Alphabet Bash, Networking Event for Minnesota Marketing Communication Professionals
I just attended a great networking event in the Twin Cities last night. The event, in its second year, brought together a number of communication groups (IABC, AMA, AdFed, PRSA — hence “alphabet bash”) for the express reason to network contacts and generate leads, ideas and social networks.
Part of the site for the event, which was brilliant, was a section specifically on professional networking. Quick tiips to help you make the most of any business interaction. My favorites from the page:
- Have a positive attitude. It sounds cliché, but if you go in expecting to meet the right people, you will
- Follow-up after meeting with an email, note or call
- Find out how you can help others be successful
- Arrive early and stay late, so you make the most of your networking occasion
- Have a succinct and thoughtful 30-second commercial (to respond to “What do you do?”)
- Beware of holding both food and drink, it makes it difficult to shake hands or give a business card
- Approach people who are standing alone
- Approach informal groups
- “I’m here to meet new people. Do you mind if I join you?”
- “What is your specialty? …your area of expertise? What do you do? What is your connection to this group?”
I made a lot of great contacts, caught up with some old friends, and sent a few emails out today with my top prospects. I haven’t attended a true networking event in over a year, and it was fun to get back into the professional schmoozing vibe, and it was nice to meet up with a huge group (400 registered) of folks looking to do the same. After a while everyone fell into a pretty easy pace, talking and moving around, handing out cards… only broken when the band started playing and it became too hard to hear. Great experience overall.
About Dave Meyer
Dave Meyer is the President and Owner of BizzyWeb, a fast-growing company that creates and hosts web sites and social media for businesses and helps them market themselves more effectively online. His "social media for the real world" talks have taught thousands of people around the country how to "generate buzz without getting stung." Dave is the chair of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Gold Quill Program for 2012. Locally, he is also a past-president of IABC Minnesota, an organization of 400 talented communicators. The year Dave was president, IABC Minnesota won the organization's highest award as the 2011 International Chapter of the Year.
