Capitalizing on Networking Events for Marketing Growth

Digital marketing is useless without personal connections and word-of-mouth referrals. But is networking played out or ripe for you to take advantage of? It all depends on your approach. 

How does networking help my marketing?

• Get to know people in a more casual setting.
• Face and name recognition can be as important as brand recognition.
• Build a relationship with people before you begin selling.
• You might also meet people who can help your business.

What kind of events can I network at?

• Conferences
• Tradeshows
• Panel discussions
• Volunteer opportunities
• Business happy hours
• Lunch & learns

What are some networking best practices?

• Attend events where you know who the audience will be.
• Focus on in-depth conversations with a few people.
• Are business cards still worth bringing? Yes, if you have them.
  • Digital business cards are cool, but they break my process.
  • I like receiving cards more than giving them.
• Follow up with people after you meet them—connect on LinkedIn.

Is it worth sponsoring networking events?

• Take a look at the cost and see if it fits into your budget.
• Determine the why behind your reason for being a sponsor.
• The reason might be exposure or trying to get more leads.
• It’s also good to get visibility in your local community.

What about speaking at events?

• Are you comfortable with public speaking?
• Do you feel like you have something of value to provide?
• What topic do people care about that you can help them with?
• Reach out to a few events that are actively looking for speakers.

Should I plan my own networking event?

• We do quarterly micro-networking events.
• This is with people we already know and want to introduce to each other.
• It’s fun for us and fun for them—that’s the point.
• This helps us to deeper our relationships and say thank you to our fans.