How to facilitate networking at a conference

How Do You Facilitate Networking at a Conference?

• Use Your Social Channels. As an event organizer, the best way to market an event is by using your social media. Before…
• Build an App or Online Community. We have seen this concept be quite successful in the past. Many events or conferences…
• Focus On the Venue Layout. Whether it’s a virtual or physical event,…

Full
Answer

What makes a conference networking event effective?

Effective conference networking is more than just fancy technology and tools. Defining a networking event objective is just as important. Peer-to-peer events are probably the most common way to connect attendees. These types of events connect industry professionals who are at similar points in their careers.

How do you network on the way to an event?

However, you can do some amazing networking on buses, planes and trains on the way to the event. You likely you can meet people from your home city on the way to a conference you both are attending.

What type of networking should you offer at your next conference?

Peer-to-peer events are probably the most common way to connect attendees. These types of events connect industry professionals who are at similar points in their careers. This is a great place to start if you’re not what type of conference networking to offer.

How do you plan a successful conference?

That is to say, people are moving from one conversation, session, or event to another, quickly. It’s easy to get lost in the flow of things. Identify clear objectives of sessions to attend, who you hope to meet, and what you want to take away, prior to the event. 2. Stay In The Same Hotel as the Conference is Being Held

How do you network effectively at a conference?

How to Network at a ConferenceHave Clear Goals and Objectives. … Stay In The Same Hotel as the Conference is Being Held. … Go Prepared. … Send an Email or Tweet Prior to the Event. … Avoid the Helicopter Approach. … Be Ready with Conversation Starters. … Don’t be a “Fan-girl” or “Fan-guy” … Create a Schedule.More items…

How do I network a virtually at a conference?

How to Network at a Virtual Event?Identify Your Networking Goals. … Provide Your Full Bio to the Event Organisers. … Engage and Participate in the Discussions. … Build a Small community. … Share Your Participation Pre- and Post-Event on Social Media. … Other Things to Consider to Maximise Your Virtual Event Networking Efforts.

How do you facilitate networking at a virtual event?

How to host a successful virtual networking eventSet your goals. … Design your virtual networking event. … Build your guest list. … Choose the right virtual event tools. … Prepare your guests. … Introduce everyone. … Be an active host and moderator. … Send a thank you email.More items…•

How do you host a networking event?

11 Steps to Host an Effective Networking EventStep 1: Focus on a Narrow Niche. … Step 2: Choose the Right Format for Your Audience. … Step 3: Devise a Responsible Budget. … Step 4: Use Targeted Promotions. … Step 5: Use a Custom Event App. … Step 6: Prepare Your Guests. … Step 7: Recruit Anchors to Engage People. … Step 8: Meet Every Guest.More items…

What happens in a virtual networking events?

Most often a virtual networking even will kick off with either a short presentation or a few discussion prompts. Be an active participant in and engage in discussions in the chat. This will help you get to know some of the other attendees and start making connections.

How do you network a virtual environment?

5 Strategies for Networking in a Virtual World1) Be Intentional. … 2) Increase Your Social Media Presence. … 3) Prepare Carefully for Online Interactions. … 4) Form a Zoom Study Group with Peers. … 5) Host Virtual Client and Prospect Events. … There Is a Silver Lining.

What are your best tips for networking over zoom?

Read on for our best tips to help you work a virtual networking event like a pro!Get Your Space Camera Ready.Plan a Few Questions to Start the Conversation.Use Your Body Language to be Engaging.Don’t Forget Your Online Meeting Etiquette.

How do you zoom in virtual conference?

Technical team checklistSet up meeting and/or webinar settings. Work with the presentation team to clearly define and enable settings for each session — for example, if Q&A is enabled or if attendees can chat.Enable practice session. … Invite panelists. … Schedule a dry run. … Set up livestreaming. … Plan who will record the event.

How Do You Network Effectively at an Event?

Whether you’re new to conference-style events or a seasoned veteran, take note of these 11 tips on how to level up your networking game.

How Do You Facilitate Networking at a Conference?

Now that we’ve given visitors and attendees a good idea of how to improve their networking skills at conferences, it is time to talk about the hosting end of the event.

Networking for Virtual Conferences

There are additional steps that you can take as an event manager to make sure your virtual events are just as effective and successful as physical events. Here are a few ideas that you can implement within virtual conferences.

