As part of a local intiative I’m working on I’ve had the chance to meet a number of entrepreneurs over the past couple weeks. Historically, I would have Googled their name to see what blurbs I can find out about them. Now, in addition to the standard Google search, I always check their LinkedIn profile, their blog (if any), and their Twitter account (if any). While it might take a few minutes, it is invaluable to learn as much about the person as possible and to read what they’ve been writing (even more important!). With this at hand, the conversations can get much more interesting in a shorter amount of time and shared experiences can be discussed to establish rapport.

I recommend taking advantage of the different online tools as part of your meeting preparation routine.