Thursday Buzz: Spicing Up the Monotony of Networking

There are conferences, expos, conventions, tradeshows, networking happy hours, luncheons, and local association events. It goes on and on.

Working as an active professional may involve attending many events. That means being on top of your networking game should be a high priority.

But the work of networking can get tiring and boring. John Rampton, founder of online business-invoicing service Due, admits he’s been in the same pickle.

“Due to the repetitious nature of conferences, I don’t enjoy them as much as I used to anymore, and I’m sure many of you are in the same boat,” he wrote at BusinessCollective  (opens in a new tab).

“With just a little bit of planning, I have been able to change my perception about networking and get 10 times more return out of every conference I attend,” he said.

Rampton recommends a few things to boost  (opens in a new tab) networking, including utilizing event hashtags, wearing visible conference badges on lanyards, and reading into body language and nonverbal cues.

He also suggests organizing a smaller meetup within a bigger event to really connect with other professionals outside the conference space. Or there’s always the go-to of hitting the hotel bar.

Food Waste No Longer Wasted

“Uber for food rescue” app to donate event leftovers https://t.co/SPjJzFKykN  (opens in a new tab) <NYC only, but hope it goes national> #assnchat  (opens in a new tab) #eventprofs  (opens in a new tab)

— Deirdre Reid (@GustoDeirdre) January 27, 2016  (opens in a new tab)

Wonder about all of that food at the end of an event? Where does it go? In the trash? (If you take some home, there’s no shame in that.)

There’s a new Uber-like app called Transfernation that allows event professionals to post what food they have left  (opens in a new tab). Others in the area—usually food banks, shelters, and such—can then declare if they want the food. The app coordinates volunteers and health information in the process.

At this point, it’s only available in the New York City region, but the company has hopes to expand. Check it out  (opens in a new tab).

Links for Your Day

Ever get down on the mistakes you make? Stop—and appreciate them for what they are. Over at Inc., Travis Bradberry wrote about 10 mistakes  (opens in a new tab) smart people never make again and again.

Facebook released its yearly earnings report and … they’re huge. The platform has 1.04 billion daily users, and its mobile strength is bigger than ever before. Take a look at the numbers  (opens in a new tab) over at The Street.

What’s a huge time-waster? Not asking for help. And if you aren’t asking for help in your career, it’s also a sign you’re not challenging yourself enough. More time-wasters can be found at Lifehacker  (opens in a new tab).

(iStock/Thinkstock)