I’m Brianna Scott, Events Manager at the Howard County Chamber, and if you’ve attended one of our networking mixers or annual events, there’s a good chance I helped bring it together behind the scenes.
We know you have a lot of events to go to, a lot of groups to get involved with, and way too many tasks on your plate each day. Your time is important, and so is your money. That’s why you want to get the best bang for your buck when you purchase a ticket to one of our Chamber events, and we are here to help you do that! Check out our hot tips below to prepare for your next event.
Create Your Game Plan: Check the Registration List in Your Member Portal
First, log in to your member portal. Select the Events tab, and then select “Events I’ve Registered For.” Click the event that you want to check the registration list for, and select the “Who’s Going” tab.
This gives you a preview of who you will have the opportunity to meet at the event! Take a moment to jot down 3 – 5 connections you want to make before arriving. This will not only make entering the room less overwhelming since you’ll have a specific person you’ll be looking out for, but this process may also help you think of some other types of companies or industries that you may want to meet while you’re there, which can be hard to think of in the moment at the event when you’re busy chatting.
We also have walk-ins at many of our events, so there’s always a chance that you may meet someone that you didn’t see on the list previously!
Find an Ambassador
Ambassadors have a wide range of connections throughout our community. They are eager to help you with networking. Our Ambassadors can be easily identified in a crowd – they have teal ribbons attached onto their name tags that say ‘Ambassador’! Just go up to them, introduce yourself, and let them know you’re hoping they can help you meet someone in a specific industry. Even if one Ambassador doesn’t know someone specifically, there’s a good chance they know someone that does know the person you’re looking for.
Ask the Chamber Staff
Whenever you are unsure if someone is at the mixer, our Chamber staff is happy to help! Or if you have an idea of what kind of connections you may want to make but you’re unsure of which particular business you should connect with, we can help guide you.
Collect Business Cards
Ask for cards as you talk with people, and don’t forget to share your own business cards with everyone you meet! Then, immediately after the event, make notes on who you talked with and what you talked about, along with their contact information. Send them a follow-up email to thank them for their time and express your appreciation for connecting. Even if you don’t need them now, you never know when you may need them in the future, and vice versa.
Think Outside the Box
As you meet people, make a conscious effort to think of another connection that they might need for their industry. If they haven’t explicitly stated what kinds of connections they’re looking for, ask them. This accomplishes a lot of things; it shows them that you’re listening, that you care, and that you’re not only trying to have a transactional interaction.
Practicing this helps you remember them better in the long run, and it will help them remember you, because you took the time to try to help them. If you can’t think of anything in the moment, that’s okay too. Tell them you’ll keep this conversation in mind to see if you can connect them with someone down the road. Once you start doing this for people, this will be done for you in return. And that’s how a thriving business community gets connected.