How to Be Network Ready for Your Next Event

Attending events, training days, or networking opportunities can be highly beneficial for your professional growth. However, to make the most out of these experiences, you need to be “network ready.” This means having a clear and concise message about who you are, what you do, and how you can help others. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to ensure you’re fully prepared for your next event.

1. Craft Your Professional Introduction

Before you attend any event, make sure you can confidently and clearly articulate:

 • Who You Are: Define your role or identity in a way that is easy to understand.

 • What You Do: Explain your services or the nature of your business succinctly.

 • Results You Achieve: Highlight the benefits and outcomes you deliver to your clients.

 • Who You Serve: Be specific about your target audience to avoid attracting unqualified leads.

Your professional introduction should be second nature, something you can say without having to think about it. The more specific and detailed you are, the more memorable you’ll be.

2. Prepare Your Contact Methods

It’s crucial to have an easy and effective way for people to connect with you. Consider the following options:

 • Digital Business Cards: Use NFC technology on your phone to share your contact details quickly.

 • LinkedIn QR Code: Have it ready to scan so people can connect with you instantly.

 • WhatsApp: Share your WhatsApp contact details if appropriate.

 • Physical Business Cards: Always have a few on hand for those who prefer them.

Don’t leave it to others to collect your information. Ensure you have a method to gather their details, so you can follow up later.

3. Update Your Online Presence

People you meet will likely check out your online profiles. Make sure:

 • LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Website: All information is current and relevant.

 • Functional Links: Check that all your links are working and none are broken.

A polished and professional online presence reinforces your credibility and helps potential clients learn more about you.

4. Represent Your Brand

When attending events, your appearance can significantly impact how memorable you are. Consider incorporating your brand colors in a subtle way:

 • Clothing: Wear something that includes your brand colors, but don’t overdo it.

 • Consistency: Ensure your branding is consistent across all platforms and materials.

A flash of your brand colour can help people remember you and build trust when they visit your online profiles.

5. Develop a Networking Strategy

Having a strategy for networking can make your efforts more effective:

 • Collecting Information: Focus on how you’ll gather contact details rather than just distributing yours.

 • Follow-Up Plan: Decide how you will follow up with new contacts to convert potential leads into clients.

 • Voice Notes for Follow-Up: Utilize apps like Voxer to send yourself quick voice notes every time you meet someone of interest. Record key details such as:

 • The person’s name and role

 • What they said

 • What you discussed

 • Any promised follow-ups or messages

By doing this, you’ll have a series of actionable voice notes ready to process as soon as you get back to your desk, ensuring you don’t miss any important details.

6. Attend with Intention

Whether it’s the time spent or the money invested, approach every event with clear goals:

 • Content and Connections: Aim to gain valuable insights from the event content and build meaningful connections.

 • Value in Connections: Even if the content doesn’t meet your expectations, the relationships you build can be incredibly valuable.

By setting clear intentions, you’ll find more satisfaction and success in your networking efforts.

In conclusion, being network ready means more than just showing up to events. It’s about presenting yourself professionally, having a clear and compelling message, and being prepared to make meaningful connections. By following this checklist, you can make a lasting impression and build relationships that could lead to exciting new opportunities.