Comments on: How to network at conventions

By: black celebs

black celebs — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:25:52 +0000

Sign: wdpad Hello!!! zcsaw and 6185dnbuhupctm and 2291 : Great Blog!

By: online stock trading advice

online stock trading advice — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:31:10 +0000

Your blog is so informative … ..I just bookmarked you….keep up the good work!!!!

I’m Out!

By: megan fox

megan fox — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:38:14 +0000

Sign: umsun Hello!!! rcuwwymhyw and 4569ssgfhphzye and 9486I like your blog. cool post!

By: How to network at a convention

How to network at a convention — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:27:55 +0000

[…] Reprinted with permission from Diana Rowland’s web site […]

By: The Diana

The Diana — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:37:23 +0000

Mark, you make a really good point. And since you made such a good point, I have no problem with the shameless plug.

By: Mark Marston

Mark Marston — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:00:50 +0000

Nice article.
I just returned from what is billed as the biggest online media and marketing convention in the world. AdTech at the New York Hilton. As an exhibitor who sells a really nice laminated style picture business card, I may be a little biased, but here is my networking advice: Put your picture on your business card. The worst business card in the world is the one where at the end of the day, your card looks just like everyone else’s. There were plenty of people that I really wanted to remember their product or service but their card was of NO help in recalling our conversation. Like an old song that brings back lyrics you thought you couldn’t possibly remember, the human face is an instant trigger for what is already stored in the memory. Don’t worry about whether you’re good looking enough. The benefits could be tremendous and your card will never look just like everyone else’s if your picture is on it. Just get a decent picture taken and do it.

Here comes the shameless plug: …and if you want a picture style card that often prompts a “Wow” comment, check out ReferralBusinessCards.com. Our customers tell us the most common response when they hand out one of our business cards is, “Wow! That’s a nice card! Can I keep it?”

By: Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Oct. 30, 2007: Ditko’s hands

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:33:11 +0000

[…] Writer Diana Rowland explains how to network at conventions. (Link via Glenn […]

By: Kent Brewster

Kent Brewster — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:52:54 +0000

In line with #7: if you happen to be standing in a small circle talking to a person-of-importance and you see someone outside the circle who’s clearly too shy to approach, be the one who opens up the circle and makes the introduction for the new guy.

You will simultaneously win the undying admiration of the guy on the outside and come off to the people already on the inside–including the person-of-importance–as someone who is confident, professional, and generally aware of how social situations like these should go.

By: The Diana

The Diana — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:20:46 +0000

Thanks for commenting, Patrick, and that’s a great suggestion!

By: Patrick Nielsen Hayden

Patrick Nielsen Hayden — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 03:00:59 +0000

Excellent post. Core sentence: “Go to a convention because they’re fun and there are a lot of really really cool people to meet, only a small fraction of whom are actually agents and editors.” Yes, exactly. SF conventions are full of interesting people, most of whom fall on the “fan” side of the (vastly overrated) “fan/pro” divide.

The one thing I would add is: if you live in an area with an annual local con, consider volunteering to help with some of the scutwork. Large karma points are to be had for being a Local Pro who’s happy to stuff envelopes or help set up the art show. And you’ll meet much more interesting people than you’ll encounter in the SFWA suite.