Converge 2015 is just three months away. We’re so excited to connect with you on all things inbound in New Orleans on October 21-22! As you’re gearing up for conference season, we’re sure you’re thinking of ways to make the most of your professional networking time.

For some people, conferences mean free food and drinks. For others, they’re the perfect opportunity to mingle with like-minded individuals. Here are five tips to get the most out of your experience:

1.    Don’t forget your business cards!

This may seem like a no brainer, but it happens all too often! You are so set on being on time, or studying Google maps to see where you are going, that you end up forgetting your business cards.  You don’t want to be the guy or gal that had the great service / ideas that someone really needed, but forgot your name so they went with the other person who had a card!

2.    Be open minded

If you have a prospect attending a networking event and you really want to speak to them, make time to do so but make sure to talk to at least five other people. Networking events are a great chance to candidly talk other people in your industry. It’s a chance where you can learn from each other and learn about things you might not even know to ask about.

3.    Ditch your sales pitch & keep it quick

There’s a fine line between talking enough and too much. You need to practice your elevator pitch, and be able to tell people what you do and why you are attending the networking event without losing your audience. If you start talking and lose half of your audience to refills and bathroom breaks then you are talking too much. Stay engaging, introduce yourself and then ask questions about those around you.Networking events are not where sales take place. They are where you meet the people that you want to work with in the future.  So put your pen and contracts back in the car, relax and impress people with your personality.

4.    Thank your host and actually eat the food!

We have hosted a few networking events in our day, and there is a lot of work that goes on in planning the event location and menu. It’s nice when people realize the effort and thank the host. It can be awkward to eat chicken wings while networking. When you first get to a networking event, grab a drink and a snack first thing so you can examine the landscape and check out who you want to talk to. Check your teeth, wash your hands, thank your host and get out there and network!

5.    Make an effective introduction & leave a lasting impression

You will meet a lot of people at the networking event so it’s important to make a good first impression that lasts. Be confident, walk up to a few people and introduce yourself with a smile and somewhat firm handshake. Make sure to remember the name of the person you just met. Sometimes it helps to say their name a couple times in your first discussion. People respond better to others when their name is used. Leave a lasting impression by following up after the event. Take the time to go through the business cards you gathered and follow up with a personal touch. Connect with them on LinkedIn or shoot them a quick email to say hello.

Networking events bring strangers together to collaborate and learn. There is a common motive that everyone shares, and it’s interesting to find out how much all these strangers have in common.

Attending an upcoming conference? You can find the Converge team at the following networking events:

• Inbound
• AMA

Still planning your annual industry event? Register for Converge 2015 and save $100 off of your conference pass. But do it quick. Early bird is ending soon!