All networking events have agendas that detail how the meeting will run. But I find that the best conversations, and the most profitable, are those that happen after the meeting.
If the networking event starts at 9am and finishes at 11am, you need to make sure you have 30 minutes before, and have at least an hour available after the meeting. Far to often you will meet someone interesting and as soon as the meeting is over, they have to rush off as they have an appointment with a client. Why arrange a another meeting straight after a networking meeting?
Talking to people before and after the meeting is really easy. Before the meeting everyone is in one of two boats, first time or not? Find this out and continue from there. At the end of the meeting simply asking if they enjoyed the meeting or met anyone interesting is a great conversation starter.
Most meetings have people who arrive late, and people that leave as soon as the event is over. Make sure this is not you! Your best options are to be there just after the organisers turn up, help if you can, and be one of the last to leave. There will be others doing this, they are the ones that want to use their time wisely, and know the opportunities to meet new people is limited. It’s a networking meeting, you will never be on your own.
Top tip, looking in a hurry, always claiming to be busy, does not help your business at a networking meeting. You have to be interested in others, and have time to spend with them.