We all have a variety of rules regarding networking an event: "Have your networking tools with you at all times", "Act like a host, not a guest", among others. These strictures make your networking experience more efficient and more effective. The most important rule of all, of course, is to "Follow up with the people you meet." I would suggest, however, that this last rule should include more than those interesting folks with whom you shook hands (and I also don't mean just sending a thank you note to the event organizers -- though that wouldn't be a bad idea either). What I mean is that you should be following up with yourself.

OK, before you send out an email to yourself asking to meet for coffee, let me clarify. At it's simplest, start by reviewing how well you did following your own networking rules. Did you meet your goals? Were they good ones like "Meet and make appointments with two people in my target market" or less-effective ones like "Hand out fifty business cards?" Did you even set some goals? If not, why not? Did you stop at the snack bar too early? When it was time to shake hands with that business owner, was your right hand covered in cheese fondue? Incidentally, that's why I try to eat with my left hand at these events.

At a more advanced level, since I know that you constantly refine your "elevator pitch", this would be a good time to take stock of how well the newest version worked. When they heard the description of your business, did your audience ask for more information? Did they look bored? Frightened? All of these things bear review. Do you perhaps need two different pitches dependent on to whom you're speaking? If you do have multiple descriptions, did you take the time to ask them questions in order to find out which would be more appropriate first?

Here's a big one, and it might be a little uncomfortable for you to be honest with yourself: Did you have "commission breath?" Did you try to trap people, wrestle them to the ground, and sell something to them? Sometimes it can be a bit of a challenge to remember that our goal at a networking event should be to make first contact, not close the deal. One way to determine if you've violated this particular rule is to watch people the next time you show up at a similar event. Do they approach you with a welcome smile or do they jump out third-story windows to avoid you?

I guess the upshot of it all is that, as advanced networkers, we can't afford to rest on our laurels. It behooves us to keep trying new approaches and to follow up with ourselves to see how it affects our end result - making new contacts, connections, and friends.

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