Want to know more about what networking at events is and how you can organize a great environment for this practice? Then you’ve come to the right place!
Events that offer networking tend to attract even more attendees, generating above-average revenue.
So it’s important to have a plan to establish an ideal environment for your attendees to network.
And you may not know where to start. But that’s no problem at all!
In this post, we’ve laid out great instructions for you to learn all about:
- Why encourage networking at your events?
- How to organize networking at events
- Create your networking environment right now
Why encourage networking at your events?
Networking is the act of interacting with other people to exchange information and also develop professional or even social contacts.
Because of this, there’s usually a high demand for these opportunities to build connections and expand your network.
So networking becomes a tool that can be used to attract even more attendees to your event.
To make this happen, all you need to do is create an in-person or virtual environment that makes networking viable for people.
How to organize networking at events
1. Hold coffee breaks
Coffee breaks are the famous pauses for a cup of coffee that happen between an event’s activities and talks.
This is the moment when people find a space to chat and exchange experiences.
So create a favorable environment for people to meet, discuss, and share knowledge about shared ideas.
It’s also worth having a good number of chairs and tables available, so attendees have a variety of spaces to network.
There are also virtual coffee breaks, characterized by breaks and real-time conversations through online chat.
Depending on the size of your event and the platform, attendees may also be able to interact with each other through voice and video chat.
2. Choose a space that makes sense
Speaking of space, before holding the coffee break, you need to choose the location in advance, treating it with the same care you would use when choosing the auditorium, for example.
So it’s important to keep in mind the size of the venue and the number of people it can hold.
And that’s not all! People shouldn’t just be crammed into a single spot, so keep a checklist handy to cover the basics, such as:
- Room to walk around the venue;
- Easy access to restrooms;
- Good space for tables and chairs.
And of course, if you’re running an online event, choose a platform that allows real-time interaction, making group or private conversations easier.
3. Provide badges
Networking usually happens thanks to easy interaction and shared interests between people, through conversations about their hobbies and things they have in common.
So provide badges at your event and make it easier for attendees to identify each other, helping to break the ice between them!
For example, you can create badges with removable stickers that quickly illustrate a summary of the person wearing them.
These removable details can include:
- First and last name;
- Personal information;
- Job title;
- Hobbies;
- Area of interest;
- Topics of interest.
4. Build communities
A sense of community is what keeps event attendees engaged, even when they’re away from the event.
And building a community doesn’t take much — start by creating groups on social media.
For example, create a Facebook group with just your attendees and post content that encourages engagement, prompting them to comment and interact with each other.
And if you’re not sure what to post, here are some prompts you can use before and after the event:
- “What are you hoping for from this year’s event?”
- “How was your experience?”
- “What did you enjoy most about this edition?”
- “Comment below what you’d like to see in future editions!”
This way, you can build a networking environment before, during, and after the event, and also use it as a place to promote future editions.
5. Network with your attendees too
As we’ve seen so far, creating networking environments can bring many benefits to your event.
But have you thought about positioning yourself as a participant in this practice within your own event? Well, you should.
Listen to your attendees
One of the greatest tools an organizer shouldn’t overlook is networking with event attendees.
After all, what could be better for improving your event than listening to your own attendees?
Take the opportunity to walk around the venue and meet different people, while also listening to and getting to know your audience and their needs.
It’s also important to gather information and feedback about your event, absorbing criticism and suggestions and turning them into strengths for future editions.
See the potential of this practice? Networking with attendees can serve as a more informal and direct satisfaction survey!
Meet new professionals
A common shortfall for event organizers is the lack of qualified professionals to make an event successful.
And not only that — finding these professionals can be quite a difficult task, especially when you don’t yet have speakers set for your event’s lineup.
So take advantage of your event’s theme and the people who will be gathered there because of it.
Besides chatting, take the opportunity to gather contacts of people who have the potential to work alongside you!
This way you’ll be able to recruit:
- Qualified and/or experienced professionals;
- Speakers;
- Future organizing partners.
Build contacts with sponsors
Last but certainly not least, take the opportunity to establish corporate contacts that can be very important for your event: sponsors!
If your sponsors are present at the event, you can strengthen ties by getting to know each other better.
You can also create opportunities to meet new sponsors to present your sponsorship projects to.
Create a networking environment
Start by creating a corporate or academic event and promote networking environments however you see fit.
This way you can plan your talks and activities, structure your coffee break, and keep everything organized for your attendees.
