Prepare for Any Networking Event, Part 2: What Do I Need/Want to Promote?
Welcome to part 2 of our networking prep series. In this post we think about what we are trying to achieve when we attend an event where networking with others is a possibility. If you haven’t read part 1 yet, consider adding it to your TBR list. For the purpose of these blog posts, we are considering the term “networking meeting” to mean either an in-person event or a virtual one.
When you decide to network with purpose, it’s important to know what you would like to accomplish at your next networking meeting. Is it promoting your services? Your book? Your website? Your organization? The day before your meeting, write down some simple goals, like the following:
I would like to meet another developmental editor who edits in a different genre than I do (because they can refer clients to me that are out of their genre, or I can pass on clients whose genres I don’t edit).
I would like to meet an indexer whom I can consult with to learn more about this service and what type of work is available.
I would like to meet a copyeditor who works with big publishers so they can share with me what that experience is like (to help me decide if that is something I would like to do).
I would like scientists and doctors who write for medical journals to know who I am and how I can help them so that they consider hiring me to edit their articles.
Once you’ve established what your top goals are for that meeting, write a short paragraph about how you should introduce yourself (many people call this an elevator pitch). Remember: potential clients and colleagues will want to know what you do or what problem you can solve for them. Be prepared to add that to your brief introduction. Tailor it to the event you’ll be attending. Keep in mind that the same introduction is not going to work for different audiences. You must customize it to make it appropriate and relevant for each networking opportunity.
For example, if I were at a writers’ conference, I’d introduce myself to other attendees by saying, “Hi, I’m Linda Ruggeri. I’m a nonfiction developmental editor based in Los Angeles.” If appropriate, I might even add, “I specialize in memoir and working with first-time authors.” That way, who I am and what I do is clear to whoever meets me. I would also ask the same of the person I’m meeting.
Now, I don’t follow that up by giving out my business card (because it feels salesy to me). But I do have my cards on hand in case someone asks for one. And if I don’t have a card, I’ll ask the person if I may reach out to them on LinkedIn. Via the phone app, I’ll look for their name and connect with them right then and there, always adding to my connection request “Hi, it’s Linda, the nonfiction editor from the writer’s conference.” Side note: It’s generally frowned upon to ask someone on LinkedIn to connect with without writing a short note explaining why you want to connect with them. Remember, our goal is to build quality connections and real relationships. Quantity is not our goal.
If I’m on a Zoom video call (instead of attending a writers’ conference), I make sure that my name and job title, or my name and city, or my name and pronouns are displayed in my profile when I join the call. Depending on the meeting, that might be “Linda Ruggeri—Developmental Editor” or “Linda—Book Editor” or “Linda—Latinx Editor [she/her].” I want people who are on the call to know who I am and what I do.
On the other hand, when other attendees introduce themselves to you, a mindful and meaningful way to connect is to ask questions that help you prioritize their needs. For example:
“How should I pronounce your name?”
State what pronouns you use and see if they give theirs back. Bryn Mawr College has some great examples about why this is important in this article, “Asking for and Using Pronouns.”
“How do you prefer I connect with you? LinkedIn, email, text message?”
Something to keep in mind is that in South America, parts of Europe, Canada, and Turkey (just a few examples), many people choose to connect, exchange information, and communicate over WhatsApp. However, this app is rarely used in the US. Ask your new contact what platform they would like you to use to connect with them.
Lastly, let’s get out our editorial freelancing thermos and recognize that sometimes a networking event is not a conference, a chapter meeting, or a developmental editing class. Your next networking event could be a dinner party, a high school reunion, the next city council meeting, or a protest full of activists (though my favorite is a birthday party barbecue). Of course, the likelihood of meeting a fellow editor at these places might be slim, but the chance there will be a writer or “somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody” at any of these events is much higher. Keeping in mind what you want to share with others (what aspect of your work or business you want to promote) is one of the keys to making a successful connection.
Linda Ruggeri is a full-service editor and project manager based out of Los Angeles. She coauthored the historical memoir Stepping Into Rural Wisconsin: Grandpa Charly’s Life Vignettes from Prussia to the Midwest and Networking for Freelance Editors. She can be found online at The Insightful Editor and on Instagram.