How to prepare for a networking event
Most of what makes an event worthwhile happens before you arrive and after you leave. Here is a short, practical way to prepare.
Updated 26 October 2026 · 4 minute read
The short answer
Decide the one thing you want from the event, find out who is likely to be there, and prepare two plain sentences on what your business does and who you want to meet. Bring a way to swap details, plan to take notes straight afterwards, and follow up within a couple of days.
Decide the one reason you are going
"To network" is not a reason. Pick one outcome: meet two potential clients in a particular sector, find a bookkeeper someone trusts, or understand how other owners price a service like yours. One clear aim tells you who to talk to and when you can go home.
Find out who will be there
Read the event description properly: who it is for, the format, the agenda. If there is an attendee list, look through it. If not, ask the host who usually comes; hosts generally like being asked. If there is one person you particularly want to meet, ask the host to introduce you.
Say what you do in two sentences
The first sentence says what your business does and for whom. The second says what you are looking for right now. Plain words beat clever ones.
"I run a bookkeeping firm for small building companies. I am looking for a couple of trades businesses that are outgrowing their spreadsheets."
Then stop and ask about them. The people who are remembered after an event are usually the ones who asked good questions.
Questions that start real conversations
- What are you working on at the moment?
- What brought you to this one?
- What is the hardest part of your business right now?
- Who would be a useful person for you to meet tonight?
- What would you do differently if you were starting again?
The last question before you move on is often the most useful: offer to introduce them to someone you have already met.
On the day
- Arrive early. The first half hour is quieter and people are easier to approach.
- Have a quick way to swap details: your phone, a card, or connecting on the spot.
- Join groups of three rather than pairs mid-conversation, and leave a conversation by introducing the person to someone else or saying you will follow up.
- Keep your ticket handy; on GrowthSync it sits in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
Straight afterwards
Write down who you met, what they need and what you promised, before you sleep. Then follow up within a day or two. Our guide to following up after networking covers what to say.
Common questions
What should I say when someone asks what I do?
Two plain sentences: what your business does and for whom, then what you are looking for right now. Then ask about them.
How many people should I aim to meet at a networking event?
Aim for a few good conversations rather than a number. Decide in advance the kind of person you want to meet and focus on them.
Do I still need business cards?
Not necessarily. Any quick way to swap details works, as long as you can follow up within a couple of days.
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