the Portal

This week I’m attending the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). And a few of my readers from yesterday wisely queried: why was I going there? As a tech writer, I want to hear the conversations. I want to pick up a feel for what emerging technologies or topics my clients may soon expect me to know about. In a perfect world, I’ll meet a few new prospects, run into a few clients and maybe even have a good time.

One more point: Tony Stubblebine with CrowdVine has suggested his and other networking tools would be of great assistance in situations like this — helping attendees meet and greet in advance, so that none of us walks in cold. Tools are good, as is good advance work (as I attempted to do for SXSW). An energy-specific tool in this case might be a new energy-specific networking tool: Energy People Connect.

Now let’s cut to the chase. We’re there to meet them and they’re there to meet us. How hard can it be? With these seven tips, I hope not hard at all.

1. Optimize for the venue you’re walking into. Dress comfy, but with a sense of the dress code. Bring plenty of business cards AND a Sharpie to customize your pre-fab nametag with something personal to set you apart. In my case, for OTC, I might write something like “contract tech writer.” If you’re on Twitter and have a TwitPin, wear both.
2. Go early, get your bearings. You’ve done your homework regarding exhibitors, keynoters, etc. If you have a map of the venue, plot a circuit whereby you orient yourself and also “drop in” on any easily-approachable friends along the way. Think of your first tour as a “walk-about.” Don’t let too much moss grow under you on your tour. If you meet people you know, greet them enthusiastically but keep moving. Make note of any prospects or potential synergies and go back to them on your second pass.
3. Are you hungry yet? Some of your best connections may be with the captive audience in lines for food or special exhibits. Rehearse in advance some ice-breakers and then look for opportunities to practice them. A friend of mine uses this:  “I haven’t been in a line this long since . . . .” [And make the inserted phrase a catchy one.] In my case it would be something like: “. . . [since] waiting to buy vodka in Communist East Germany.” Other good suggestions, after introducing yourself, are follow-ups to “How’s business?” Such as: what are you doing to meet that challenge? Or, where do you want to take your business from here?

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