Have a Goal 
Take some time ahead of the event to think about the reason that encouraged you to register in the first place - are you there to be a face for your business?  Are you there to find new clients?  Is it an opportunity to learn about something or someone new?

With the reason for attending clear in your mind, create a goal for yourself.  This can help provide purpose for your time and allow you to maximize outcomes.  For example, if you registered to meet new prospective clients - your goal could be to leave the event with five new leads.  Having a goal provides clarity that will lead to less ambiguous conversations and better alignment with the connections you meet.

Come Prepared with Icebreakers 

Ahead of time, read up on some relevant industry news stories or recent trends that could spark a conversation as you ask for someone's thoughts on the subject.  Try to choose conversation topics that are likely to be interesting to both of you to generate a flowing conversation.

Approaching a group can be intimidating, to start the evening you can ease in by finding someone who is flying solo and strike up a conversation.  Leading with prepared icebreakers can get past the initial awkwardness of meeting someone new and start the event off on the right foot.  Often times, these initial conversations can be gateways to other people such as friends they came with that they could introduce you to. 

Here are some great conversation staters for any event:

• What do you do for work?
• What brought you to this event?
• What do you think about the event so far?

Connect with the Person

Often times, when we meet someone new and exchange the basic pleasantries of our names, where we work, and job titles, the conversation goes south as the small talk dries up.  A great way to avoid a conversation dead-end is to make the conversation about them.  Ask them to elaborate or tell you more about themselves and you'll often find that there are talking points that you share and can expand on.

Practice proactive listening, resist the temptation to share and really take the time to listen to the other person.  This is essential for building strong relationships - it shows that we're interested in what the person has to say.  A simple way to practice proactive listening is to paraphrase the other person's statement.  This signals that we understand them and that we are engaged in the conversation.

It is easy to think of event attendees as a job title instead of a person.  By going beyond small talk, and listening proactively you are much more likely to develop a valuable and memorable connection with the person you are speaking with. 

Exit Gracefully

It's important to remember that networking in a large group is not speed-dating.  The goal should not be to meet as many people as possible - you should be looking to make valuable connections. 

While it's important not to rush through conversations for this reason, there are times when you will need to slip away.  Whether you are chatting with someone who won't let you get a word in, or someone who is enamored with a topic that isn't relevant to you, it is important to remain polite when exiting a conversation.

If there is a lull in the conversation, you can say "Let me know how that goes, I'd love to see how it turns out!" This shows that you were engaged, and though it ends the conversation they won't feel offended.

Alternately, consider asking them for a referral "Have you seen anyone from [company name] tonight?  I've been meaning to connect with them"  This kindly expresses that it's important for you to expand your network and provides an offramp the current conversation.

Take Notes and Follow Up

Have you ever been in a situation where you meet someone new, have a great conversation, and then forget their name when you try to follow up?  It happens to the best of us... but there is a solution!  Take a moment to write a quick note after each meaningful conversation.

You don't need to write an essay, just jot down a few quick sentences to recap the conversation, or to remember the key details - this can be in your smartphone or a notebook.  That way, when you go to follow up, you'll have all the information you need right at your fingertips to look more professional and build stronger relationships.

Speaking of following up - networking can be a great way to make new connections, but it is only effective if you follow up.  Exchanging business cards or connecting on LinkedIn is only the first step in building a relationship.  To make a lasting impression on the people you meet, take the time to follow up. 

Send a personalized email or LinkedIn message within the first 24 hours of meeting someone new, as this shows that you are interested in staying in touch. To develop more meaningful connections, invite the person to meet for coffee or lunch so that you can further connect.