Your First Networking Event: What to Expect, How to Survive It, and Why It’s Worth It

Networking TipsReal Life Chat with Leaders

28 Apr

Written By Angela

A Women Inspired Network Event with one to one networking

If the thought of walking into a networking event makes your stomach flip — you are absolutely not alone.

I’ve spoken to so many women who’ve booked a ticket, got dressed, got in the car — and then driven home again without going in. The anxiety of that first event is so real, and I don’t think we talk about it enough.

So let’s talk about it. Properly.

My first networking experience (yes, I nearly didn’t go)

I remember my first networking event like it was yesterday. I’d spent days building myself up to go. I left the house cutting it really fine on time — and got ten minutes down the road before I realised I’d forgotten my purse.

I genuinely sat in that car and thought: this is a sign. I shouldn’t go. I’ll just say I’m ill.

I didn’t know anyone was going. I didn’t know the area. I was already going to be late. Every excuse was right there and ready.

But something in me said: no. Get your big girl pants on. You can do this.

So I went back, grabbed my purse, and turned up late — to find that everyone else was running late too. And the moment I walked in, people came straight over. Friendly faces, warm welcomes, genuine conversations. I felt at ease almost immediately.

That’s the thing about your first networking event. It’s scary. And it’s also very often the thing that changes everything. I genuinely wouldn’t be running the Women Inspired Network today if I hadn’t got back in the car that day.

It’s completely normal to feel nervous — here’s why

Conventional networking asks you to walk into a room full of strangers and talk about yourself. That’s not a natural thing to do. Even confident people find it nerve-wracking. Even people who run their own networking events find it nerve-wracking (yes, me included, sometimes).

A lot of traditional networking events make this worse by putting pressure on you to pitch, to perform, to deliver a polished sixty-second summary of your business in front of a room full of people. For many women, that format is an absolute nightmare.

But here’s what I want you to know: the nerves you feel before a networking event are not a sign that you shouldn’t be there. They’re a sign that it matters to you. And that’s a really good thing.

7 tips for your first networking event

Turn up.
This is the most important tip I can give you. The hardest part is not booking the ticket, it’s actually getting in the car and turning up. I’ve spoken to so many women who didn’t go at this point because the anxiety got too much on the day. I completely understand it — and I also know that every single one of them wished they’d gone. Once you’re in the room, it is always better than you imagined.
Get there early.
Before the event officially starts is genuinely where the magic happens. People are relaxed, they’re just chatting over a coffee, they haven’t got into ‘networking mode’ yet — they’re just themselves. If you arrive late and everyone is already mid-conversation, it’s so much harder to find your way in. Give yourself the gift of those few minutes at the start.
Bring a friend if you can.
Even if that friend is just there to get you through the door — that’s enough. Once you’re in and the conversation starts flowing, you won’t need them by your side. But having someone to walk in with can make all the difference to how brave you feel on the way there.
Get to know your event leader.
Find out who’s running the event beforehand and introduce yourself when you arrive. You then know one person in the room. There’s at least one friendly face. If you’re feeling awkward and don’t know where to put yourself, go and sit with the leader and have a coffee. That is completely fine and any good leader will welcome it.
Ask questions and actually listen to the answers.
So many people go to networking events and worry about what they’re going to say about themselves. Flip it. Be curious about everyone else instead. Ask about their business. Ask if they’ve been to an event like this before. Ask how their week is going. People love to feel heard, and when you make someone feel genuinely listened to, that’s when real connection starts. Save telling people what you do for later in the conversation.
Don’t go expecting a sale.
I want to be really honest about this because I think it’s one of the biggest reasons people feel deflated after their first networking event. Getting a client from a single event is genuinely rare. Networking is a long game. It’s about building relationships over time, about becoming a familiar face, about being the person someone thinks of when a friend needs exactly what you offer. Go in with the goal of making one genuine connection — not closing a sale.
Stay until the end.
Just like how the magic happens before the event officially starts, it also happens after. When the structured part is over and people are gathering their things and saying their goodbyes — that’s when the most natural, relaxed conversations happen. Don’t be the first one out of the door.

What to do after your first event

Follow up. This is where so many people drop the ball. You’ve had a brilliant conversation with someone, you’ve connected on Instagram or swapped numbers — and then nothing happens. Send a message. Tell them it was lovely to meet them. Reference something specific from your conversation so they know it was genuine.

And then go back. One event is a starting point, not a conclusion. The women who get the most from networking are the ones who show up consistently, who become familiar faces, who build relationships over months rather than expecting results overnight.

You belong in that room

Whatever stage your business is at. Whether you’ve been trading for ten years or you’ve just had your first idea. Whether you’re naturally confident or you’ve been known to cry in the car park beforehand (no judgement, I’ve seen it all).

Networking doesn’t have to feel like performing. It doesn’t have to feel salesy or uncomfortable or like everyone else knows some secret rule that you weren’t told about. At its best, it’s just women having real conversations, finding their people, and cheering each other on.

That’s exactly what WIN is built on. And there is absolutely a seat at the table for you. 💛

Want to hear more?

Gemma Gooch and I talk all about our first networking experiences — the good, the bad, and the awkward — in the first official episode of the Women Inspired Networking Conversations podcast. Give it a listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0DM7Ooc5nLezg4u91OklYo