15 Tips for Professionals: How to Network at a Conference
Visiting a conference is always exciting — new people, new ideas, and new opportunities all in one place. But the true impact of a conference isn't automatic. It comes from how well you prepare before the event, how you behave once you're in the room, and what you do to stay connected after the event.
As the CEO of Digital Business Card, I attend about 10–15 conferences every year. Over time, I've learned that a bit of structure makes all the difference. That's why I want to share my experience and practical networking event tips to help you turn your next conference into not just a fun trip, but an effective one as well.
I've divided the process into three clear stages:
- Before the Conference — how to prepare properly so you don't waste time once you arrive.
- During the Conference — how to approach people, join conversations, and make sure your details get saved.
- After the Conference — how to follow up in a way that turns short chats into long-term opportunities.
By following this flow, you'll walk away from each event with more than memories — you'll leave with connections that will make a difference in your career.
How to Prepare for Networking at a Conference
Attending a conference without a plan and preparation is always a bad idea. Here are some conference networking tips for success before you walk through the doors.
1. Research Attendees and Speakers in Advance
Before attending, review the list of attendees and identify the key people you want to meet. Many conferences provide attendee or speaker lists in advance – use them to target high-value contacts. If no list, scan social media or event hashtags to see who's talking about the conference.
Read up on their background, recent projects, or posts so you have conversation fodder and show interest in their work.
2. Set Clear Networking Goals
Define what you want to achieve by attending this networking event. Are you looking for potential clients, collaborators, or mentors? Setting specific goals, such as "meet five new contacts in my industry" or "find two leads for our product," provides exact direction and gives you more confidence.
3. Prepare Your Elevator Pitch
Craft a 30-second introduction about who you are, what you do, and what you're seeking. Practice it until it feels natural and avoid sounding too scripted.
Tip: Have slight variations of your intro ready for different audiences, e.g., a technical version for industry peers and a client-focused version for prospects.
4. Prepare a Good Outfit
It's crucial to plan your conference outfit in advance. As the saying goes, you're judged by your appearance first, and by your words later. Your look should be appropriate, polished, and stylish, because that's the first impression potential partners and clients will get of you.
In one of our previous articles, "What to Wear to a Conference," we compiled the best outfit ideas for both men and women, breaking them down into key pieces and even pointing out where you can purchase them.
Make sure to check it out if you need help choosing what to wear or want ready solutions.
5. Prepare Your Digital Business Card
A digital business card is one of the most important things to prepare before a conference. It helps you exchange contacts instantly and makes people remember you long after the event.
With your card on your phone, you'll stand out and dramatically increase the chances that people will remember you and reach out later for your services.
In the DBC app, you can find 27 professional templates to design a card that matches your personal brand. Whether you want a minimal or bold and creative design, you can customize it in under a minute and walk into the event with something that sets you apart. Here is how to prepare for a networking event.
Networking During the Conference
After your preparation and with your digital business card ready on your phone, it's time to step into conversations. Here's how to do it right.
6. Start Conversations Simply and Confidently
Most people at a conference are open to networking, but very few enjoy awkward small talk. The trick is to approach people with a friendly introduction and ask good starter questions. Instead of "What do you do?" which can feel generic, ask questions tied to the event:
- "What brought you to this conference?"
- "Which session has been most useful for you so far?"
- "I noticed your question during the keynote — great point. Can you tell me more about it?"
These openers show curiosity and show interest in the other person. Smile, make eye contact, and be genuine. Your goal is to make the other person talk about themselves, as people find those conversations more engaging and memorable.
7. Join Group Discussions Confidently
One of the most underrated hacks on how to network at conference is joining ongoing group conversations during coffee breaks or roundtables. Stand nearby, listen for 20–30 seconds, and then introduce yourself with a short comment that adds to what's being discussed.
For example, if a group is talking about a session on AI in SaaS, you could say:
"I've worked on a project where AI sped up onboarding by 30%. Curious if you've seen similar results?".
