How to Leverage Social Media for Conference Networking

I’ve been having lots of conversations about LinkedIn for events from organisers wanting to drive visibility and engagement, to exhibitors heading to upcoming tradeshows, and everyone in between. Whether you’re hosting, exhibiting, or attending LinkedIn can help you get more out of every event: ✨ More visibility 🤝 More connections 📈 More business outcomes Yet LinkedIn is often underused in the event space. A one-and-done post. A quick thank you. A flurry of activity... then silence. But here’s the thing: the event isn’t the beginning and it shouldn’t be the end. To get the most value, LinkedIn should be part of your strategy before, during and after the event. Here’s how to make the most of it: 🌠 1. Be LinkedIn Event Ready Your profile and company page shape your first impression often before anyone meets you. They should tell a clear, credible story that aligns with your event involvement. Organiser Tip: Create a LinkedIn Brand Kit for your speakers, exhibitors, and team – banners, hashtags, talking points, and example posts. Exhibitor Tip: Use an event-themed banner to show your stand details or branding. 🌠 2. Build Relationships Before the Event The most valuable connections rarely start cold on event day. The lead-up to the event is prime time to increase visibility, build familiarity, and position yourself as someone worth connecting with or visiting at the stand. Organiser Tip: Spotlight speakers, exhibitors, and sessions early and use tags to amplify. Exhibitor Tip: Shortlist people you want to meet - clients, prospects, collaborators, media and start connecting early. 🌠 3. Maximise the Event Experience Use LinkedIn to take people behind the scenes, amplify moments as they happen, and make your presence visible to those who couldn’t attend. Organiser Tip: Have someone live post from the floor, tagging participants and sharing session soundbites. Exhibitor Tip: Make it easy for people to connect with you it creates immediate pathways to keep the conversation going. 🌠 4. Keep the Momentum Going This is the stage where most people go quiet, but this is when the real relationship-building begins. Use LinkedIn to keep the conversation going. Share your takeaways. Follow up with new connections. Repurpose content into future posts. Organiser Tip: Share a highlight post and set the stage for what’s next even a “Save the Date” works. Exhibitor Tip: Send a personalised follow-up message referencing your chat. 🌟 Key Takeaways LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools you have to extend your event beyond the room. It allows you to build relationships before the first handshake, stay visible throughout the event and strengthen credibility and connection long after the banners are packed away. And if you'd like support to develop your own LinkedIn event strategy that's more than one and done, I’d love to help. Because showing up is just the beginning. #linkedin #events #eventmarketing

In a world where every executive has a firm handshake and a stack of business cards, how do you become the person everyone remembers after a conference? After attending dozens in the past decade, I've developed a strategy that transforms conferences from transactional meetups into relationship goldmines. ♟️Pre-Conference LinkedIn Strategy The real networking begins weeks before the event. Review the speaker and attendee lists, then connect with key individuals on LinkedIn with a personalized message: "I noticed we’re both attending the Stand & Deliver event. I'd love to connect. See you soon." This pre-conference connection creates a warm introduction and significantly increases your chances of meaningful engagement. 👗👔The Memorable Wardrobe Element In my early career, I blended in at conferences. Now? I'm known for wearing a little more color (often D&S Executive Career Management teal) or patterns that are professional yet distinctive. When someone says, "Oh, you're the one with the great dress," you've already won half the networking battle. 🤝Contribute Before You Collect** Instead of collecting business cards, focus on providing immediate value in conversations. Can you connect someone to a resource? Share relevant research? Offer a solution to a challenge they mentioned? The executives who stand out aren't those who take the most cards—they're the ones who solve problems on the spot. What networking approach has worked for you at recent conferences? Share in the comments below! #ExecutiveLeadership #NetworkingStrategy #ConferenceSuccess #ProfessionalDevelopment

