STAPLES BizTIPs: Tips for attending shows

By Small Business Expert Roger Pierce, BizLaunch

Trade shows, job fairs and networking events are great opportunities for career seekers and new entrepreneurs. To make the most of your show visit, remember these simple tips:

·         Plan your trip. With so much to do in so little time, you’ll want to plan your expedition. Set aside a few minutes upon arrival or before the event to review the show guide or list of attendees to prioritize the companies or people you want to see most.

·         Limit your talk. Shows and events aren’t meant for people to spend a lot of one-to-one time together. Your goal is to make a valuable contact with someone and open the door to a follow-up appointment or meeting. Avoid monopolizing someone’s attention by limiting your talk time.

·         Mouth the mints. Bad breath will cut short any conversations and leave a poor first impression. Those close, face-to-face chats will go much better if you remember to pop a Tic-Tac.

·         Follow up. Your success at any event depends on your follow through. Within a few days of the event, pick up the phone and contact those people you spoke with about that job opening, training service or business opportunity. Show your professionalism and enthusiasm by taking the initiative to make contact.