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Episode at a glance:
[01:47] Sara is not only a networking pro, but she's also a photographer. She got tired of networking events where other photographers would ice her out because they saw her as competition and didn't give her a chance to get to know her. That's why she founded District Bliss - to provide a networking space that focused on community, not competition!
I would say, "Hi, I'm Sara, I'm a photographer, nice to meet you." And they would say, "Oh, I'm a photographer. I don't need to meet you," and they would ice me out of the circle. I wanted to connect with photographers because I think part of client care is when you aren't the right fit to be able to refer out to the person that is. I was looking for people to refer to that were really like solid photographers that were in line with my personality and style to send them work. So my experience with networking was very discouraging, until I realized that there was a better way to actually connect.
[05:17] When she started speaking at virtual summits, Sara was a little afraid that she'd step on the host's toes if she started drumming up engagement with the attendees. She wanted to foster connections and help others meet their goals. As she started getting conversations going in summit attendee communities, though, she realized it's a win-win for everyone involved!
It can feel a little bit overwhelming, and it can feel like it takes a lot of time, but it doesn't have to. It can feel just like making a friend. And enthusiasm is contagious! As a host, when you do have those speakers who are enthusiastic, it makes the biggest difference in your engagement, and actually it really makes a difference in your sales.
[10:50] Krista shares her own experience with this. She admits that she's often the speaker who checks all the boxes, but isn't the one hanging out in the summit community. When she had the opportunity to do a bonus live session at someone else's summit, though, the engagement from that made a huge difference in her results!
[14:01] But how do you go about making connections and getting involved as a summit speaker? Sara shares her tips, which include showing up to live events, even if you're not on video, attending other speaker sessions, and making an effort to connect with other speakers and attendees. It makes more of a difference than you may think. It doesn't have to take up all your time, either - Sara admits she multitasks while attending other speakers' sessions. 😉
I usually will email the summit host and ask if there's any chance we can do a speaker networking event prior to the actual event. And most of them are open but have never thought of doing something like this. So I usually offer to host it, if they'd would like. Or just show up and let them host it.
[18:19] Sara takes her connection strategy a step further and even shows up to engage as an attendee! The approach is a little bit different, but it can be just as effective.
So what I do is ask questions that are thoughtful and genuine things I'm interested in knowing. I will try really hard to come up with a thoughtful question, because that's also awful as a host to be waiting and have all that dead space for questions, and then have no questions.
I hope this sparks ideas of how you can increase engagement and connections - as not only a virtual summit host, but also as a summit speaker and attendee!
About Sara Alepin
Imagine stepping into a vibrant tapestry of ambition and camaraderie. That's the world Sara Alepin crafts every day through District Bliss. Forget shallow handshakes and vanishing business cards; here, connections blossom into long-term collaborations, fueled by Sara's uncanny ability to see the spark between souls.
District Bliss isn't just a network – it's a launchpad. Entrepreneurs with fire in their bellies find fertile ground to share insights, resources, and unwavering support. Whether it's a roundtable discussion buzzing with ideas or a bespoke workshop igniting new skills, Sara orchestrates the stage for your business to flourish.
District Bliss | Effective Networking Workshop | Effective Networking Cheatsheet
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