Quick Answer: Networking events checklist: pre-event research (identify 5-7 priority connections), conversation starters, immediate note-taking, 24-48 hour follow-up with specific details and value delivery. Successful networkers convert 30-40% of event contacts through systematic follow-up. Quality over quantity: 5-10 deep conversations beats 50 surface interactions.
Most professionals attend networking events unprepared, have forgettable surface-level conversations, collect business cards, then fail to follow up meaningfully—wasting time and opportunity. Successful event networking requires systematic approach: pre-event research reviewing attendee list and identifying 5-7 priority connections with prepared conversation starters; active note-taking capturing conversation highlights immediately (memory fades fast when meeting dozens); structured follow-up workflow messaging within 24-48 hours with specific conversation reference and promised value delivery. Data shows successful networkers convert 30-40% of event contacts into ongoing relationships through disciplined follow-through while most convert under 10%. Strategic approach also includes energy management—targeting quality conversations with 5-10 people generates more value than surface interactions with 50+.
David spent $1,200 to attend a major industry conference. Met 47 people. Collected 47 business cards. Followed up with zero. Six months later, he couldn't remember a single person he'd met. The conference was a complete waste.
Don't be David. Having a linkedin networking events checklist transforms conferences from expensive social hours into high-ROI relationship-building opportunities. Here's your complete before, during, and after game plan.
Download Complete Checklist as TXTWhy Most People Fail at Event Networking
Networking events should be goldmines for building professional relationships. Instead, most people waste them because:
- No preparation: They show up cold without researching attendees or speakers
- No strategy: They randomly talk to whoever is nearby rather than targeting key people
- No follow-up: They collect contacts but never reach out on LinkedIn
- No system: They don't track who they met or what they discussed
The result? Hundreds or thousands of dollars and hours invested, with zero relationships to show for it. Let's fix that.
Before the Event: Preparation Checklist (1-2 Weeks Prior)
The event starts long before you walk in the door. Preparation is what separates networking winners from business-card collectors.
Research Phase
What to do:
- Download the attendee list (if available) or search the event hashtag on LinkedIn
- Identify 10-15 target people you specifically want to meet
- Speakers and panelists
- People at companies you're interested in
- Industry leaders or potential collaborators
- People with similar interests or backgrounds
- Research each target person:
- Review their LinkedIn profile and recent posts
- Find conversation starters (recent projects, shared interests, mutual connections)
- Note their company, role, and what they might care about
- Check for mutual connections who can make introductions
- Review the agenda and identify sessions where target people will be
Put all this information in ANDI with tags like "TechConf2025-Target" so you have it at your fingertips during the event.
Profile Optimization Phase
What to do:
- Update your LinkedIn profile so new connections see your best work
- Current headline that clearly states what you do
- Professional profile photo
- Compelling About section
- Recent relevant activity (posts, articles, projects)
- Save your LinkedIn QR code to your phone for easy connections
- Prepare your 30-second introduction (who you are, what you do, what you're interested in)
- Post on LinkedIn that you'll be attending (use event hashtag to attract attendees)
Logistics Phase
What to do:
- Bring business cards or prepare to share LinkedIn QR code
- Clear your calendar for 2-3 hours post-event for same-day follow-ups
- Download the event app (if available) and set up your profile
- Plan your outfit (something professional with pockets for business cards and phone)
- Charge your phone fully (you'll be using it constantly)
Preparation separates amateurs from pros. Spend 2-3 hours preparing, and your event ROI will 10x.
During the Event: Execution Checklist
You're at the event. Now it's time to execute your plan while staying flexible and authentic.
Connection Phase
What to do:
- Scan badge QR codes or connect via LinkedIn app immediately after meeting someone
- Take brief notes in your phone after each conversation
- Person's name and company
- What you discussed
- Mutual interests or connection points
- Any resources or introductions you promised
- Follow-up priority (high/medium/low)
- Reference your target list and proactively seek out priority connections
- Ask for introductions when natural ("Do you know anyone here working on [topic]?")
- Take photos with people (if appropriate) to help memory recall later
Quality over quantity: 5 meaningful 15-minute conversations beat 30 shallow 2-minute exchanges.
Engagement Phase
What to do:
- Live-post key takeaways from sessions you attend (use event hashtag)
- Tag speakers and attendees when sharing insights
- Engage with others' posts using the event hashtag (like and comment thoughtfully)
- Ask questions during Q&A sessions (makes you memorable and provides conversation starters)
- Join group conversations rather than only doing one-on-ones
Active participation makes you more visible and memorable than passive attendance.
Value-Exchange Phase
What to do:
- Mention specific ways you can help people you meet (introductions, resources, advice)
- Follow through immediately on anything you promise during conversations
- Make introductions between people you meet who should know each other
- Share your expertise generously when asked questions
- Listen more than you talk—ask thoughtful questions and remember details
The goal isn't to collect as many contacts as possible—it's to create memorable, value-driven interactions.
After the Event: Follow-Up Checklist (Within 48 Hours)
This is where most people fail. The fortune is in the follow-up.