Suddenly, you're part of the circle.
Most groups welcome new people joining their discussion. Just be polite and avoid interrupting.
8. Use Breaks and Social Events as Your Secret Weapon
Some of the best networking doesn't happen in the sessions — it occurs in the spaces around them, like coffee breaks, lunches, and after-parties. Instead of scrolling your phone or hiding by the wall, use these moments to strike up informal conversations.
At after-parties, keep the vibe relaxed but professional. Just remember to keep it professional – enjoy yourself, but don't overdo it with alcohol or overly casual behavior in front of potential business contacts.
Tip: If you're an introvert who needs a recharge, it's okay to take short breaks, but do push yourself to participate in at least a few social mixers where deeper connections often happen.
9. IMPORTANT: Make Sure People Save Your Contact Info
When you've had a good interaction, take the initiative to exchange contacts – but do it seamlessly. You might say, "I'd love to continue this conversation – may I get your contact info?" rather than suddenly forcing your business card at them.
Make sure you exchange contact details while the connection is still warm and offer to scan your QR code or open the link.
This way, your info — name, role, LinkedIn, portfolio, even booking links — lands directly in their phone, where it won't get lost.
In fact, switching to digital cards can boost follow-up rates by compared to paper, as the contact information is stored and accessible when needed.
Don't risk being forgotten. Create your Digital Business Card today — it takes less than a minute and guarantees your new contacts will always have your details at hand.
10. Pay Attention to Body Language
Networking is more than words. People read your posture, tone, and eye contact long before they listen to what you're saying. Keep an open stance (don't cross your arms), smile, and make steady but not intense eye contact. These signals tell others you're approachable and engaged.
Avoid looking over someone's shoulder for your "next" contact – give each person your full attention. This simple habit makes you stand out as genuine in a sea of half-distracted conversations.
Remember: the impression you leave comes less from what you say, and more from how you make others feel.
11. Mind Your Manners and Be Respectful
During the conference, remember basic but important etiquette. Don't be overly pushy or linger if someone seems eager to move on.
Keep conversations balanced – avoid dominating the discussion with a monologue about yourself. It's wise to wait until a natural rapport is established before pitching your product or asking for any favors. If you promised to connect someone with a resource or person, make a note so you can follow through later (this will make you stand out as reliable).
Lastly, be punctual to any arranged meetings and respectful of people's time – everyone has a busy schedule during an event.
How to Networking After a Conference
Yes — networking doesn't stop when the conference ends. The real value often comes afterward, when you turn quick chats into long-term relationships. Here's how to maintain a high level of networking once you're back at your desk.
12. Organize Your New Contacts
Once the conference wraps up, take a moment to consolidate all the business cards and contacts you've gathered. Use a system that works for you: enter contacts into a digital address book or CRM, and add notes like "Met at Expo lunch, discussed supply chain challenges, loves golf".
If you used a digital business card or app to exchange info, all their details might already be in your phone – back those up and tag or categorize them by event name or priority level.
13. Send a Quick Thank-You
Within 24-48 hours after the event, reach out to the people you connected with. A brief, personalized follow-up email or LinkedIn message goes a long way. Thank them for their time or reference a specific part of your conversation to jog their memory.
For example: "It was great talking about SaaS marketing at the networking dinner – I looked up that tool you mentioned, very cool."
This shows that you valued the conversation and helps cement you in their mind.
It's shocking how often this step is skipped – more than half of professionals never receive any follow-up from people they met at events. Don't be that person who only collects contacts but never follows up. Even a brief "nice to meet you" note can set you apart, as many connections fizzle after the conference due to inaction.
14. Connect on LinkedIn and Social Media
Don't wait for people to remember you — make the connection yourself. Send a LinkedIn request with a personal note referencing your conversation.
