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0:13 How to get the most out of networking events
1:05 Prepare before the event
1:57 Use your name badge
2:33 Create content for social media
3:01 p.m. Connect with speakers after the event
3:19 p.m. Develop content after the event

Successful networking is a two-way street. Naturally, networking is an activity rooted in self-interest. You want to meet people who could hire you, boost your career or bring you closer to your professional goals. Remove self-interest and you're just making friends (an activity that's also valuable and important, but not guaranteed to benefit your professional life).

Attending networking events and conferences is a great way to learn about new technologies and gather tips to get the most out of your business. If you don't use these events as a brand-building opportunity, you'll only get half your money's worth.

Yet networking efforts that are solely motivated by the desire to get something can seem harsh, selfish, and irritating. If a mutual friend introduces you to a potential connection and all you do is ask for advice and demand favors, that connection won't last. No one wants to feel used. Balance this desire with a willingness to give something and your overtures will be more effective and well-received. In fact, one of the best ways to ensure an introduction or solidify a connection is to offer one yourself. But how can you do it elegantly and efficiently?

Here are some networking basics that will help you along the way:

Before the event

Make a list of speakers you want to connect with. Start following and interacting with them on Twitter and LinkedIn before the conference. Once registered for an event, take a look at the posted speakers and their session schedule. Follow them on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Follow the event hashtag. Each conference offers two experiences taking place simultaneously. The in-person event and the conversation happening on social media. Enjoy both. Add the event hashtag to your profile before and during the conference. This makes it easy for other attendees who follow the conference hashtag to find and follow you.

During the event

Help others easily connect with you. Show your event badge and a statement that you look forward to meeting new connections. Taking selfies will help people see what you look like that day. By doing this, others are more likely to approach you even if you have never met.

Share great quotes and slides from sessions. Since you've already done your homework on the speakers you want to hear and follow them on social media, tweet photos of them on stage, photos of their slides, and quotes from their session. Then tag the speaker in the tweet and also use the event hashtag. As a speaker, there's no better feeling than responding to audience tweets after a session.

After the event

Continue the conversation. The week after an event, tweet a thank you to the speakers who really stood out and had an impact on you. Conferences can sometimes feel like organized chaos, so waiting a few days to interact with the people you've met is a great way to ensure you have their full attention.

Turn session notes into blog posts. Take the photos and notes you took during the sessions to write a session recap or highlight how you incorporate something you learned at the conference. This is a fantastic way to position yourself and your blog as a valuable contributor to the community of which you are a member. Sharing your personal knowledge is the best way to establish yourself.

Establish connections that foster a mindset of paying it forward. Show your colleagues that giving is as good as receiving. With all of these networking foundations at your disposal, you'll have more opportunities to make meaningful connections.

The journey is what everyday entrepreneurs, like you, must follow in their quest for online success. Our experienced GoDaddy Guides are here to guide you through every step, big and small, that you encounter every day.

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