There's a great deal of networking events out there for the Creative, Digital, Media & Tech sectors; from those targeted to people with a certain area of expertise, to general freelancer meetups and of course, our own Wired Sussex Members Meetups. But what does it take to be good at networking and why do we attend networking events in the first place?
Traditionally, networking has somewhat a stigma for being the way to find new business leads by handing out as many business cards as possible.
Today though, the face of networking has changed. Particularly perhaps, in our industry. Networking events are really important for keeping up to date with and sharing the latest business news, learning about the hottest office space, finding out about potential joint working opportunities and more. And as well as that it’s great to meet other like-minded people in the industry; it is afterall, who you know, no?
At Wired Sussex, we hold quarterly informal networking events for our members, the next of which is coming up on Tuesday 1 December.
For the uninitiated, Wired Sussex Member Meetups are regular (every 4 months) informal networking events for our members, attracting on average over 100 people. They’re a great opportunity to meet, be introduced to and catch up with freelancers, directors of local companies and employees of local businesses as well. We always want our members to get value out of coming along to our events, so the team are always on hand to help introduce you if there’s anyone in particular that you’d like to speak to, or help put you in touch with someone that might be able to help you in some way.
So with our next meetup in fast approaching, I thought it a good opportunity to share some of the key things to remember for making the most out of our networking events....
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Research. Check out the event registration page in advance of the event to see who’s due to attend, to see who’ll be coming and get an idea of the people that you might like to speak to.
Social media. Use it before, during and after an event to connect with, follow and/or tweet people that you’d like to speak to. Also, remember to use the event hashtag to let people know that you’re there! (#WiredBrighton in this case)
Important Intro's. Let the Wired Sussex team know if there is anyone in particular at the event that you'd like to speak to, and we'll do our best to facilitate an introduction. Whether this is a specific person, or someone in attendance with a certain set of skills, we're happy to help.
Approach. Be friendly and genuine, you don’t always need to give it the hard sell.
Add value to the event. Introduce people and offer advice.
Business cards. Yes, it might be an informal networking event, but that doesn't mean you won’t need business cards – just try not to wave them around needlessly.
It’s not all about meeting potential clients. Don’t rate the success of a networking event on how many potential clients & sales you get. Meeting people with complementary skills and even competitors can be beneficial too – think about recommendations & potential collaborators as well.
Collaboration is key. Don’t be afraid to share knowledge and information – collaboration is a real strength in the industry and most of our members have skills, knowledge and/or experiences that can be beneficial to peers.
Less is sometimes more. Don’t worry if you only made a couple of contacts – it’s better to have fewer conversations with more value, than lots of conversations with none!
Follow-ups. Connect & get in touch with people you met at the event and follow up on any conversations/actions.
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The most important thing for us at Wired Sussex is that people leave an event feeling like they've gained something, whether this is knowledge or advice, inspiration and ideas, fresh leads or contacts, or a new friend and a positive outlook on their business.
So whether you're a new member or a regular at our meetups; a Brighton based business or are a little further afield in Sussex, we'd love to catch up with you at the next meetup. Find out more info & register for a place at the next meetup here.
As well as our own, there’s a great wealth of events out there for all areas of interest, from developer meetups to coffee mornings for budding entrepreneurs and evening socials for writers – there really is something for everyone. Keep up to date with what’s going on in Sussex using the Wired Sussex community events calendar.
If you organise (or are looking to organise) your own networking events and/or meetups, check out my previous post for event management tips and best practice.
If you have any questions about Wired Sussex events or others happening in the creative, digital, media & tech events in Sussex, get in touch with me at laura@wiredsussex.com.