This is an abbreviated excerpt. For more tips and best practices, view the full article.
If you’ve ever attended an industry conference or event, chances are you understand the value of networking. Leaving the right impression with the new faces you meet can help forge relationships and open opportunities for you and your business.
drupa 2016 will be no different, as some 315,000 experts from the print, media and multichannel industries gather.
But how do you make a strong impression amidst the bustling show floor?
Here are five networking tips to help you make lasting connections – inside and out of the exhibition halls.
1. Do your homework
Networking is an investment in your business. It takes time and when done correctly can yield great results for years to come. – Diane Helbig
Bookmark the drupa database and download the official drupa mobile app. As you work to make the most of your time at the show, these tools will soon become your best friends.
Not only will you find listings of the companies exhibiting – with short profiles for each – but also details of who to contact. Take your research further by exploring social media for companies of interest, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogs.
*Editor’s Note: Some of the most productive networking you do may occur outside the show floor. Come prepared! From the best pubs and restaurants to tips on navigating the Messe, our Day and Night Guide can help you make the most of your time at drupa.
2. Value your time
Great networking takes time – which is a precious resource in Düsseldorf. When doing your preliminary research, don’t plan to meet too many people. It’s better to form three or four genuinely useful connections than to spread yourself too thinly, and come away with a lot of business cards but no shared memories.
3. Be interesting, but be interested too
You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. – Dale Carnegie
When you get in front of a person you wish to talk business with, there’s a great temptation to dictate the conversation – and steer it towards your goals.
However, holding back will help you build rapport. Instead, listen, ask questions, and don’t be limited to business deals and industry speculation – who knows, it could be your mutual love of winter sports that ultimately forges your business relationship.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. For more helpful advice, be sure to read “Five Tips for Successful Networking at drupa 2016.”
And don’t forget to download our free drupa Day and Night eBook – your guide for hard-working days, and hard-playing nights in Düsseldorf.
