minimum. You can choose to put a phone number on there too, but if you do so, make sure to include your country’s calling code. People at conferences travel from all over the world and so if don’t include it, most people won’t bother calling.

Be Honest

If you are new to the industry then don’t exaggerate your abilities. If you are trying to go into business with someone and you tell them that you are able to do things which are way ahead of your potential, then people are going to get annoyed. This will only damage your reputation and make other affiliates less likely to work with you.

Being honest also means that you shouldn’t be afraid to share tips that you have picked up along the way. Doing this tells others that you are trustworthy and they will be more likely to share information with you. They might also tell you how your great idea could be improved upon.

Follow Up

After you have found people you are interested in communicating with and exchanged business cards then you’re going to have to make sure that you follow up. You can either do this by arranging to meet at one of the evening parties or, if your schedule is booked up, you can email them once you return.

It is important to follow up shortly after the conferences otherwise the lead will grow cold. It also makes it easier to think of things to write because the meeting is fresh in your mind. Another thing you can do is make notes on the people who you want to follow up with after. The chances are you’ll meet more people than you could possibly keep in contact with, and as a result, you’ll need to prioritise. To do this, you can mark the business cards of those people who you found most interesting and useful and ensure that those are the first people who you contact upon your return.

Have Fun

Last but not least, have fun. This seems like it shouldn’t be a primary concern but it ought to be something you put on an equal level with everything else. This doesn’t mean hit the champagne bar as hard as you can, you still want to be presentable, but relax and take everything in.

You are there to learn but you’re also there to meet people with similar interests, and the best way to meet people is to relax.

No one likes being around people who are uptight and can’t discuss anything but work. Trust me, when you get there, you are not going to be the only person who spotted the amazing display of cocktails at the bar. So, whilst you’re not technically on holiday, you aren’t in the office either.

Loosen up, have a couple of Mai Tais and get chatting. You can meet some amazing people and make lifelong friends.

If you want to be part of a growing global affiliate network then you should join ConvertingTeam. We are on hand to help you with all of your affiliate needs. For more information Click Here

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