Attending networking events can be a good avenue to meet potential customers, business partners, mentors, employers, and employees. For people who don’t go regularly or are less keen on going, just showing up is a big step and can make all the difference. You never know who you will meet.
For the seasoned attendee especially business owners and executives who are strapped for time, it is important to be more strategic in choosing which events to attend. For those who have a limited budget, being selective can also save money.
In establishing the criteria, it is important to understand first what you want to get out of the networking event and what value you can offer. For example, if you’re looking for potential customers, then you’ll need to know exactly what you do, who your customers are, what all your revenue streams are, and on what geography and volume scale you’re targeting. Then you would assess the characteristics of the attendees to see if your target audience will be present. You should spend time and money on events where there’s a good fit and potential opportunities to make those important connections.
