Event Networking Don'ts - EAS LeadGen

Event Networking Don’ts Brian Campagna, CEO of EAS LeadGen Gabrielle Guttman, President of Connext Consulting Inc.

Don’t: w w w. e a s l e a d g e n . c o m [email protected] p 732 982 8514 f 732 483 0199

Hand out business cards. Don’t go around the room and hand out your business cards; only give them out if asked. Interrupt. If two people are talking facing each other that is a closed conversation. Interrupting will not make them think of you positively. If there are three or more people talking, that is more appropriate. Burden people. Don’t bore people with your troubles or problems. Keep conversations positive. It’s “show time”.

About Brian Campagna: Brian Campagna is the CEO of EAS LeadGen. A leader in the sales support and lead generation field. Prior to founding LeadGen, Brian was Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Kroll, where he defined, developed and implemented marketing strategies, management processes and sales support tools across Kroll’s 3,900employee organization. Prior to joining Kroll, Brian worked as the Executive Director of Assurance and Tax Business Development at KPMG LLP. His core responsibilities included the development and implementation of revenuegenerating marketing and sales plans. Brian earned his Bachelor of Science from Purdue University and holds a Masters in Business Administration from Pace University. About Gabrielle Guttman: Gabrielle Guttman is the Strategic Business Development Consultant for EAS LeadGen. Gabrielle has a dual role; representing LeadGen as a Strategic Business Development Consultant and she is the President of Connext Consulting Inc. Connext is a business development, strategic introductions, marketing, events and PR/IR consultancy. Prior to founding Connext, Gabrielle worked at Southridge LLC, Kroll, Grey Group and Bear, Stearns and Co. Inc. Gabrielle graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Economics from Barnard College, Columbia University.

Trash your competitor. Do not talk with animosity about competition in your conversation. People may remember you, but not for the right reasons. Repeat your phone number. You have business cards that provide your information. Don’t make your listener search for a pen to write down your information. Monopolize one person. Spending too much time with any one person will limit you from meeting other potential prospects; this includes a colleague that you work with or whomever invited you to attend the event. Get cornered. Excuse yourself from the discussion politely if it isn’t working for you. Sell. Teach others, at every opportunity, about who you are, as a person, and what it is that you do. Always present a clear emphasis on the type of client that you are looking for. Run out of business cards. A pen and cocktail napkin is very unprofessional. Don’t think about expecting your contact to enter your information into their phone on the spot. Bring enough cards! Collect cards and shake hands. Good conversations are more valuable than collecting tons of cards. Think quality vs. quantity. Sit down. Sit down when the program begins. If there is not a program, you can sit once you’ve connected with someone. Get drunk. Having a drink or two is okay, but getting drunk or showing up at an event with alcohol on your breath is not okay. Follow up with email only. A better way to secure the business is through an email and a followup phone call. Text/email/check voicemail. Using your mobile device during the event is rude. You will not achieve your networking goals if your head is buried in your mobile device.