Why You Need To Start Networking – and How To Do It Right

If you’re in the mobile industry  – whether it’s on the app developer side, app publisher side, marketing, sales or whatever other fields in this vast industry – you need to understand the importance of networking. 

And, no, we’re not talking about building or marketing a business networking app – but actually going to mobile industry events in person, meeting people and doing the networking.

We’ve seen many people make the mistake of burrowing themselves into their own business bubble and expecting results to materialize before their eyes. And while so much can be accomplished behind a screen and keyboard, the reality is that interpersonal relationships are still the driving force behind what makes or breaks a startup business.

So, why is this true?

Why do you need to be networking?

1. You don’t know it all

We know this may come as a shock, but you don’t know everything there is to know in the mobile industry. This is a fast and ever-changing business and trends come and go faster than we can keep up with. Staying on top of these changes and being informed will not only allow you to adapt your own business to customer demands but will also establish you as an industry leader and expert.

Attending networking events – mobile conferences, workshops, meet-ups – are all excellent ways to get firsthand access to these updates. Reading industry blogs and newsletters is helpful, but the best stay in-the-know is still through the good old fashioned way: talk to people!

2. Learn something new

Beyond just staying on top of trends, you always need to keep learning. Attending lectures on a topic that isn’t necessarily in your area of specialization can be extremely worthwhile. Getting insight into an area that indirectly impacts your business can give you a new perspective on something you’re already working on and make it better.

Keep your mind open and exercise your brain. There are plenty of qualified “teachers” at these networking events that will teach you something new and fascinating. You may find that you’re quite a teacher yourself! It’s about give and take – where both sides reap the rewards.

3. You never know who you’re going to meet

This is a good thing! For many people, staying behind the scenes is much more comfortable than actually getting dressed, showing up and having to make conversation with human beings face-to-face. But the reality is, you may find an amazing business partnership opportunity or discover a revolutionary idea while casually discussing the weather with someone standing by the cheese and crackers tray.

People from all professional levels and company sizes frequent networking events like these, and you’d be surprised who you may end up getting engrossed in conversation with – or even becoming friends with! It’s a competitive business – it certainly doesn’t hurt to have friends.

4. Get re-energized

No matter what we do for a living, we all find ourselves in a rut – whether we’re aware of it or not. We perform the same tasks, collaborate with the same people, solve the same problems and ask the same questions. 

You’ll find that immersing yourself in a crowd of like-minded, smart, ambitious and knowledgeable professionals is really energizing. Attending workshops, talks and even just partaking in casual conversations opens your eyes to ideas that you’ve never considered before. 

These are fresh ideas that you can take back with you and implement to improve your own business. A dose of industry energy could be just the thing you need.

CEO tips on how to do business event networking right

If you’re a newbie and have never attended an industry networking event, mobile conference, mobile summit or workshop before, we’d like to helpful tips on what to do when you actually get there.

Our CEO, Fouad, is a seasoned pro when it comes to attending industry events and networking. So, who better than him to give you some advice?

Here are his top 3 tips:

1. Familiarize yourself with industry jargon

This is first on the list for a reason: people at mobile industry events speak the mobile app industry language. During talks, workshops and business conversations, many acronyms will be thrown out there: MMP, ASO, CTR, TTR…and if you don’t know what they are, you’ll feel a bit lost.

Similarly, it’s smart to know the names of basic tools – like top analytics tools, attribution tools and so forth. Just by having a basic knowledge of these things, you’ll feel more confident about engaging in conversation and will get more out of the event in general.

2. Manage time between networking and attending sessions

Most networking events have a list of events that are jam-packed into a tight schedule. If you try to attend everything, you may find that you don’t end up speaking or meeting anybody one-on-one. This is not what you want!

One thing to do is to ask the organizer in advance if the sessions are recorded. There is usually an event app where you can bookmark the meeting or session in advance. This will make your networking/learning balance much easier to manage.

3. Attend happy hours

These aren’t recommended just for the house wine and mini tacos. The truth is that a lot of business happens during happy hours, cocktail parties and other optional special events. 

The insider tip here is to ask the organizers or sponsors if there are some sessions you can attend after or before the main event agenda. You sometimes end up learning more at these social events than anywhere else. Besides, who doesn’t love happy hour?

There are tons of events to choose from – you can find something no matter where in the world you live. One of our favorites here at AGN is the Mobile Growth Summit. This year in 2020 it’s taking place in San Francisco, CA on February 12-13. It’s the world’s largest mobile conference and attracts the best in the industry. 

We’re attending this year’s MGS20 and would love to see you there. Book a meeting with us at our booth and let’s start networking!