How Do Students Network at a Conference?

Networking is not just for professionals. It can be a great tool for students as well. So, let’s take a look at some advice for students who want to learn how to network at a conference. Here are a few tips.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we understand the value and critical aspect of networking when it comes to business, academics, or even hobbyist events and conferences. Making new and meaningful connections is what helps us grow in the long term. Hopefully, you got something valuable out of this guide.

How to improve conference networking?

To improve conference networking, be intentional with your networking event objective. Effective conference networking is more than just fancy technology and tools. Defining a networking event objective is just as important.

What is conference planning?

Conference planning is well underway. You’ve secured a convention center in a city that’s going to get people excited. You’ve booked a keynote speaker that is sure to wow! You’re focused on providing engaging and interactive sessions for your attendees. You know that conference networking is important, but you’re not sure how to help your attendees make meaningful connections.

What is technology enhanced networking?

Technology-enhanced networking can offer your attendees networking opportunities that go above and beyond traditional mix and mingle events. Between matching software, event apps that allow for online and in-person networking, and technology that has LinkedIn integrations, advancements in technology are helping event planners provide more strategic networking to their event-goers.

Why do planners use event apps?

Event apps help event planners communicate with event attendees about session updates, speaker information, and schedule changes. For this reason, some event planners prefer to use event apps to eliminate the need for multiple technology or software companies.

What is networking in business?

And that’s a lot easier for your attendees to do when they are connecting with people whose experience aligns with theirs. This way, they are able to better share knowledge, bounce ideas, discuss trends, overcome challenges, and talk about the industry and/or job outlook.

Why is speed networking important?

Because instead of having to gather up the courage to approach complete strangers in a crowded convention center, everything is facilitated for them.

Why is visual representation important?

With a visual representation of the people you should approach, event attendees often feel less anxious approaching strangers. Not only is it expected, it’s guaranteed the two people will have something in common. They also reduce the time it takes for attendees to make meaningful connections.

What do conference pros need to know?

Conference pros not only have the skills to rock an event, they also have an arsenal of tools at their disposal. Before you go to the event, make sure you have the following in place: Your Badge: One of your most important, but often overlooked, assets for conferences is your badge. It is your first impression.

What is the right conference?

The right conference can be a game changer for your business. More importantly, the right conference, done the right way can prove to be a gold mine of opportunities. Whether you are going to a trade show, festival or business conference, you have to be prepared. You already are spending time, money and energy to get to the event.

Why do pros look forward to their event?

Pros look forward to their event because they are certain they will get new business from it. Pros know exactly how to work a room and walk up to a stranger like an old friend. Pros are a magnet for business cards because they aren’t the sleazy schmoozer types.

1. Have Clear Goals and Objectives

Conferences tend to move at the “speed of social” these days. That is to say, people are moving from one conversation, session, or event to another, quickly. It’s easy to get lost in the flow of things. Identify clear objectives of sessions to attend, who you hope to meet, and what you want to take away, prior to the event.

2. Stay In The Same Hotel as the Conference is Being Held

Networking events, dinners, and activities will likely be held there or nearby. In addition to this, most of the speakers, panelists, etc will be staying there also. A “chance” meeting in the lobby, gym, hotel Starbucks, or elsewhere can help “break the ice” and lead to additional opportunities for a conversation later in the conference.

3. Go Prepared

If there are specific attendees, vendors or speakers you hope to meet and talk to, do your research and prepare well ahead of time. Read their latest book, blog posts, etc, and search for the latest news on their company.

4. Send an Email or Tweet Prior to the Event

Use the same approach mentioned above. Let them know that you value and have an interest in their work and that you would like to take a minute or two at the conference to introduce yourself.

5. Avoid the Helicopter Approach

Many times at conferences I see people begin to approach someone they would like to meet only to stop 5-10 feet away and go into “hover mode”. Nothing makes a person more nervous than the possibility that a stalker is nearby. Seeing you in “hover” mode, the person you hope to meet will most likely already be formulating their exit strategy.

6. Be Ready with Conversation Starters

If at some point the conversation gets “stuck” always have a few conversation starters to get it going again. Here are a few examples.