Immediate Follow-Up (Same Day or Next Morning)
What to do:
- Send LinkedIn connection requests to everyone you spoke with
- Personalize each request with specific conversation details
- Reference the event name and what you discussed
- Keep it brief (LinkedIn limits connection notes)
- Post a public thank-you or recap on LinkedIn
- Share key takeaways from the event
- Tag speakers or people who made an impact
- Use event hashtag to extend visibility
- Review your notes and add details to ANDI while memory is fresh
- Tag by event name, priority level, industry
- Note any promised follow-ups or introductions
Connection request template:
"Hi [Name], great meeting you at [Event] during [specific session/location]. Really enjoyed our conversation about [specific topic]. Would love to stay connected!"
Secondary Follow-Up (24-48 Hours After)
What to do:
- Send personalized messages to accepted connections
- Thank them for connecting
- Share any resources or introductions you promised
- Continue the conversation with a thoughtful question or insight
- Engage with their content (like and comment on recent posts)
- Follow through on all promises made during conversations
- Send articles, resources, or tools you mentioned
- Make introductions you offered
- Share contacts or information you said you'd provide
- Send thank-you messages to speakers or panelists you connected with
Value-add follow-up template:
"Thanks for connecting, [Name]! I've been thinking about your question on [topic] from our conversation. I came across this article that directly addresses that: [link]. Thought you'd find it useful!"
Strategic Follow-Up (Week 2-4)
What to do:
- Set reminders in ANDI for 2-week follow-ups with high-priority connections
- Schedule coffee chats or calls with your top 3-5 connections
- Continue engaging with their LinkedIn content regularly
- Share relevant content and tag them when appropriate
- Look for collaboration opportunities or ways to add value
The relationship doesn't end after the event—it's just beginning. Consistent, value-driven follow-up over weeks and months turns event contacts into genuine professional relationships.
Common Event Networking Mistakes to Avoid
Even with a checklist, these mistakes can tank your event ROI:
- Collecting business cards but never following up: Cards aren't connections—follow-up is
- Only talking to people you already know: Step outside your comfort zone
- Dominating conversations: Listen more than you talk—ask questions
- Making immediate asks: Build rapport before requesting favors or meetings
- Forgetting to take notes: You won't remember details a week later
- Waiting more than 48 hours to follow up: Strike while the memory is fresh
- Sending generic follow-ups: Personalization is what makes you memorable
- Attending too many sessions: Networking time is more valuable than content
How to Maximize Virtual Event Networking
Virtual events require a different approach, but the principles are the same.
Virtual event checklist additions:
- Before: Update your Zoom name to include your role/company
- During: Use chat actively to share insights and ask questions
- During: Request to be moved to breakout rooms with specific people
- During: Turn on your camera and engage visually
- After: Connect with people who asked good questions or shared insights in chat
- After: Reference specific things they said in chat when connecting
Virtual events actually make follow-up easier—you have a written record of who participated and what they said.
Measuring Event Networking Success
Track these metrics to evaluate whether an event was worth attending:
Immediate metrics (within 1 week):
- Number of meaningful conversations (10-15 is good for a 2-day conference)
- Connection requests sent (should be 100% of people you spoke with)
- Connection acceptance rate (75%+ means good conversations)
- Follow-up messages sent (at least 50% of connections)
Long-term metrics (30-90 days):
- Ongoing engagement with event connections (are they liking/commenting on your posts?)
- Coffee chats or calls scheduled (2-5 is a successful event)
- Opportunities generated (introductions, collaborations, job leads)
- Strength of relationships (can you ask them for advice or help?)
Use ANDI to track all these metrics by event so you can evaluate which conferences are worth returning to.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people should I try to meet at a networking event?
Quality over quantity. Aim for 10-20 meaningful conversations at a multi-day conference, 5-10 at a single-day event or webinar. It's better to have 10 strong connections who remember you than 50 weak ones who don't.
What if I'm an introvert and find networking events exhausting?
Use the checklist to stay strategic and intentional, which reduces social anxiety. Set a specific goal (e.g., "meet 5 people"), take breaks between conversations, and focus on one-on-one interactions rather than large groups. Having a system makes events less overwhelming. Also, prioritize smaller events over massive conferences.
Should I follow up with everyone I meet or just priority connections?
Connect with everyone you had a meaningful conversation with (even if brief). But prioritize your follow-up efforts—send thoughtful, value-add messages to your top 5-10 connections, and simple thank-you messages to others. You don't have equal time for everyone, so focus energy where it matters most.
Your next step: Download the complete checklist and save it to your phone or print it out. Before your next networking event, spend 2-3 hours researching attendees and creating your target list in ANDI. During the event, take detailed notes after each conversation. Within 24 hours after the event, send personalized LinkedIn connection requests to everyone you met. Set 2-week follow-up reminders for your top connections.
Events are expensive—in time, money, and energy. Don't waste them. With the right system, every conference can become a cornerstone of your professional network.
