This episode offers practical tips on how content creators can effectively network at creator events like Vid Summit, Podcast Movement, and NAB.

Someone told me (or a few people actually) that they were impressed with how I "knew everybody" at Vidsummit this year. While I'd say I knew a majority of people I can't say EVERYONE. Although it certainly seemed like it, and so today I'll share with you how.

Now I'm not saying you have to be me, or even network at the amount I was doing. That is something I wanted to do, my gregarious side takes over, but I will say that you should try to maximize the amount of networking you do at events.

No matter if your goal is to find new friends, new clients, a company to hire you, or something else. They all start the same way: meeting a new person and keeping a conversation going. A lot of these skills will transfer over to other areas of life, which is why I put this post in the 👐 Relationships tag. Although today we are purely focusing on the creator networking side of things.

Why how you approach makes a huge difference!

As I mentioned in the video, the way you approach will be very much the indicator. However the body language of the people you are trying to talk also matters! Normally if they are in a closed circle, talking amongst themselves, and they don't open up physically when you approach. Then it usually means they are not interested.

Conversely, if they have a gap in the circle, they look at you as you come over, and even sometimes feet angles can be a part of it. Then you can approach.

The way YOU approach should be calm and respectful of their previous conversation, it will still be going on when you approach. Meaning be gracious, and let them finish. If they stop talking about what they were, and instead ask about you then sure go ahead. Otherwise wait for them to finish, and if you have something to add that's great! If not, then just focus on being a good listener,

You should probably skip the panels and keynotes!

Now some of my event organizer friends might be mad at me for saying this, but I know I'm not the only one. Most events record the talks/panels, which means you can watch them after the fact.

Where a lot of the networking magic happens are in the hallways outside the keynote halls.

Sometimes even in the back of the room. Now I do make time sometimes to go support a friend who is speaking, or if I like the MC, then I'll go to a panel. Just don't end a conversation with someone that is going well, just because there is a talk you want to get to. It can be watched later, that conversation might not be able to happen later.

Keep in mind, some people only come to the events for only one day of it. I'm not sure why, sometimes its scheduling, but that means your time with them is limited!

How can you start up a conversation?

I mentioned a group setting earlier, as if you were approaching a group of people. This advice on how to stir up a conversation is technically viable for a group (although there's usually better conversation options when in a group setting), as well as one to one.

You ask based on the commonality of why you're there. For example, if you are at karaoke, then you can ask "Are you singing?". It is established that there is a 50/50 chance the person is going to be or not at that setting.

"Yes? What are you singing?", "No? What would you sing if you were? / No? Why not?".

Those are easy ways into a conversation, and great example of what I mean by commonality. If you are at a creator event, then look at the context of the event. When I go to Podcast Movement, then people assume I have a podcast. If I am at Vidsummit, then people assume I have a YouTube channel. Both are true, and personally I consider myself a writer/blogger first.

Thus when they ask I describe myself as a "Writer/YouTuber/Podcaster".

The question "are you X"? Is how you can approach people at a networking event. If yes then ask about their channel, if no then they're probably a media manager or tech company, etc. Ask about their work for creators.

What are some events you can try this out at?

I've already mentioned Podcast Movement and Vidsummit, but there are TONS of events out there:

  • Tubefest
  • Podfest
  • 1 Billion Followers
  • Vidcon/Cannes Lion
  • NABshow
  • Vidsummit
  • Podsummit
  • Podcast Movement
  • Craft and Commerce
  • Sponsor Games
  • CreateIRL
  • etc

I want to mention here that there IS a different vibe at creator events. People are more likely to be outgoing or receptive to you talking to them. If you go to the more enterprise side of NAB for example, then they may not be as keen to chat as they would in the creator lab area of the event.

Business conferences can be hit or miss in this type of networking. Just wanted to put that out there.

If you want to learn more then please keep an eye out on this site! Also let me know if there are more networking tips you want me to expand on!