As a speaker, I speak at all kinds of events and love being in front of audiences of every size. As a networker, however, I've really cut back on short events (e.g., breakfast, lunch or evening meetings) and have focused nearly all of my networking time at conferences.
I'd rather pick a few strategic events a year to go to, really focus in and meet a lot of people in a concentrated amount of time, then spend the rest of the year strengthening those relationships and finding ways to work together. It's just a much better fit for me.
For example, I just returned from speaking and exhibiting at the Texas Conference for Women in Austin, TX, and came back home with a nice amount of revenue from sales of my networking products, a boatload of new speaking opportunities, and a potential joint venture with a local radio show host who has big plans to go national. Not bad for a day's work.
Want to learn some of my secrets? For an overview, read my new article 7 Tips to Power Networking at Conferences in the October 2007 issue of the NY Enterprise Report. If you'd like to go deeper and really master the art of connecting at conferences, check out my new Conference Success Secrets home study course.
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