Right way, wrong way to network at company function?

[dickbaker]

OK, folks. I'll try to get to the point ASAP.

My wife now works for a plumbing/heating/AC company run by her sister and her sister's husband. The business is only two years old, but has grown beyond anyone's wildest predictions.

On the 3rd of July, Milwaukee's largest bank puts on one of the best fireworks displays in the midwest. It's truly spectacular, and usually draws nearly a million people at the lakefront to view. Nearly a million people, and all crammed together wherever they can find room on the grass.

My sister-in-law (SIL) decided that it would be a treat to book dinner seats at the War Memorial Center right on the lake. This is the best outdoor seating for the fireworks, and the dinners will cost probably $100 a head, not to mention drinks.

Well, all of the seven tradesmen can't make it. So, my SIL and BIL decided to invite their clients instead (that would have been my first inclination, but what do I know?).

The clients invited will include some major home construction contractors, as well as architects/designers. These folks feed my BIL's business easily a million or two or more a year.

My guess is that these folks have business websites. And, more than likely, the sites are poorly-constructed, and don't rank well on search engines.

Soooo....would it be bad form for me to ask about their websites? Would it be tacky for me to give them business cards?

I wouldn't even ask these questions if my BIL was mentioning my search engine optimization skills to these people, or my skills at fixing sites that don't function properly. But he's too busy trying to satisfy their demands to even think about recommending my services.

Again, good opportunity, or bad form?

I'm really terrible at this sort of thing.

[vincevincevince]

I'd not want to go after promoting myself, but disclosing what you do is natural in a social context. If they seem interested in the fact you do SEO then they will take the lead and ask more. Figure out a single sentence which describes what you do. "I'm a specialist in helping websites to get more visitors from search engines" or similar might work well.

[phranque]

you want the "one sentence" description and you want "the elevator speech" (a minute or less) ready.

if in the course of normal conversation you are asked or mention what you do, use the one sentence description.
if the eyes glaze over, that part of the conversation is over.
if a glimmer of interest is evident, work in the elevator speech.
if they have a clue of their needs and requirements, they will start asking for expert advice.
they'll ask for a card if they are interested in more.
if you do it right it will seem very natural and unforced.