It’s a new year! There are approximately 360 more connections you can make if you reach out to one person each day. But instead of focusing on the quantity of your network, use the following strategies to help build high quality relationships during networking opportunities.

Before the Meeting

• Research the event and participants to identify key people you want to meet.
• Establish clear goals and actionable objectives before events. For instance, commit to collecting contact information from five new professionals.
• Optimize your online presence—website or social media profiles—and update your resume with professional achievements and industry insight.
• Join industry-specific groups in person or online to learn about more events, refer other members, and engage in focused discussions.

During the Meeting

• Make a professional first impression. Be prepared with a brief, polished introduction of who you are and what you do.
• Find common ground. Build authentic connections with like-minded people.
• Focus on helping first. Offer something valuable—such as insight, introductions, or feedback—before seeking favors.
• Stay engaged by approaching open groups or offering friendly introductions.
• When you first meet someone new, focus on listening to their perspective rather than talking about your aspirations. Ask open-ended questions to foster deeper conversations.
• Schedule brief meetups or chats with new connections to build rapport without the pressure of a request.

After the Meeting

• Send personalized thank-you messages within 24–48 hours of meeting. Mention a specific detail from your conversation to reinforce the connection.
• Stay organized with a notebook or spreadsheet to track names, contact details, and dates of your last interaction.
• Keep in touch periodically by sharing related articles or congratulating them on professional milestones.
• Consider volunteering at future events to meet organizers and speakers in a more organic working environment.

By focusing on deep, meaningful conversations with a few key individuals, you have a better chance of building genuine, mutually beneficial relationships that are more likely to last than surface-level, transactional exchanges.