7. Be Approachable

Don’t spend all your time outside of conference sessions using your phone, laptop or tablet. By circulating and looking open and engaged, you’ll make it more likely that someone else, looking for someone to talk to, will approach you. Knowing “when” to network is just as import and as “how to network”.

How to ensure conference attendees meet, connect and network effectively?

Here are six ways event planners can ensure conference attendees meet, connect and network effectively. 1. Give Attendees and Vendors an SMS Business Card.

What is the best tool to use for a conference?

Text messaging is one of the easiest and most simple tools to utilize at conferences. Attendees don’t need a certain app or operating system to use it since pretty much everyone has an SMS-enabled mobile phone .

How to connect with other attendees?

A great way to connect with other attendees is to host a series of interviews. Talk to various participants at the event, gather information, and if possible record the interview. For attendees who agree to your interviews, this provides a great opportunity to talk to people, get their contact information, and even make yourself well-known in the field as well. The information you gather can be great content for company websites, blogs, social media channels, marketing videos, or podcasts.

Why do conference organizers use text messaging?

Additionally, text messaging can be used by conference organizers to gather feedback from participants, conduct surveys or quizzes, or collect attendance information. 2.

Does networking stop when the show floor closes?

Networking doesn’t stop when the show floor closes or the last presenter shuts off her laptop. After a full day of keynotes and workshops and checking out booths, conference attendees will likely look forward to after-hours events. Host a happy hour or a dinner and make it an invitation-only event.

10 Tips on Networking Like a Pro at a Conference

Note: This is a guest post from Dave Delaney. Dave is the founder of Futureforth, the author of New Business Networking, and a speaker at this weekend’s Tribe Conference.

Peak Performance Every Day: Interview with Eric Partaker

How do we live a life and pursue a creative career where we don’t end up with a long list of regrets having succeeded at the wrong thing? There is no one I know …

Am I Still Me? (On Creativity and Changing)

The act of finding the deeper part of you that never fades may be the most important task of your life. It is certainly the best place from which to create.

1. Provide free food and drinks

It sounds silly, but we all know it’s true. If you open up a bar by the exhibitors on the expo floor, it’s likely attendees will stick around and chat while munching and sipping. Even if you don’t drink alcohol, it can be very entertaining to watch others drink.

2. Use games

There are countless ways to gamify events to engage attendees. There are many ways to include game mechanics in your event app, but you can also make games in real-life – contests, competitions, and scavenger hunts. Raffles are more passive and do not encourage networking in the way a scavenger hunt will.

3. Leverage name badges

This sounds intuitive. However, it’s shocking to see how many events and conferences I go to where the name on my badge is barely legible. When I have to squint and lean in to read a person’s name, it makes for an unnecessarily awkward introduction. Don’t make it so hard on us.

4. Get a socially-enabled mobile app for your event

There’s so much you can do here (obviously, this is a space we love).

Use a virtual platform that facilitates networking

While it may not be possible to exchange business cards in person, virtual events offer an ample amount of opportunities to network. This begins with your choice of virtual event platform. To facilitate meaningful connections, use a platform that provides attendees an option to meet each other virtually.

Get the most out of social media

Make sure to remain active on all social media platforms to facilitate connections between attendees. Assign a hashtag specific to your event and promote it across all the sessions. Connect, follow, share, comment, and reply to people talking about your event to encourage further online interactions.

Take advantage of other communication tools

Communicating regular event updates and announcements is vital to keep your audience engaged. While you can achieve this using social media, business communication tools such as Slack gives an opportunity for attendees to make new connections at your virtual event.

Use event apps that allow people matching

Your event attendees are always looking for people who share the same interests or are from their target industries. Facilitate this networking using event apps that allow people to match based on registrants’ data.

Use gamification to encourage attendees to meet more people

Everyone loves to play games. Why not use them to encourage networking at virtual events? With puzzles, memory games, or training sessions, you can keep attendees engaged. Use a point system to achieve better engagement.

How Do You Network Effectively at An Event?

How Do You Facilitate Networking at A Conference?

Networking For Virtual Conferences

How Do Students Network at A Conference?

• Networking is not just for professionals. It can be a great tool for students as well. So, let’s take a look at some advice for students who want to learn how to network at a conference. Here are a few tips. 1. Attempt to branch out a bit. Don’t just stay with your classmates or people you usually hang around with. Go to other clubs, committees, an…

See more on vfairs.com

Final Thoughts