The cards direct people to this website, and on the back they contain my contact information and ‘elevator pitch.’ The pitch says, “A creative, strategic, internet-savvy marketing professional and multi-tasker with strong communication skills, seeking to lead a dynamic company, association or non-profit organization in effective use of internal and external communication tools.”

Thanks, Dan, for making this investment in a friend’s career!

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Special thanks to Action Print!

Here are a few tips for making the most of an in-person networking event:

1. Be authentic – don’t adopt some kind of weird, not-the-real-you persona when you attend an in-person event. Just be yourself.

2. Be genuine – when you’re talking to someone, don’t constantly look over their shoulder to see if someone more interesting is approaching. Give your full attention to the person in front of you.

3. Find a legitimate reason to share your contact info – when talking to someone you haven’t met before, don’t assume they want your business card just because it’s a networking event. Think about how you can be of value to them, and offer your card after expressing that potential value.

4. Ask lots of questions – Making small talk can be agonizing, especially when it feels forced. Instead of the usual weather-related stuff, why not ask some leading questions of the person in front of you? What’s new in your industry? How has the recession impacted your business?

5. Become a resource - Write a short “nice to meet you” note to new people you meet and send it via email, and include a link to an online article that’s relevant to something you discussed with them.

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Five tips for in-person networking