How to improve networking at conferences

As the world rapidly moves into a digital age, traditional business cards are starting to become obsolete. This is especially noticeable at conferences and trade shows, where effective networking is of utmost importance. Digital business cards are emerging as a game changer. Let’s take a look at how these cards are changing the way we connect, as well as some tips to maximize your networking efforts at conferences.

Why digital business cards are essential

Traditional business cards often fall short in effectiveness and sustainability. The digital business cards, offer a great alternative. These cards are environmentally friendly, eliminating the environmental costs associated with paper and printing.

Their convenience is unmatched. Participants can instantly share and receive contact information with a simple tap. Additionally, the dynamic nature of digital cards means that updating job titles or contact information is a breeze, ensuring that your business contacts always have access to your most up-to-date information. Adding another level of flexibility, these cards can also be enriched with direct links to portfolios, social media profiles, and other online sites, presenting a more complete profile of someone’s professional persona.

Beyond these advantages, the functionality of digital business cards further distinguishes them from their traditional counterparts. Digital business cards can be seamlessly connected to customer relationship management (CRM) software. This facilitates the automatic categorization and storage of new contacts, which in turn optimizes the post-conference follow-up process. It is becoming apparent that digital business cards are not just a novelty but a necessity for the modern professional, revolutionizing the way we create and nurture connections.

What happens during or after networking at conferences?

Review & Digitization

The day after the conference, you don't have to waste valuable time recording the information from the dozens of cards you've collected. With AI Scanner ilo scan and save your contacts directly in the app. This way you can expand your contact network and your sales.

Contact Collection & Appointment Scheduling

Within your profile, prospective clients/interested parties during the conference can complete the contact form and if you wish, they can schedule an appointment for a future second meeting. The contact form has a wealth of possibilities. Give your form a title, fill in the email that your contacts will automatically receive, create a disclaimer that users will accept, add fields and much more.

Contact Enrichment

Once you have collected your contacts, you can enrich their details as well as identify the company they work for. For example, photo, bio and social media are some of the details that can be automatically identified through the enrich of ilo.

Contact Organization

Through ilo you can divide to organize contacts in groups and companies. Highlight important ones, create personal comments on each one and add files via the file scanner.

Follow-up email

Within a week, follow up with a personalized message. Mentioning a detail or conversation from the conference can make your message stand out and show genuine interest.

Lead and contact management

If you haven't already, consider using a CRM tool to track your contacts, set reminders to follow up, and categorize leads based on their potential.

Think about your goals

Once the conference is over, reflect on your original goals. What did you achieve? What could you have done differently? This reflection will guide you to perform even better at future networking events.

Feedback

If the conference or exhibition organizers ask for feedback, provide it. It's an additional point of contact and shows your willingness to participate.

In this way, ilo is not just a digital business card. It is a holistic networking tool that accompanies you from the moment of first contact to the cultivation of a long-term professional relationship. Adopting digital business cards and corresponding actions after the conference will not only help you connect, but also nurture and develop those connections in meaningful ways.