1. Gold Standard-Set a goal to meet 3 new qualified contacts. Don't try to meet everyone in the room one by one.. if there's an introduction segment, where everyone states who they are and their profession, pick out your targets and make haste!
2. Follow Up quickly-Before you forget who your new contact is and they forget you, make sure to follow up within a day or so. Request a LinkedIn connection.
3. Not for everybody-You'll run out of cards, and you'll feel obligated to give everyone you meet a business card just to be polite. Slow down and listen in order to overhear who you need to target and don't be shy.
4. Come Early, Stay late, Stand in line-Remember you're there to meet new qualified prospects. That does not preclude you from being friendly in line, strike up a conversation. Come early to get comfortable and overcome shyness when a bigger crowd comes in. Stay late to take a picture with the host and speaker without a long line and when they're more relaxed.
5. Elevators are premium space- Nothing like a captive audience. Strike up conversation by introducing yourself. There is no place better for a 30 sec. "Elevator" speech.
6. Be friendly-Introduce yourself to someone to start. Later, introduce that person to someone else you met. Soon it'll feel like you're the host and it's your event, as you get to know everybody. Networking is fun, not work.
7. Crash the party! Infiltrate groups of people engaged in conversation, join the group. Introduce yourself and ask others to do the same in the group. This is faster than meeting people one at a time. Remember this is not the time for sales pitches or life stories.
8. Meet Strangers-Sit with people you don't already know. Remember you're there to meet NEW people. As an event gets going, move around tables like the host and meet everybody. What a blast!
9. No Passion! No discussions about your divorce, surgery, your parents, mate, religion, politics, class reunions. Light-hearted conversation is the best road to take. Professional small talk conversations are the best.
10. Technically speaking-No shop talk, no acronyms, no industry talking, no detailed how to's as you network. This will take up too much time and may bore your audience. Keep it brief, simple and easy to talk to you.
Happy Hunting!