Andrea Nierenberg, a networking success story (so says The Wall Street Journal), will be at the Financial & Insurance Conference Planners Education Forum in St. Louis June 16–18, conducting a two-part session on networking and building your brand.

As Nierenberg points out, we’re all networking all the time. Make the most of it by being prepared. Here are just five of her foolproof strategies for turning contacts into connections.

1. Create a 20-second introduction with variations depending upon the audience and circumstance. (Think: “How do I make myself memorable in this situation?”)

2. See the potential: It’s not just the person at the top who is going to help you reach your goals. Everyone you meet is a client, prospect, friend, or someone who can introduce you to one.

3. Think about what you can offer—not just what you can get.

4. Create a “small talk” notebook—or just use your iPhone or BlackBerry to jot reminders of current events, industry topics, books, movies. These will help when you need some “conversation continuations.”

5. Everyone has a communication style. Observe others and find ways to match your networking style to theirs.

6. Write a note: The United States Postal Service says only 4 percent of mail is personalized. A handwritten note is a simple way to stand out.

Visit The Nierenberg Group Web site for more ideas, testimonials, and a link to Andrea’s blog. Follow her on Twitter at @anierenberg.

Better yet, meet her in person at the FICP Education Forum!  Registration is open for FICP’s annual educational event, with its targeted breakouts and intimate size, enabling you to put all that networking knowledge into practice. (Nierenberg's Forum session is sponsored by Goodman Speakers Bureau.)

For the complete agenda, check out the FICP Web site, which details the educational sessions, keynote speakers, community giveback program, and networking events. This year’s host hotel is the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, just steps away from Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, and from the famous Gateway Arch.