If you've ever been at a conference and don't know anyone, learn simple techniques for meeting people to make sure you never eat alone and develop new friendships, collaborations, and even jobs. Topics covered are: why you should talk first and what to say, developing a coherent statement about what you do that leads to "tell me more", how to meet people in advance using social media, and, finally, the advantages of presenting over attending a conference without a talk

1. Conference Networking 101
Lisa Gualtieri, PhD, ScM
Assistant Professor
Tufts University School of Medicine
email: l.gualtieri@tufts.edu, twitter: @lisagualtieri

2. Agenda: Conference networking 101
1. Reasons to network at a conference
2. Before you go
3. While you’re there
4. When you return
5. Conference networking 102

3. • It’s how I got my first job
(My) reasons to • It’s more fun
network • Why else bother going to a
conference with so much online?

4. Plan for successful conference networking
• Besides planning to go to a conference
– Get approval, register, book travel, etc.
• Planning conference networking
– Defining objectives
– Bringing business cards and other handouts
– Doing research
– Using social media
– Developing an elevator speech

5. Define your objectives
• Candidate objectives
– Having people to talk to and eat meals with
– Job hunting, serious or casual (or internship etc.)
– Finding research partners
– Seeking mentors
– Achieving visibility in your field
• Prepare accordingly

6. Preparing business cards and handouts
• Business cards
– Get them (Tufts provides for students!)
– Include current contact and social media information
– Bring them and bring enough
• Bring handouts to aid with objectives
– If job hunting, then bring resumes
– Advantages are immediacy and recipient may have
time to read before returning to office

7. Conduct research
• You google everything else!
• Research presenters whose work you are
interested in (and avoid faux pas!)
• Research past conferences and the makeup of
attendees
• Research the location so you know restaurants
and local attractions to go to with your new
friends
– CNN tour at CDC conference

8. Use social media
• Have a presence
before conference
starts
• See last webinar*
• Let people know
you’re going
• Meet presenters
and attendees in
advance**
• Plan onsite
meetings
* Available on Slideshare
** Consider privacy concerns

9. Develop an enticing elevator speech
• Tie to objectives, especially if job hunting
• Which is more likely to lead to “Tell me more”?
1. Hi, I’m Lisa Gualtieri. Let me tell you my life story
2. Hi, I’m Lisa Gualtieri. I teach at Tufts School of Medicine and
am developing a new course on Mobile Health Design
3. Hi, I’m Lisa Gualtieri. Can I have 3 minutes of your time to
tell you a research proposal I’m submitting to the NIH?
• Practice elevator speech delivery
– Especially helpful for introverts to be practiced
– Introvert’s Guide to Networking,
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/01/the_introverts_guide_to_networ.html

10. What to do at
a conference
• Go to all activities
– At sessions: meet people near you, ask questions at the
end of a talk, speak to presenters, live tweet
– Go to meals and breaks
– Go to networking events: Girls with Pearls
– Avoid your room as much as possible
• Carry business cards and handouts
• Use social media
• Start conversations keeping etiquette in mind

11. How to use business cards and handouts
• Where are your business cards and handouts?
– Keep business cards in easy reach in badge or pocket
– Have other materials handy and neat
• When given a business card
– Note where you met, what you discussed, and what
you promised
– Follow up the same day
• Business cards are a cue
– End a conversation

12. How to use social media
• Tweet using conference hashtag (ex: #APHA12)
• Offer opinions and links to related information
• Mention people because they’ll see it
– Ex: Great conversation with @lisagualtieri
• Say hi to people you know through social media
– I always enjoy that!
• Go to tweetups

13. How to start conversations to
achieve networking objectives
• Where?
– Escalators, elevators, breaks and meals, before or after a
talk, networking receptions, exhibit area
– Also at hotels, restaurants, while walking or working out…
• How to start?
– Read badges and look for ribbons (but don’t forget to look at faces)
• What to say?
– Which session are you going to or did you like best yesterday or…?
– What is your talk on? (ribbon)
– What do you do at X? or Do you work with Y? (affiliation)
– I loved your paper on… (your research)
– I’m @lisagualtieri and I follow you… (your social media contacts)
– Hi, I’m Lisa… (your elevator speech)
• If you’ve met before always remind them: name and context
• Are there things to avoid?

14. Conference networking etiquette
• Always
– Gauge interest: when to end or extend
– Be fast especially after a talk or session or if you request time
– Be specific about what you want: if you are job hunting, if you plan
to follow up,…
– Be coherent especially if you are job hunting
• No one is too important to talk to
• Avoid being too personal
– No one wants to feel stalked
– No one wants to hear you snore!
• Combine activities
– Invite someone to join a group dinner
– Invite someone to walk through the posters
– Invite someone to a tweetup
• “No, thank you” is an option for everyone

15. Networking doesn’t stop
when the conference does
• Follow up with people you found interesting or who might
help you achieve objectives (not necessarily everyone)
• Be specific about goals and context
– I’d like to hear more about your research on…
– I was the person in the Starbucks line Tuesday morning…
• Follow up by email
– 1-2 reminders are fine especially if you have a goal
• Follow up by phone
– Leave brief message and send email with details
• Follow up on social media with tweets, DMs, or #FF
• An exchange is better than a request
– Here is the link to my conference summary blog post
– I am sending my paper on…

16. Get ready for conference networking 102
• Don’t be just an attendee next time
– Volunteer (reduced or free admission)
– Attend tutorial or workshop (get to know others well)
– Submit talk, poster, tutorial, or workshop proposal
• More fun (although more work) to go to a
conference as a presenter
• Everyone is doing something worth presenting
– What you did or the processes or skills you used

17. My final elevator speech (for today)
• Conference networking gets easier with practice
• You’ll have people to talk to at the next conference
• These skills are useful in many other contexts
• Bonus: never eat alone, even with bag lunches