By Matthew Pitt
YNOT – Events are a crucial component of any adult industry executive’s calendar. This is where introductions are made, trends are spotted and deals are sealed. Four of WhiteLabelDating.com’s event regulars share their insights and recommendations for successful networking at industry events.
1. Work from 9 to 5 (p.m. to a.m., that is).
If you like to be in bed by 9 p.m. with a good book, then perhaps networking events are not for you. Business doesn’t stop when you close your booth or leave the last seminar of the day. Dinner, evening events and even late-night parties offer excellent opportunities to build a rapport with new and existing contacts.
The easiest and most convenient place to talk to a stranger often is over a drink at the bar, but be sure not to push business conversations too hard. It’s much easier to follow up with a business conversation post-event, after you’ve spent a little time getting to know someone. That’s when deals are sealed.
2. See and be seen.
You really need to show your face as much as possible throughout the event. Hand out business cards, as people may not remember your name first time around, and be willing to speak with everyone with whom you cross paths. New business can often come from unexpected avenues.
Be sociable. If you don’t attend key events hosted by the event’s organizers or sponsors, it can be difficult to build genuine rapport.
3. Learn from the best.
Adult events attract the industry’s major players, with many appearing as keynote speakers. This is a great opportunity to learn from the best and a fantastic chance to catch up on the latest trends and challenges in the ever-developing adult market.
Attend seminars relevant to your sector of the business; they may offer potential new business insights. Seminars also are a chance to assess the speakers and the businesses they represent, helping you to identify who is on top in a particular sector and how they fare against their competitors.
4. Speed network.
If you want to make contacts and generate new business leads, speed networking sessions are a must. Remember to take plenty of business cards. If more than one speed-networking event is planned, try to attend the first. Speed-networking sessions often are over-subscribed, so register in advance when possible.
The number of people you’re likely to meet at speed-networking events alone will match or better the number you’ll meet at any other event during the show. They really are worthwhile.
5. Don’t be a stalker.
A word of advice for any networking event, adult or otherwise: Be nice, be yourself and be sociable, but don’t hassle or stalk. While it’s great to build online relationships offline and be eager to seal a deal, stalking potential leads around the event will do you more harm than good and could give you a bad reputation.
Relax and talk to the people around you. They may even be able to introduce you to the people you’d most like to meet.
Matthew Pitt, Gary Taylor, Wacek Warszawa and Chris Georghiou are regulars on the event circuit. Catch the WhiteLabelDating.com team next at The European Summit and Webmaster Access Amsterdam in September.
