If you're representing your business at a community event held by your Chamber of Commerce, making a good first impression is essential. If you come across as trustworthy, confident, and friendly from the start, you'll make connections more easily. Here are a few tips for meeting fellow professionals, potential clients, and business owners at education and training sessions, community fundraisers, and other events.

Do:

Give a firm handshake.

When you meet someone new, give them a firm, friendly handshake and introduce yourself by name, as well as identifying your business. Telling people who you are and what you do will make it clear how you can help them in the future. Also, make sure to get their name and occupation so you can foster a relationship with them in the future.

Pay attention to body language.

Making eye contact helps communicate that you're interested in the other person and what they're saying. A few smiles will help you come across as friendly and open, but don't just grin the whole time, as it can look unnatural. Instead, smile when they talk about their passion, their business, or their endeavors. 

Don't:

Just talk about yourself.

It’s not enjoyable to hear someone talk about themselves during the entirety of a community event. While you do need to talk about yourself a little, step back and give the other person the floor when they discuss their business goals. Ask them plenty of questions about themselves, such as what drove them to start a business and how they hope to give back to the community. 

Get too familiar.

Getting into the other person's personal space during your first meeting can make them uncomfortable. Make sure to respect their boundaries by standing a few feet away. Also, don't talk about topics like politics that could cause strong disagreements. Stick to topics such as hobbies, movies, shared experiences in your fields, and other neutral topics for a peaceful, non-biased conversation. 

If you're looking for community events where you can meet local professionals and potential clients, the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce is the organization to join. Based in Huntington, NY, they host 75 events annually including the Long Island Fall Festival, the biggest generator of revenue in the area each year. For membership questions, call (631) 423-6100 or visit them online to browse their member services.