BUSINESSES DON’T COMMUNICATE THE SAME WAY THEY DID TWO DECADES

AGO. Before social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Yelp became the norm, we looked in the Yellow Pages for business information. Much has changed since then, but one thing remains the same— the power of networking. In fact, networking has never been more important than in today’s business climate.

Honolulu’s population size and compact business district make it a perfect setting for networking events. Honolulu is not too small (networking events don’t work well in Hilo or Lihue because everyone already knows each other) and it is not too big (sprawling business districts in Tokyo and Los Angeles are teeming with nightly events). Our city’s perfect size ensures that any well-promoted networking event will have a good turnout.

What has changed in the past ten years is the presence of social media. Now you can meet someone and stay connected through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Networking used to be a business card exchange and a meeting request. Now it’s an exchange of social media accounts that creates personal and professional connections in a shorter time frame. Since networking events are rarely free, here’s how to make the most of your time and money in Hawai‘i’s fertile business environment.

SIGN UP FOR EMAIL INVITES

One thing that hasn’t changed over the past decade is that people are still attached to their emails. The best way to get information about upcoming events is subscribing to email invitation lists. That way, you can stay on top of all the different networking opportunities that come along. Every networking event utilizes email invites, but you can also visit an organization’s website and look for an events page.

REGISTER EARLY

If you know you want to attend a particular networking event, be sure to register early.

You’ll not only save money—some events have an early bird or pre-sale rate—but many networking events cap the number of attendees. If you put off registering, you risk missing the boat because the attendee list could reach max capacity.

ATTEND THE RIGHT EVENTS

Attend events that will draw the right audience for your networking and business needs. If you find success at a networking event, stay in touch with that organization and sign up for its upcoming-events mailing list.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

If you are able to view a guest list (networking events with their own Facebook event pages are great for this), look over who is attending. If you see someone you want to meet, do some research on that person before the event.

ASK FOR AN INTRODUCTION

If you’re attending an event to meet a specific person, introduce yourself to the event host and ask for a personal introduction. This is also a great way to break the ice with someone you’ve never met, without having to awkwardly insert yourself into an ongoing conversation.

CARRY BUSINESS CARDS

Business cards are still a must, even in this digital world. They are essential for getting your contact information into the hands of the people you potentially want to do business with. When you return to work, review the business cards you received and add new contacts to your LinkedIn and Facebook platforms before those little cards go missing. The ultimate goal is to build a solid network of business associates and organizations that will also take good care of you.