Tami Reiss

Playing on the need to be visible and attending events within your industry, I’d like to take a moment to emphasize the importance of not meeting too many people. On multiple occasions, Andrew Warner of Mixergy(link) and I have discussed finding a balance between being friendly and meeting the new players on the scene and developing pre-existing relationships.

At Twiistup I was explaining this challenge to Don Mosites of Streamy, which will hopefully launch this week. He were laughing about extraverts and introverts and I explained to him that though I definitively meet a larger number of people, I also make sure to return to those I have met before and continue to develop the relationship. That at any given event, I might meet 10-15 new faces and exchange information, but that I also make sure to spend an extended period of time with those who I am already acquainted.

Building on relationships through extrapolation on previous encounters, enhances both the current experience and future interactions. Furthermore, the more you learn about someone as the depth of conversation increases, the more you might know how you or one of your connections might be able to help them. Or… the reverse… a warm introduction is always best.

I’m not saying that introducing yourself to many people is a bad way to go about these things, it’s the very foundation. I’m just elaborating on the importance of utilizing that foundation to build something stronger and more meaningful.

How many people do you talk to at a networking event?