How many times have you come back from a conference or event and thought, “I should’ve done more to maximize that experience”? Not just attending the sessions or showing up at the dinners, but turning it into something meaningful for your visibility, your relationships and your business development efforts. Me too 🙋🏼♀️ It’s easy to get caught up in the travel, the meetings, the panels and then move on to the next thing without following up. But the days after the event are when you can actually turn conversations into relationships and visibility into opportunity. Here are some ways to make the most of it: ✔️ Add new contacts to your LinkedIn network with a brief personal message ✔️ Follow up with a quick note or article relevant to what you discussed ✔️ Set up a coffee or Zoom with someone you want to get to know better ✔️ Thank the organizers and tag them in a post that shares why the event was valuable ✔️ Share a thoughtful takeaway from a session or speaker and connect it back to your work ✔️ Turn a question you were asked at the event into a LinkedIn post ✔️ Make a short list of people you want to stay in touch with and schedule reminders to check in ✔️ Look at the attendee list and identify one or two people you didn’t meet but want to and reach out to them saying that ✔️ Update your contacts or tracking sheet so you don’t lose momentum ✔️ Review your notes and pull out insights or trends that could spark future content or outreach You already invested time and energy to be there, and a few intentional steps afterward can help that investment pay off. Which of these tips are you going to do first? #LegalMarketing #ClientDevelopment #LinkedInTips #BusinessDevelopment

Plot twist: The best ROI from your conference booth isn't from who stops by. It's from who sees it on LinkedIn later. Most brands spend $50K on a booth that 200 people visit. But they forget about the 50,000 who stayed home. That's where I come in. Early last year, I discovered something powerful, a forgotten corner booth could become the talk of LinkedIn. Not with fancy tech. Not with huge giveaways. Just strategic content creation that made people stop scrolling. Instead of hoping people would find them, we brought the booth to their LinkedIn feeds. The shift was instant, from passive presence to active conversations. That's when I knew we'd cracked the code. Since then, I've replicated this many times. Each time, the results get better because I've learned what works: ✅ Pre-event content to build buzz ✅ Live coverage that captures FOMO ✅ Post-event series that extends the conversation ✅ Repurposed clips they use for MONTHS Here's what brands don't realize: Your booth visitors aren't your only audience. Those 50,000 HR leaders watching from their desks? They're your audience too. But they're not going to engage with your corporate account's "Stop by booth 401!" post. They WILL engage with authentic content from someone they trust. Someone who's already in their feed. Someone who knows how to tell stories that stick. The math is simple: • Booth alone = 200 conversations • Booth + strategic content partner = 200,000 conversations Your next conference is coming up. You've already paid for the booth. Question is: Will those 3 days turn into 3 months of pipeline? If you want to reach the people who'll never set foot in that convention center, let's talk. I have 3 spots left for upcoming conferences. 👀 The ROI isn't just immediate, it's content that keeps working long after the booth is packed away. 💖

I'm speaking about something rather unconventional for a procurement conference. LinkedIn. Yep. I'm running a 90-min workshop to teach procurement practitioners, marketers & sales reps how to leverage LI in a way that actually works. How to produce content that people actually want to consume and engage with. How to find the right people to connect with & then do so in a meaningful way. Why am I qualified to teach people how to use LI? When I was selling marketing procurement software, I closed over $24.3M in net new business using LI. This platform has had a profound impact on my professional & personal life. I've landed two jobs as a result of the brand I've built on this platform. I met several of my industry besties here - even a roommate. How do I optimize my posts to get so much engagement (comments)? I follow what the data says in Richard van der Blom's algorithm report. It's a analysis of 1.5M+ posts from 34K individual profiles & over 26K company pages spanning over 50 countries & 25 languages showing what’s most impactful on LI in 2024. Some of my takeaways from Richard's report: 1. Aim for a 8am - 11am posting time in your time zone. 2. Maintain a regular posting rhythm: committing to a 3 or 4 weekly posting pattern is preferable over a daily burst followed by silence. 3. LI counts a 'repost with thoughts' as fresh content. 4. The first 60 mins: early engagement sets the momentum for the post's visibility in the next 6 hrs. 5. Personalized images, rather than generic stock photos, can increase engagement by 45%. 6. Vertical photos are the most effective, especially since 64% of users are on mobile devices, yielding a 15% higher click-through rate than square images and 25% more than horizontal images. 7. Ideal Text Length for Text & Image Posts: 900 - 1,200 characters. 8. Polls: most effective polls offer 3 answer choices & run for a week. Best to post on a Monday or Wednesday. 9. Strategic Tagging: mentioning others in comments can be beneficial if they contribute to the discussion. There's no downside to unresponsive tags in the comments, but lack of engagement from those tagged directly in your post might reduce growth potential by 25%. 10. Calls to Action: possible increase in reach by 10% for posts with calls to action. 11. If tagged individuals comment on your post, it positively influences your post’s visibility. Such comments are 1.5 times more impactful than those from untagged users, making tagging a potentially powerful tool for growth. 12. The presence of hashtags in posts does not significantly boost reach. 13. Document Posts: aim for 12 slides, include 25-50 words per slide & ensure the post's guidance is fewer than 500 characters. 14. Ending your post with a question can lead to an increase in engagement of 20% to 40%. 15. Optimal video time: 1 - 2 mins. Videos over 3 mins see a 15% decline in engagement. I've got a couple free SIG conferences passes. Ping if me you'd like one of them.

