To the untutored eye, business events may look like cocktail parties, but they're not. To get the most out of a face-to-face forum, it's a good idea to have a plan and to practice a few established techniques, according to serial entrepreneur Rod Stoll.

•  Have an objective in mind. Be clear in your own mind about your goal in attending the event. Is it to learn something from a panel or presentation? Is it to meet new people in a particular field? Is it to meet specific people that you expect to be there? Your mission might change depending on the circumstances, but you'll gain more if you arrive with a goal in mind and plan on meeting two or three new people.

•  Prepare for the meeting. If there is going to be a speaker, learn a little about that individual in advance. Check out their company online. On occasion, Stoll will send a brief e-mail to the presenter ahead of time saying that he looks forward to hearing their presentation and to connecting with them at the meeting.

•  Arrive early. Unlike cocktail parties where people often arrive fashionably late, it is a good idea to come to business events early. Use the extra time to become familiar with the layout of the facility. Read the name badges on the registration table. And, if there's a list of attendees available, look it over for the names of people you know or hope to meet.

•  Meet the organizers. Introduce yourself to the people that put the event together, who are almost always the first to arrive. They can be very helpful in providing you with a sense of who else is likely to show up. They can also help you by arranging an introduction to a specific individual you are hoping to meet at the event. And if they know who you are, they can help introduce others to you.

•  Keep your business card handy. Keep your business cards in a pocket or case that you can easily get to and pass out with one hand. Particularly if you are carrying a drink, you don't want to have to dive into your purse or wallet to retrieve a card, which is generally a two-handed operation, just to trade contact information.

•  Keep moving. Business events are largely for the purpose of meeting new people, establishing rapport, trading contact information, and then moving on. It is both rude and counterproductive to monopolize someone else's time at these forums. Try to limit the amount of time you spend with any one individual – instead, try setting the stage with them for a longer follow-up meeting off-site.

•  Reciprocate. Don't leave the impression that you are there simply to get something for yourself. Be a giver, too. Reciprocity is reasonable and appropriate at events. Ask the people you meet if there is any way you can help them or if there is anyone you can refer them to.

This Quick Tip is one of a series on "Working the Network" offering tips on how to benefit from networking opportunities and to see how Rod Stoll himself makes use of professional networks.

Working the network series

Feature article: Getting the most from networking sometimes means giving the most

Quick tip: Networking at events

Quick tip: Following up on referrals

Quick tip: Capturing network intelligence

Quick tip: Classifying network contacts