Last weekend, I attended the Shecon New Media Expo in South Beach Miami. It was three days of great panels and speakers and a prime opportunity to network with other bloggers and social media enthusiasts as well as connect with key brands. Attending the conference is just one aspect of networking; once the conference is over and you go home, the real work begins.
As shown in the graphic attached, I received a lot of business cards during the Shecon event. So much so that it is overwhelming at times. I asked my colleague, Kesha, who roomed with me in the hotel how she planned on organizing her contacts after conference and she gave me some pretty good advice. We both agreed that the relationship building truly happens after the conference when you must use the tools you’ve been given to reach out to others. Sitting on the business cards you received after conference isn’t a way of truly networking—the art is connection long after the conference is said and done.
Here are 5 tips to use to help build relationships after conference has concluded:
1. Organize the business cards received: Once you get back home, organize the your cards into categories. For me, I organize them in these categories: speakers/panelists, sponsors/brands, bloggers, and media. Once that is done, I add all of the information into my Outlook for easy emailing. If you have a scanning system such as NEAT, you can scan the cards and then file them in categories.
2. Reach out: Reaching out means creating a unique and professional email correspondence to everyone in these categories. It shouldn’t be form mail-ish, but authentic and friendly.
3. Use social networks: Adding your new contacts to your social networks is another great way to extend the conversation. Remember, having your Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin information on your business cards makes it easier for people to connect with you online.
4. Phone call, anyone?: Phone calls are a great way to give a more personal touch to reaching out.Yesterday evening, I received a wonderful call from Scuba Diver Laura whom I met at Shecon. She called to make sure I had gotten home safely after my flight and we made plans to stay in contact. Now that, my friends, was pretty classy of her!
5. Stay on course: My friend Joyce from MommyTalkShow.com added that she sets an alert or reminder on her computer to touch base with people every so often to continue the relationship. This works really well with brands, especially since they work with so many bloggers that they may have forgotten about you. Connecting with someone via email every so often is a great way to remind them that you are there to help.
We often think of the conference as being the major point of contact, but it’s what you do after the conference that makes the most difference. I hope you have found these tips useful and valuable.
Do you have any additional tips to add? Let’s chat!
Great advice. I’m bookmarking this post right now. Thank you for sharing this! – Deena
Deena, thanks for reading and bookmarking. Let me know if you use the tips int he future and if they helped you.
Whew–once again, GREAT advice! I’ll admit: after conferences, I usually am the one who shoves all but 2 business cards in a file folder to be forgotten. (I’m working on it, though!) Quick questions though:
1) When you do your initial email, do you draft one to each person individually, or can you send one per group?
2) What’s the window of opportunity for contact? I usually hear numbers like 48 hours, 3 days, a week–what’s the absolute deadline?
Jennifer Elise, I draft individual emails because I want them to be personal and unique to the person I am sending it to. Something like “It was great sitting next to you during the branding session” or “I enjoyed your presentation on such and such”. it takes more time but works a lot better than sending out a massive email with just general mentions. Hope that helps!
These are great tips and I’ve found that the best way for me to deal with biz cards are to enter the info into a Google Doc for each event I attend. That way i can easily search to find a contact that I need without cards all over my desk. Also the investment in a business card scanner (like CardScan) is well worth it! Loved spending time with you this weekend and hope to see you soon!
Glad I came across this post. I have business cards for days. I never thought of doing a mass email to all contact. I usually contact an individual base on the nature of their business. I think I will implement your Business Card strategy moving forward. THANK AGAIN!
It was so good to meet you at SheCon!
Number 5 is an excellent tip. One that I need to become better at. Following up with brands is so important, and something I don’t do enough. Happy Monday1