Everyone tells you to “build relationships” on LinkedIn to be successful. But in practice, what does that actually look like? {your LinkedIn content goes nowhere w/out meaningful connections engaging w/ it btw} So here’s my best tips as someone who’s made close to a million dollars leveraging my own personal network on & off LinkedIn ⬇ 1. Physically show up for your business Live events, retreats, conferences — showing up in person works wonders. Even if you’re in a more remote location or your schedule doesn’t allow, virtual events work too. Plan ahead even if it’s just quarterly to keep expanding & nurturing existing relationships at events. 2. Bring community activity from other platforms onto LinkedIn If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re likely active in some online space (Slack, Circle, WhatsApp, etc.). These community platforms can only go so far though. Move those connections onto LinkedIn to nurture & deepen them — engage thoughtfully on member's content, tag them in relevant posts or opportunities you see pop up, or even DM them to check in. 3. Collaborate in content (LinkedIn posts, blogs, podcast episodes) or plan a joint program / offering Want to provide value while tapping into your network's expertise? Create joint content w/ experts in your network who can answer questions you may not be most qualified to answer. It’s a great way to deepen a relationship w/ someone you admire in your network & give value to your audience. 4. Send something in the mail Old fashioned approach but absolutely not out of style. I met Ben Cooper, MBA and Brittany Joy Cooper of Amplify at a conference in September (s/o Catherine Brown & Katie Lantukh for bringing us together). We realized we have overlap in who we both help. Recognizing an opportunity to spread the word about each other’s work, Ben & Brittany mailed me the most thoughtful referral partner package (pictured). Effort like this goes such a long way in deepening professional relationships & I’m looking forward to getting to rep their swag! 5. Keep track, set reminders, stay in touch I use Notion to keep track of my industry / professional relationships. I try weekly to do a giant sweep on everyone’s content & to write down milestones on my calendar (anniversaries, birthdays, launches, interviews) to check in & show I care. Being thoughtful & putting the effort goes a long way. TLDR: - Take yourself to live events or tune in virtually to consistently be expanding your circle & nurturing existing connections - Leverage the communities you’re in on other platforms & use LinkedIn to strengthen those relationships - Reflect, who you could expose your audience to by collaborating? - Send personalized snail mail - Create a tracking system to stay touch Any combination of these w/ some consistency will support yours & others business & audience growth on LinkedIn. What did I leave out? What actions have you found impactful for strengthening your relationships on or offline?  

Last November I was at a conference - the hours of 9-12 had been absolutely useless, I was bored out of my mind. So I made a bet with myself, because I wasn't going to waste the day after paying 1k+ for a ticket. "I bet I can set up more meetings from LinkedIn this afternoon than I was able to this morning at the conference" (it was zero) So I went and posted this - https://lnkd.in/eej-g6eA 3 hours and about a dozen comments + dms later, I had set up calls with 2 of the 3 companies tagged, plus 2 more. (tip my hat to you, Lauren Joskowitz and Sheri Reed ;) Here's why this works and how to replicate: 1) Calling out a genuine trend and giving something people to talk about. What's obvious to you may not be obvious to everyone. Name it. 2) Lifting people up vs selling them - there was no pitch in this post, but it sure as hell engaged the prospects. Just genuine compliments that I truly meant. The magic of LinkedIn is you can morph yourself from a faceless cold emailer to a warm contact someone is genuinely curious to talk to. If I were going to replicate this for any industry: 1) Pick a trend happening in your industry 2) Call out 5 companies leveraging that trend really well. Tag companies and people 3) Ask for other suggestions. Who's missing from the list? 4) Engage. Don't immediately reach out to sell. Have a conversation. Remember that the people on LinkedIn are real, human, people. Not just prospects. Be curious, treat them as such, and you will be rewarded.

