Digital marketing is useless without personal connections and word-of-mouth referrals. But is networking played out or ripe for you to take advantage of? It all depends on your approach. 
How does networking help my marketing?
Get to know people in a more casual setting.
Face and name recognition can be as important as brand recognition.
Build a relationship with people before you begin selling.
You might also meet people who can help your business.

What kind of events can I network at?
Conferences
Tradeshows
Panel discussions
Volunteer opportunities
Business happy hours
Lunch & learns

What are some networking best practices?
Attend events where you know who the audience will be.
Focus on in-depth conversations with a few people.
Are business cards still worth bringing? Yes, if you have them.Digital business cards are cool, but they break my process.
I like receiving cards more than giving them.


Follow up with people after you meet them—connect on LinkedIn.

Is it worth sponsoring networking events?
Take a look at the cost and see if it fits into your budget.
Determine the why behind your reason for being a sponsor.
The reason might be exposure or trying to get more leads.
It’s also good to get visibility in your local community.

What about speaking at events?
Are you comfortable with public speaking?
Do you feel like you have something of value to provide?
What topic do people care about that you can help them with?
Reach out to a few events that are actively looking for speakers.

Should I plan my own networking event?
We do quarterly micro-networking events.
This is with people we already know and want to introduce to each other.
It’s fun for us and fun for them—that’s the point.
This helps us to deeper our relationships and say thank you to our fans.

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