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Tips For Networking At a Business Networking Event

Tips For Networking At a Business Networking Event

By Forward Web 07 August, 2016

Networking events offer fantastic opportunities for your business. For this reason, you don’t want to take the chance to just show up to a conference and wing it. Instead, you want to make sure you take a dedicated approach and be prepared to gain the greatest benefits for the growth of your business. The following are tips Forward Web recommends for effective networking at a networking event:

 

Tip #1: Have A Plan

You want to go to a networking event with a plan. Know what your main goal is, what you want to accomplish and also determine what you want to learn and gain from each conference you attend. In fact, write a few points down; give yourself measurable guidelines to help you stay on track. Set specific goals which can include: collecting a specific amount (set a number) of emails or phone numbers, finding a specific amount of promising business leads or handing out a specific amount of business cards.

 

Tip #2: Use The Internet To Connect

The internet is a fantastic tool and especially useful when preparing for such an event. It is wise to become familiar with all of the online resources available to you about a conference you are thinking of attending and use them to your advantage. For instance, you can search for information about the presenters and attendees and connect with them on social media beforehand. Do extensive research and get familiarized with companies and people before you attend. Doing so will prepare you with talking points and keep you consistently engaged.

Keep in mind that nowadays everyone uses hashtags on social media. Most conferences have related hashtags you can search to find other attendees. Also, some conferences sometimes have their own social platforms so keep an eye out for those because they offer exclusive opportunities to connect.

 

Tip #3: Make Your Attendance Known

Make a public announcement! Use the tools you have such as your website and social media accounts to let everyone know you are attending a conference. For example, you can make a free survey available on your website to ask your customers what they would like to learn if they were going to a conference themselves or use twitter polls for the same purpose. Set out to be your audience’s advocate and use this information to create content and publicity around your attendance.

 

Tip #4: Mix and Mingle

Do not, we repeat, do not go to a conference just to quietly isolate yourself from everyone, stand off to the side or hide behind your phone. This is not the time to check your email or Facebook notifications. Be alive, engage, be active, be present and interact. Remember, you are there to network! Don’t waste an opportunity for growth.

 

Tip #5: Branding with Style

Stand out by bringing some great stuff to give to people you connect with. For example, you can offer branded key chains, pens, stickers, magnets, notebooks, pencils, t-shirts which are all easy to carry and any person you meet can use. Make sure to add your business info to all your promo items and remember that a little company style goes a long way!

Tip #6: Offer Exclusive Discounts

Everyone loves a discount therefore, offering an exclusive discount to conference attendees is a great opportunity to extend your services to those you connect with. For instance, you can have a sign-up form available on your website that offers other conference attendees a discount code in exchange for their email address. Remember that the people you connect with are potential customers, referrals (or referrers) and/or investors.

You now have some really good and effective tips, with some great examples for you to succeed at your next networking opportunity. Don’t forget to have plenty of business cards with you at all times. Your business cards should be professionally designed and they should have relevant and updated information (that includes phone number, business email address and website) and make sure you have plenty of them, you can never have too many business cards. You have all the tools necessary to get out there and make amazing connections and if you need help with any of these things, Forward Web is more than happy to be of assistance!

 

 

 

Networking At a Networking Event

FORWARD WEB CORE

Meet our core team members.

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Fernando D. Alfaro

FOUNDER / LEAD DEV

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Fernando D. Alfaro

FOUNDER / LEAD DEV

Husband, Brother, Son, Friend, father to our son Amadeus and various fur-babies, oh and business owner/entrepreneur.

What I love most about what we do here at Forward Web is the problem solving component. The internet is always changing and everything can always be improved (which keeps things exciting for me). My goal here at Forward Web is to create the most efficient web platforms possible, empowering the end user to either spend less time on the internet or to solve some form of inefficiencies that exist within the business through the web (think automation, but not necessarily limited to automation).

I have a deep fascination with A.I (Artificial Intelligence) and decentralized platforms. However outside of the internet I enjoy listening to music, working on various side projects and boxing (yes, boxing).

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Julia Alfaro

Creative / Accounts

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Julia Alfaro

Creative / Accounts

Helping people has always been a passion of mine. People are interesting to me. In fact, I believe that everyone is like a book because we all have a story to tell. I gain great satisfaction in knowing that I am able to make someone’s day, life or business a little better, even if it’s just by sharing a smile or a little positivity.

I strive to be a professional woman, I take pride in that. I am very hardworking, kind, intelligent and ambitious. I am a dreamer; I have very high hopes, dreams and goals. I am talented, creative and funny, with a great imagination! I am not perfect, I accept that, but I do tend to be a perfectionist (that can sometimes be a good thing or a bad thing). But in reality, I am a work in progress and I am learning to live life one day at a time.

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Branden Tobin

Customer Relations

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Branden Tobin

Customer Relations

Branden spent 7 years in the gaming industry as a quality assurance specialist and product design consultant. After becoming a
customer at Forward Web in 2013 and experiencing the great services and company values first hand. When the opportunity came up to help improve client experiences at Forward Web, Branden did not hesitate to get involved. “My goal is to help people, and in terms of the web, Forward web is the best place for me to do that”.

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Ankur Kavathiya

Project Manager

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Ankur Kavathiya

Project Manager

With a vast knowledge in IOS/Android app development, as well as various web applications. My experience allows me to ensure projects at Forward Web are on-time, as well as meeting various Quality Assurance checks.

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Ramani Chintan

Back-End Dev

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Ramani Chintan

Back-End Dev

I have over 6 years experience in web development. With Forward Web I primarily work on back-end development which includes the customization of various CMS or Shopping Cart platforms like Magento where I am able to use my experience and knowledge in PHP, JQuery and other relevant languages.

When im not working on projects with Forward Web, I enjoy spending time with my lovely wife Nidhi, married on 3/13/2019

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Nevin Davis

Systems

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Nevin Davis

Systems

I have a degree  in Computer Science and Engineering. I’m a redhat certified engineer with 8 years of experience as a server administrator. I’ve been working with Forward Web for close to 4 years now and I am primarily responsible for the securing and optimization of our network as well as general management of our dedicated servers.

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Franny Kenney

Media Specialist

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Franny Kenney

Media Specialist

California’s Central Valley based photographer; Frances (Franny) Kenney completed her Associate degree in Photography at Modesto Junior College in 2017. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in photography at California State University Sacramento and is on track to graduate in May of 2021. Franny is a licensed commercial drone operator. She is highly motivated and has a strong work ethic. Over the past three years Franny has been working and volunteering as a lab technician at the photo lab on the Modesto Junior College campus.

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Brandon Miltsch

Advisor

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Brandon Miltsch

Advisor

During my 15+ year marketing and sales career, I have gained unique expertise and achieved significant accomplishments for leadership brands in the technology and communications industries.

With a solid Oracle track record with both the Social and Marketing Cloud – along with over 15 years of digital agency experience and a successful sales record at NTT/Verio – BrandON brings a strong mix of expertise and business development skills to the Oracle team. BrandON has also been thrilled to speak at several engagements monthly internally and externally, further illustrating his passion and desire for Oracle executives to optimize and promote their “personal brands”, teaching Social Media and Networking skills. Outside of work, Brandon enjoys spending time with his wife Christina and their 5-year old son, Riley. He is also excited to announce the release his new book, Networking on üBER Steroids.

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