If you’re waiting until the conference to connect, you’ve already lost the room. Most clinician and healthcare executives make the same mistake They think introductions are something you do during the conference When in reality The real work should have started BEFORE you even arrive The most powerful moment at a conference is not the handshake It’s the moment someone says “I already know who you are.” That only happens When you’ve already connected on LinkedIn When you’ve already exchanged thoughtful comments or messages When your name already carries familiarity before you ever step into the room The professionals who win at conferences operate differently They study the attendee list They identify who they want to meet They build digital rapport long before the first keynote begins So when the in-person meeting happens It isn’t a cold introduction It’s a continuation of a relationship that already started And that changes everything Partnerships move faster Collaborations happen more naturally Speaking invitations and business opportunities become far more likely Because familiarity builds trust And trust accelerates opportunity But none of that happens If your LinkedIn presence is weak If your positioning is unclear If your profile and content Don’t signal authority prior to the conference At that point, you’re not leveraging the event You’re simply attending it If you’re a clinician or healthcare executive preparing for upcoming conferences Now is the time to get your LinkedIn positioned with precision Because when your digital presence is strong before the conference begins The conversations you have in person become far more powerful Send me a message Let’s make sure you walk into your next conference  Already known instead of starting from zero. #PersonalBranding #HealthcareExecutives #Conferences #Networking

Introvert-friendly networking tip: Start your event connections before the event begins. If walking into a room full of strangers makes your stomach flip, here’s a quiet strategy that can make in-person events feel less intimidating, and more intentional: 💡 Connect on LinkedIn before the event. Look up the event page, RSVP list, or hashtag. Identify a few people, maybe a speaker, a fellow guest, or someone you admire. Then send a short, friendly note like: 👉 “Hi [Name], I saw you’re also attending [Event Name] this week. I’d love to connect here and hopefully say hello in person!” I’ve used this approach myself, attending events alone and still managing to create real conversations, on my terms. Why it works: - You walk in with familiar faces instead of total strangers. - You have a built-in conversation starter (no forced small talk). - You control the pace of connection—before, during, and after the event. 💜 And here’s a bonus: If you don’t get to meet them in person, you still have the connection to follow up later with a kind note or reflection on the event. You don’t have to “work the room” to network well. You just have to be intentional. And that’s where introverts shine. Have we met? 👋 Hi, I’m Ana, a career coach and strategist for introverts. If you are a professional who wants to improve your LinkedIn presence and become visible to recruiters without spending hours job searching, then follow along! #NetworkingTips #introverts

4 Things About… Making the Most of Digital Marketing Events Digital marketing events are fantastic opportunities for networking, learning, and staying updated with industry trends. However, to truly benefit from these events, you need to approach them strategically. Here are four essential tips to make the most out of digital marketing events. 1. Plan Ahead Preparation is key to maximising your time at any event. Start by researching the event schedule, identifying the sessions, workshops, and speakers that align with your interests and business goals. Create a personalised agenda, allowing some flexibility for spontaneous opportunities. Don’t forget to book your travel and accommodation well in advance to avoid last-minute hassles. Also, set clear objectives for what you want to achieve, whether it's gaining new insights, meeting potential clients, or connecting with industry leaders. 2. Network Effectively Digital marketing events are prime opportunities to expand your professional network. However, effective networking requires more than just collecting business cards. Engage in meaningful conversations, ask insightful questions, and show genuine interest in others’ work. Use social media to connect with attendees before the event and arrange to meet in person. Post-event, follow up with the contacts you’ve made to maintain and develop these relationships. Remember, networking is about building long-term connections, not just making a quick sale. 3. Engage on Social Media Leverage the power of social media to enhance your event experience. Live-tweet key insights, share photos, and participate in event-related discussions using the event’s hashtag. This not only increases your visibility but also helps you connect with other attendees and industry influencers. Join event-specific groups or forums to engage in deeper conversations and stay updated on any changes or additional opportunities. Social media engagement can amplify your presence at the event and keep the conversation going long after it’s over. 4. Take Action Post-Event The real value of attending digital marketing events lies in how you apply the knowledge and connections gained. After the event, review your notes and summarise key takeaways. Share these insights with your team and discuss how to implement new strategies or ideas. Follow up with the contacts you made to explore potential collaborations or partnerships. Additionally, keep an eye out for post-event materials, such as recordings or slides, which can provide valuable resources for future reference. Turning insights into action will help solidify the benefits of your attendance. Digital marketing events offer incredible opportunities for growth, learning, and networking. By planning ahead, networking effectively, engaging on social media, and taking action post-event, you can maximise the value of these events and ensure they contribute positively to your professional development and business success.