Guide to Preparing for Networking Events

Do Your Homework on the Other Attendees

I'll get into some more mundane stuff down below, but this is by far the most important thing you can do to prepare for an event. If at all possible, find out who will be attending. If it's a conference, many of them now have ways for you to network with other attendees in advance on the conference web site. If it's a regular weekly or monthly event, see if the membership list is available on their web site, or at least the names and businesses of the officers. Check our their web sites, and if there are any that you want to make a particular point to meet with at the event, drop them an e-mail or make a phone call to introduce yourself, say you'll be attending, and if they will too, you'd like to make a point to meet them in person. If you can't reach them, jot their name down and the host may be able to introduce you at the event.

I recommend: In most cases, you're going to be looking for a directory from the sponsoring organization for the event. Once you get some names, if you just get personal and company names, but no web sites, try searching on LinkedIn or Ziggs, where millions of professionals are listed.

Dress Well, Dress Distinctively

Find out in advance what expected attire for the event is. Try to dress slighly better than the average for the group. Obviously, you don't want to stand out in the extreme, like wearing a tux or an evening gown when it's business casual, but a little stand-out is a good thing. If you can tie it in with your branding, like a Mary Kay representative wearing pink, or perhaps a dress shirt embroidered with your business logo, all the better. Of course, make sure your clothes are also properly cared for - pressed and starched if appropriate. The operative word is "distinctive", not "outlandish" (although some people can make that work, too). You don't want to just be remembered as "the guy in the Italian suit with the Rolex", but anything that helps you subtly stand out from the crowd will also help you stand out in their mind the next day.

I recommend: Unfortunately, men typically don't get a lot of variety in their business attire. For business casual events, a dress shirt embroidered with your logo is a good choice and can be had from Logo Dogz or Hats'n'Shirts with no minimum order. With a suit or jacket, I suggest a distinctive tie (not a novelty tie, e.g., reindeer or shamrocks), such as one from J. Venezia or J. Garcia. Or for something uniquely yours, design your own at DesignYourTie.com.

For women, start with this guide to What to Wear to Work. From there, you can accessorize with a distinctive scarf, such as a J. Venezia or Jan Gipple, or hand-made jewelry, such as John S. Brana or Heather Young. I recommend finding something from an individual artist that people aren't likely to have seen before.

Groom Well

I wish this could go without saying, but it can't. You don't have to wow people with your appearance, but you don't want anything physically unpleasant or distracting either.

I recommend: If you're going to the event from home, a fresh shower is a great idea. Otherwise, wash your face and hands well. Brush your teeth. Comb your hair. Shave or trim your facial hair. Freshen your deodorant. Put on fresh cologne/perfume if you choose, but not a strong one. Clean and trim your nails if needed. If you're a smoker, try not to smoke for at least an hour before the event.

MenEssentials has a collection of men's grooming guides. The About.com Men's Fashion Guide has some broken down by category: body care, hair care, shaving and skin care. Their Beauty Guide covers topics for women, including hairstyles, skin care, manicures & pedicures, perfumes and makeup.

For women, makeup is at your discretion, but in a business setting, lighter is better than heavier. Think "natural look" not "glamour". iVillage has a guide with photos, Get a Natural Makeup Look in Five Steps. The Makeup Diva answers makeup questions and MakeupAlley offers extensive product reviews and discussion boards.

Get Properly Equipped

There are four essentials you should have in hand, purse or pocket: your business cards, a good pen, breath mints and a handkerchief. Whether you love them or hate them, the reality is that business cards are one of the standard trappings of modern business. The pen is for taking notes on the back of business cards. It should be reliable and stylish. Breath mints, strips or spray are a must. Even if you brushed beforehand, one wrong choice at the buffet table can do a number on you. Even if you don't need them, you won't regret having them. The handkerchief serves three purposes: 1) if you must sneeze or blow and can't make it to the restroom, you don't want flimsy tissues, 2) if you spill on yourself you can clean it up with a quick dab of water (paper napkins leave white residue), and 3) if you start to sweat a little, you can dry yourself - again, you don't want to be doing that with a paper napkin.

I recommend: If you don't already have them, we have a how-to guide on getting great business cards. Don't just stick them in your pocket - get a a two-compartment business card holder (or an organizer if you prefer) so you can keep them handy and separate from the cards you collect from others.

For the pen, you want a gel or rollerball that writes reliably on business cards. Get a retractable so you don't have to fidget with a cap. I like something with a grip and it doesn't hurt if it looks good too, like my personal favorite, the Pilot Dr. Grip.

For your breath, I love Altoids, of course, though I think the Listerine PocketPaks are probably more practical, since they dissolve almost instantly. Did you know that Time magazine named Listerine breath strips a 2002 Invention of the Year?

For the handkerchief, ladies may be able to pull off colored silk, but guys, go for basic white cotton or linen.

Know Exactly Where You're Going

There's no such thing as fashionably late to a networking event. Get there early and greet others as they arrive. There's also nothing that will frazzle you more right before you arrive than having difficulty finding the venue. Know where you're going and allow plenty of time to get there.

I recommend: For getting there, I love Google Maps, not just for the user-friendly interface, but for the satellite images, which can help you figure out exact locations of  buildings, driveways, parking lots, and other things that may not be readily apparent from just a street map. If possible, drive by the venue in advance so you know any oddities of getting there, check out the parking situation, etc. If you're going during morning or afternoon rush hour, you probably also want to check Traffic.com for traffic conditions along the way.