The Questions That Make People Remember You

The Questions That Make People Remember You (Better Than Any Elevator Pitch)

Here’s what happens at most networking events in Kent.

Someone asks “what do you do?” You launch into your perfectly rehearsed elevator pitch. They nod politely. Their eyes glaze over slightly. Then they deliver their pitch back at you. You both smile. Exchange business cards. Move on.

Two weeks later, neither of you can remember the other person’s name.

Want to know the secret to being memorable at networking events? Stop trying to be interesting. Start being interested.

The business owners who get remembered and get the follow-up calls aren’t the ones with the slickest pitch. They’re the ones who asked good questions and actually listened to the answers.

Why Questions Beat Pitches Every Time

Think about the last time you had a great conversation. What made it great?

Probably the fact that the other person seemed genuinely interested in what you had to say. They asked good questions. They listened properly. They made you feel heard.

That feeling sticks with you. You remember that person. You want to talk to them again.

Now think about the last time someone pitched at you for five minutes straight. How much do you remember about them? Probably not much.

Questions create conversations. Pitches create awkward silences followed by polite escapes.

The Wrong Questions Everyone Asks

Before we get to the good questions, let’s talk about the terrible ones everyone defaults to.

“What do you do?” Boring. Leads to job titles and rehearsed pitches. You’ve heard 50 versions of this answer already tonight.

“How’s business?” Too vague. Leads to “yeah, good thanks” and then nowhere.

“Busy?” Even worse. Everyone says they’re busy. It’s the professional equivalent of talking about the weather.

“Been networking long?” Unless you genuinely care about their networking history (you don’t), this is just filling dead air.

These questions don’t create conversations. They create the networking equivalent of small talk at a bus stop.

Questions That Actually Work

Right, here are questions that lead to real conversations and make you memorable.

Questions About Their Business Journey

“How did you get into [their industry]?” People love telling this story. It’s personal. It’s interesting. And it tells you way more about them than their job title ever could.

“What made you start your own business?” Almost everyone has a story here. A frustration. An opportunity. A moment where they thought “I could do this better.”

“What’s the most unexpected thing about running your business?” This gets past the polished exterior. You’ll hear about real challenges, surprises, things they didn’t anticipate.

Questions About Current Challenges

“What’s the biggest challenge in your business right now?” This is gold. They tell you their actual problem. You might be able to help. Or know someone who can. Or just empathize. Either way, it’s a real conversation.

“What would you change about your business if you could wave a magic wand?” Gets them talking about aspirations and frustrations. Much more interesting than a pitch.

“What’s keeping you busy at the moment?” This is “how’s business” but better. It’s specific. It leads to actual details rather than “yeah, good thanks.”

Questions That Show You’re Listening

“How does that work?” When someone mentions something interesting, dig deeper. Most people are happy to explain. And it shows you’re actually paying attention.

“What does that look like in practice?” Similar. Gets them to elaborate. Turns surface chat into proper conversation.

“That sounds challenging, how are you dealing with it?” Shows empathy. Keeps the conversation going. Makes them feel heard.

Questions About Kent and Local Business

“How long have you been in Kent?” If they’re not originally from here, they’ve got a story about why they moved. If they are, they’ve got stories about how the area’s changed.

“What’s the business scene like in [their town]?” Opens up conversation about local challenges, opportunities, differences between Canterbury and Maidstone, coastal vs inland, all sorts.

“Which other Kent networking events do you go to?” Practical. Might lead to recommendations. Might help you work out if you’ve got mutual connections.

Questions That Create Opportunities

“Who’s your ideal client?” Better than “what do you do” because it gets to the heart of their business. Plus you might know someone who fits.

“What would be a useful introduction for you right now?” This is brilliant. You’re explicitly offering to help. They’ll remember you for that.

“What kind of businesses do you work best with?” Similar to the ideal client question but sometimes gets different answers. Helps you work out if there’s potential to collaborate or refer.

Questions That Build Connection

“What do you do when you’re not working?” Not everything has to be about business. Finding common ground outside work often creates stronger connections.

“Any good plans for the weekend?” Simple. Human. Gets you talking about life rather than just business.

“Tried any decent places to eat round here?” Kent’s full of good food spots. People love sharing recommendations. And it’s a nice break from business talk.

How to Ask Questions Without Sounding Like an Interviewer

Right, so you’ve got better questions. But if you fire them off like you’re conducting an interrogation, it won’t work.

Here’s how to do it naturally:

Show genuine curiosity. If you’re asking just because you read it in an article, people can tell. Ask because you actually want to know.

Listen to the answer. Properly listen. Don’t just wait for your turn to talk. People can tell when you’re not really listening.

Follow up based on what they said. Let the conversation flow naturally. If they mention they’re expanding into Medway, ask about that. Don’t just move to your next prepared question.

Share a bit about yourself too. It’s a conversation, not an interview. Answer some questions back. Find common ground.

Read the room. If someone’s giving one-word answers, they’re either not interested or having a bad day. Move on gracefully.

What Happens When You Get This Right

When you ask good questions and actually listen, something shifts.

The person you’re talking to relaxes. The conversation becomes real rather than performative. You learn things about each other beyond job titles.

And here’s the magic bit. When they leave that conversation, they remember you. Not because you had a clever pitch. Because you were genuinely interested in them.

Two weeks later when they’re thinking “I need to speak to someone about X” or “I met someone who might be perfect for this”, your name comes up. Because you stood out. Because you were different.

The Follow-Up Is Easier Too

When you’ve had a real conversation based on good questions, the follow-up writes itself.

“Great chatting about your Ashford expansion plans. Let me know if you need any local recommendations.”

“Really interesting hearing about your move into hospitality. I know a couple of people in that space, happy to make introductions.”

You’re not scrambling to remember what you talked about. You’re following up on an actual conversation you had.

Practice This Before Your Next Event

Before your next networking event in Kent, write down three questions from the list above that feel natural to you.

Not all of them. Just three. Questions you’d actually be interested in hearing the answers to.

Put them in your phone. Glance at them before you walk in if you need to.

Then use them. Ask. Listen. Have real conversations.

See what happens. I reckon you’ll be surprised at how much more memorable you become when you stop trying to pitch and start trying to understand.

The Bottom Line

Your elevator pitch isn’t making you memorable. Everyone’s got one. Most of them sound the same.

What makes you memorable is being the person who asked interesting questions and actually listened to the answers.

Be interested, not interesting. It’s the simplest networking advice there is. And it works better than any pitch ever will.

Looking for networking events in Kent where you can have proper conversations? Check our Kent business events calendar for smaller, more intimate gatherings where real conversations actually happen. And join nearly 5000 other subscribers on the Kent Business Newsletter and never miss an event again!

Author: Kent Business Events