CPD Courses and industry events are a great way to network. Building existing relationships and for creating new ones. However, don't be shy about talking about yourself or where you are from!

At the weekend Gaynor and I attended BioHorizon's fantastic 'Marketing Dental Implants in 2012' course led by Chris Barrow of Barrow Kwong King Group. The course was excellent and we picked up lots of ideas that would be very easy to implement into 38 Devonshire Street straight away. It was also very well attended and there were lots of dentists, practice managers and practice team members from all over the UK and Ireland.

As usual at an event like this at the start of the day Chris asked everyone to tell the group the following:

• Who we were
• Where we were from
• What did we want to get from the course

The 1st and 3rd questions were answered as I expected, however, what absolutely amazed me was that out of a group of 30+ only two or three of us (including myself) actually said their Practice Name in answer to the 2nd question. The majority told the group what part of the country they were from or even where they were born.

Don't get me wrong it is fascinating to know the diversity of the group, however events like this, especially for dentists, are a fantastic way to promote not only yourselves but your practice as well. What better way of doing this to the group than by telling everyone the name of your practice right at the beginning rather than waiting to meet people in the coffee break.

If for example I wanted to get in contact with you after the event, but I didn't get a chance to ask you for your business card, it would be better for me to google your practice name rather than "Dentist Manchester". Wouldn't it?

Next time you find yourself at an event and you get asked the question about where you are from don't be afraid to talk about yourself or your practice. You will find the following:

• You build better relationships
• Others will remember you more
• You might even get referrals from it