This anchors the memory: "Hi Anna, it was great talking at SaaSCon about your UX challenges. Let's keep in touch."
Once connected, interact with their posts from time to time. Like or comment thoughtfully on updates, share their content, or send a quick congrats on achievements. These small touches keep you visible without being pushy. Over weeks and months, this builds familiarity — and when they need help in your domain, you'll be the first name that comes to mind.
15. Follow Up with Value
A follow-up that only says "Let me know if you need my services" gets ignored. A follow-up that adds value gets remembered.
Think back to your conversation: did they mention a challenge, a tool they're curious about, or a project they're working on? Send them an article, a case study, or an introduction to someone in your network who could be of help.
This shows you listened, and it positions you as helpful rather than transactional. Even if they're not ready to work with you right away, they'll see you as someone worth keeping in their circle.
Common Mistakes in Conference Networking
Finally, I would like to share the biggest mistakes people often make when networking at a conference. If you keep falling into these traps, you'd better skip the event altogether. Because if you're not actively seeking new connections, clients, and opportunities, you're missing out on a significant share of the potential a conference offers.
1. Turning Every Conversation Into a Sales Pitch
One of the fastest ways to lose interest is being overly salesy. Networking at conferences is about building relationships, not closing a deal immediately. If you barrage people with your pitch or pressure them for favors, you'll repel potential contacts. In fact, dominating conversations or boasting about achievements too much can create a negative impression and hinder relationship-building.
Solution: Focus on listening and learning about the other person before you talk about yourself or your product. Once trust is built, opportunities to share what you do will come naturally.
2. Introducing Yourself Poorly
If you can't quickly explain who you are and why you're here, people will tune out. Don't launch into a 5-minute monologue of your resume, but do have a concise description of your role or business.
Solution: Craft and practice a 1-2 sentence personal pitch beforehand. It might be as simple as, "I'm Jane, a cybersecurity consultant helping mid-size companies protect their data. I'm here to learn the latest in cloud security." Having this ready prevents awkward fumbling and shows you're a confident professional.
3. Collecting Contacts vs. Making Connections
Networking is not a numbers game if those numbers lack meaning. Some people race to hand out and collect as many business cards as possible, but collecting contacts without meaningful conversations is pointless.
Solution: Don't treat business cards like trading cards. Instead, aim to have a few deeper conversations during the conference. Write a quick note about the person right after meeting them – this helps you remember them and craft a more genuine follow-up, avoiding the generic "Nice to meet you – let's do business" email.
- Relying Only on Paper Business Cards: Sticking solely to old-school paper cards can be a mistake for multiple reasons. First, physical cards often get lost or tossed – an estimated 88% of paper business cards are discarded within a week, which means your info may never make it into someone's phone or CRM. Second, if you run out of cards or encounter someone who doesn't have one, you might miss an opportunity to exchange details.
- Solution: Always carry a digital business card so your info is saved directly into someone's phone. That way, if either of you is out of physical cards, you can still connect. If you use paper, consider adding a QR code to it that links to your complete digital profile – a hybrid approach that many professionals now use.
4. Failing to Follow Up
Perhaps the most common networking mistake is not following up at all. You might have dozens of great chats and exchange contacts, but if you never reach out afterwards, those connections will wither.
Solution: Schedule a short block of time after the event for thank-you messages and LinkedIn connections.
Conclusion
Conferences are continuing to evolve. Each year, we see more innovative event apps, AI-powered matchmaking, and new ways to exchange details without ever touching a piece of paper. But no matter how the technology changes, one thing stays the same: people remember how you show up, how you listen, and how you make them feel during a conversation.
So, how to network at conferences? Think about it as a continuous cycle.
The more you practice this rhythm, the easier it becomes — and the more value you'll get out of every event you attend. I know it from my own experience. Over time, you'll notice that your network isn't just a collection of names, it's a living system of people who know you, trust you, and want to work with you.
Good luck and see you at the conference:)
