As a lawyer there are many industry events and conferences I love to attend, whether it's the local bar association meetings, an event about a distinct practice area, something that's affinity group specific or a combination of these topics. As we emerge into a more solidified hybrid environment, it’s great to have the opportunity to get outside and see each other in person again. 

Unfortunately, much too often, people attend events without a clear plan in place, and subsequently miss out on opportunities to connect with people, build relationships with individuals and organizations, and elevate their brand, both in person and on social media.

If you’re going to spend the time, money, and energy to attend a conference or event, you want to ensure you’re doing everything you can to develop your network with community members while you’re there.

To help you avoid missed opportunities, here are 12 key ways to maximize your relationship building and your personal/professional brand building at any event or conference:

1. Think about your goals for the event. Do you want to connect with organizers, raise your visibility in your areas of practice or interest, communicate with leaders, your peers, or potential clients about your work, or learn about new developments in your industry? Actually write down your goals so you can create a clear plan.
2. Follow the host organization on social media and identify the correct event hashtags.
3. Share your plans to attend the conference on social media and with your organization's email list or your newsletter. In your social media posts, tag the host organization and use event hashtags to start to network with the broader community.
4. Post on your social platforms about what you’re looking forward to. Are there featured speakers or specific content at the conference you're excited for? This will help people know about the highlighted content and speakers and it will also help others understand what your interests are.
5. If you want to speak with specific colleagues, speakers, organizers, attendees, or awardees at the event, organize those meetings in advance (when possible) so you can plan your schedule accordingly. Connecting with attendees is a strategy to use both before and after the event.