Quick Tip: How To Network As An Introvert

It's 10:30 AM on a Monday and I'm working from our backyard picnic table thoroughly enjoying working solo. It's just me, my laptop, a steaming cup of coffee, a light breeze and some birds. And I couldn't be happier. 

I'm an introvert. I actually love working by myself! While I do remember my office days with a mild fondness, I wouldn't trade my current working situation for anything. Gone are the anxiety-filled morning commutes where I worried over my upcoming presentations in front of some (very) large teams. These days, I still have meetings and calls (virtually for the most part), but really it's just me and my laptop. And that suits me just fine. But as I sit here typing this, I'm trying to ignore a tight knot in my belly that I know is due to an upcoming event. A networking event. Sigh. 

Networking events are very necessary in my field. They are the BEST places to meet and acquire new clients and spread the word about my services to local businesses. And even though I've been attending them pretty regularly for a few years now, the idea of attending an upcoming networking event can still make the butterflies in my stomach go wild. But here's my little trick for making the whole process way less painful.

I do my homework beforehand.

This starts a week or two before the event even takes place. I like to take a look at the guest list and start casually interacting with the organizers and people they are tagging. I reach out via Instagram to briefly introduce myself, so that by the time the event rolls around we're already acquainted. 

This also gives me the opportunity to understand the nuances of their business so that when we meet in person I'm not fumbling for things to talk about. When we're face-to-face we can connect more quickly and get down to the good stuff. It helps me connect with that individual as a person, but also as a business. 

Here's a story. 

I attended an event last month for small product-based local businesses. It was an opportunity for them to show off their new releases, and it was an opportunity for me to approach new potential clients and share with them how I can help them grow their reach. 

A week before the event I took a look at all the vendors attending and stumbled across a woman who sold hand-made woven art pieces and home decor. I followed her on Instagram and ended up replying to one of her stories where she talked about protecting fabric-covered furniture from her kids' sticky hands. LOL! But as it turns out I had just bought an ottoman and had been wondering about that same thing! I replied to her Instagram story, and it snowballed into a whole conversation. Then when we met at the event it was like we were old friends. 

I know this seems like a small thing, but for someone like me who might have a hard time striking up a conversation with a complete stranger and THEN trying to sell them something, this goes a loooooooong way.