Have you ever thought about creating an event that attracts people based ONLY on the topic it offers?
Meetups still aren’t very popular in every segment in Brazil, but I’m sure everyone would love to go to one!
After all, this type of event taps into what we love most about events: passion, exchange, connection, and building communities.
The meetup is an answer to the human longing for real connections. And it can, in fact, generate new friendships, jobs, groups…
All without much structural effort. Can you imagine how? Discover the possibilities:
- What is a meetup?
- Why create meetups?
- 9 best practices for organizing meetups
What is a meetup?
Meetup is a term that means getting together.
So this type of event is basically a gathering. But it happens in a super informal way.
That way, its differentiator is the topic being discussed and the connections it enables.
That’s because meetups are mainly meant to bring together people who are passionate about the debate’s topic.
In other words, a meetup works almost like a community “Tinder,” bringing together people with shared passions.
That’s why it usually happens recurrently, encouraging people to keep meeting up.
Where did meetups come from?
Many people claim meetups were invented by executives at big tech companies in Silicon Valley, California (USA).
The theory is that these events emerged from gatherings that professionals in the region held after work hours or during breaks.
That’s why the English name has stuck around, along with the culture of it being an informal event, almost like a chat.
But the concept grew so much that there’s now an app with the same name as the event to make it easier to organize meetups and build groups.
Why create meetups?
As I mentioned, meetups aim to create meaningful connections. They offer opportunities for building communities, and for personal and professional growth.
They also offer goals such as:
Building solid networking
Frequent gatherings like meetups can create an integrated, supportive community of professionals.
In this space, you can find partners, sponsors, and suppliers.
Authority
Meetup organizers can become leaders in their communities, building networks of professionals around themselves and helping develop careers.
With an active presence in your community, you naturally gain visibility.
Strengthening your brand
We’ve said many times here that organizing events is a great way to strengthen your brand.
At meetups, you have the chance to reach people who are passionate about your field without much financial effort.
After all, this is a super easy type of event to organize!
9 best practices for organizing meetups
1. Automate tasks
First, automate your event as much as possible.
After all, you’re wasting time if you have to build your event’s website from scratch, write emails, and send reminders all by yourself…
Organizing meetups involves several tasks, from managing registrations to promoting the event.
In that case, automating tasks can save time and ensure smoother execution.
So use an event management tool to get a website, schedule future editions, automate email sending, and much more.
2. Evaluate your event
Meetups are recurring events. That’s why it’s a good idea to analyze the performance of each edition and try to improve on the critical points.
On event platforms like Even3, you can automatically create an event evaluation form.
That way, you get access to your attendees’ response data at the end of each meetup.
3. Plan future editions
Many people organize one meetup and never do another one: don’t make that mistake!
Otherwise, you’ll never be able to enjoy the benefits of this type of event, which needs to be recurring.
So, when wrapping up each meetup, already announce the date of the next edition and keep expectations high!
If possible, share topics and special guests.
You can also create WhatsApp or Telegram groups to encourage relationships within your community.
4. Invite renowned speakers
Speaking of guests, renowned speakers can be a big draw for your meetup.
Even though the speaker isn’t the focus of this type of event, top professionals will definitely attract an audience.
That’s why this is a great strategy for the first editions of your meetup. It can help encourage your community to come together.
5. Create an environment that’s ripe for discussion
Still on the topic of speakers, be careful not to turn your meetup into a lecture. That shouldn’t be your goal!
So set aside time for discussion after the presentations and encourage audience participation.
If your group isn’t very close-knit yet, it’s worth investing in icebreaker activities that help participants get to know each other better.
In short, it’s essential to create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their perspectives.
6. Include a coffee break
Relaxed moments are ideal for encouraging discussion and networking.
So set aside time for a coffee break during the meetup.
This is the ideal time for attendees to get to know each other and exchange ideas.
That way, they can build more familiarity and feel more comfortable in the environment.
7. Publish your meetup’s slides online
Make presentation slides available online after the event, or as supporting material during the broadcast (if your meetup is online).
On the Meetup app or on Even3, you can publish the slides so everyone can access them.
This not only benefits attendees who want to review the content, but also increases your event’s visibility.
You can even share this material on social media to attract people interested in the content.
8. Build a growth strategy for your meetup
As your group grows, you can expand it and/or make it profitable.
If it’s a corporate meetup, you can use it to recruit talent for your company.
Another option is to turn the small gathering into a bigger event.
You can also use your connections strategically to reach out to speakers, sponsors, event venues, and so on.
That way, you expand knowledge and opportunities for other people too.
9. Use an event platform
Finally, all these tips can be used within the Meetup app.
Or, if you’d rather grow your audience, on an event platform like Even3.
That way, your meetup will have an event website that can be found on Google!
Plus, you’ll be able to manage registrations, create online broadcasts, send emails… all for free.
All these tools can simplify organizing your meetup, improve the audience experience, and make it easier to run recurring events.
How about creating a meetup for free right now?
