Know who will be attending the event.
By knowing who will attend, you can do a little research on the company or individuals attending the event.
Arrive early.
This is a must. Individuals will pay attention to you since the room is not crowded and they are not exhausted from the event.
Dress appropriately.
Dress professionally, as if you are going to an interview.
Bring business cards.
There are many business people that attend these events. I would suggest having at least 100 of them on you. This might sound like a lot, but often times people take several cards to distribute to their co-workers.
Develop a personal 30-second “commercial.”
This will be your way to communicate your knowledge and expertise to others. Keep it short and to the point. In this case less is more.
Remember people’s names and use them.
The one thing that every person loves to hear the most is his/her own name. It is such a simple act and can score you many points.
Learn about other people before you start talking about yourself.
Remember you are there to learn about them. By listening, you get a general idea about how their business works and what their interests are. Come up with a few questions and listen carefully to their responses.
Be friendly and smile.
This will help you even if you are nervous. Just relax and try to be as comfortable as possible. It will make you look more confident.
Write personal thank-you notes to the people you met.
This is a very easy and important step that you cannot miss. It will help the person remember you and leave a lasting impression.
