One of the most critical advantages of both virtual and in-person speed networking matching technologies is the improvement in peer-to-peer networking. Rather than leaving networking to chance at large events, members can be paired based on shared interests, professional goals, or expertise areas. This strategic approach ensures that each interaction is meaningful, leading to more productive conversations and long-term professional relationships. The ability to quickly connect members who can offer relevant advice, guidance, or collaboration opportunities enhances the networking experience, turning it from a social activity into a career-advancing tool.

Mentorship is another area where these technologies can be game-changing. Professional associations are often seen as key platforms for fostering mentorship relationships, but identifying the right mentor or mentee can be a daunting task. Speed networking technologies, with advanced algorithms, can match experienced professionals with emerging talents based on career paths, skill sets, and mutual interests. This creates a structured and efficient environment for mentoring to thrive, offering mentees the guidance they need while providing mentors with the opportunity to share their expertise in a meaningful way.

For professional associations, member retention is directly linked to the value members perceive from their involvement. By offering personalized networking and mentoring opportunities through speed networking technologies, associations can provide tangible benefits that go beyond generic events or resources. These connections not only help members advance their careers but also build a stronger sense of belonging within the organization. When members feel that their association is actively facilitating valuable connections and growth opportunities, they are more likely to renew their memberships and remain engaged long-term.

Ultimately, the integration of speed networking matching technologies is a win-win for both associations and their members. Associations that prioritize the use of these tools are better equipped to meet the evolving expectations of today’s professionals, delivering customized, impactful experiences that drive member satisfaction. By streamlining networking and mentorship opportunities, these technologies help associations not only retain members but also cultivate a vibrant, connected community that maximizes the value of membership.

Want to learn more about how SpeedNetworking.com can assist your organization, contact us and we will help with a free assessment!

The post Harnessing the Power of Speed Networking Matching Technologies in Professional Associations appeared first on Speed Networking.

Prioritizing communication and fostering virtual team-building activities support the employee well-being and helps to reaffirm the company’s values and mission in the face of a changing workforce environment.  Flexibility, empathy, and a focus on maintaining a sense of community are key to mitigating the detrimental effects of the pandemic on corporate culture.  Utilizing new methods of virtual face to face engagement like speed networking sessions as a part of a regular leadership cadence are helping Employee Resource Groups to foster a sense of belonging among employees.   

With the sudden shift to remote work for many companies, maintaining a strong sense of corporate culture has become more challenging. Remote work can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection among employees, hindering collaboration and communication.  By implementing speed networking sessions that create 6 to 8 face-to-face interactions in an hour at a very low cost, the company increases the ability for employees to build relationships and foster a sense of belonging within an organization.

For more information on how SpeedNetworking.com is enhancing the ability of corporations to connect, please visit:     

Case Studies

The post Corporations Enhance Workforce Culture with Virtual SpeedNetworking.com appeared first on Speed Networking.

User Profiles:

• • Participant profiles customized by the organizer with optional relevant information such as professional background, skills, and interests for participating in the event.

Intelligent Matching Algorithm:

• • An intelligent matching algorithm that pairs individuals based on their profiles, ensuring compatibility and relevance in networking sessions. You can modify this to do random matches for simple peer to peer events.
  • Customizable creation of matching factors such as industry, expertise, and goals etc. for the matching process.
  • The system has an option to eliminate matches with participants that have already met.

Time Management:

• • Built-in timers to ensure that each networking session has a predetermined duration, creating a sense of urgency and efficiency.
  • Customizable time intervals to accommodate different types of networking sessions.

Communication Tools:

• • Auto responders and bulk or individual email and text capabilities to enable event organizers to manage marketing, registrations, and participation up to and during the event through the Organizer Dashboard.
  • Integrated communication tools for participants to connect during virtual networking sessions, that incorporate video conferencing, chat, and screen sharing.
  • Real-time notifications and reminders to keep participants engaged and on schedule leading up to and during the event.

Feedback Mechanism:

• • A feedback system that allows participants to provide insights on the quality of their interactions.

Analytics and Reporting:

• • Tracking and reporting features to provide organizers with insights into participant engagement, successful connections, and overall platform usage.
  • Data analytics to identify trends, areas for improvement, and the success of networking events.

User-Friendly Interface:

• • Intuitive and user-friendly design to ensure ease of navigation and a positive user experience that works well on various devices and screen sizes.

Customization Options:

• • Customizable event settings to accommodate different industries, themes, or networking goals.
  • Branding options for event organizers and sponsors to incorporate their logos and colors.

Security and Privacy:

• • Robust security measures to protect user data and ensure the privacy of interactions.
  • Compliance with data protection regulations to build trust among users.

Post-Event Resources:

• • Access to post-event thumbnails of the people they met to enable easy follow up beyond the scheduled sessions.

Technical Support:

• • Realtime customer support to address any technical issues or concerns that participants may encounter during the networking event.

Success Coach:

• • Each event organizer works with our success coach to maximize the effectiveness of the SpeedNetworking.com platform from the event set up and marketing through the post event connections portal.

In-Person Event Option:

• • The same platform is used for in-person events to produce table numbers and printed meeting schedules to facilitate various room set ups.

Option to Exclude or Force Matches:

• • Event organizers can choose to exclude matching participants with people they should not meet or have already met in prior events. Organizers can also force matches to ensure critical connections happen during the event.

By enhancing these features with our 12 years of experience, the SpeedNetworking.com solution set creates a stellar event for participants and makes the networking process more efficient and enjoyable for the event organizer and participants.

The post The Important Features of the SpeedNetworking.com Solution Set appeared first on Speed Networking.

Planning virtual events is a multitasking marathon—you have to set goals, find a virtual space, promote the event, manage invitations, plan activities, troubleshoot technical issues, keep participants engaged, analyze event data—needless to say, event planners are masters of their craft to keep track of it all.

If you’re looking for a virtual event planning guide to hone these skills, you’ve come to the right blog. We’re covering the basics and beyond to answer the question all event planners have—how do you plan a successful virtual event?

How Do You Successfully Plan a Virtual Event? 7 Tips to Get Started

To give your virtual event a higher chance of success, keep in mind these seven tips: 

1. Set a Goal First

How many participants do you want in attendance? What actions do you want your audience to take during and after the event? Do you have a set conversion goal or number of products you’d like to sell? Clearly define short- and long-term goals to direct the rest of your planning.

2. Use a Quality Virtual Events Platform

The quality of your virtual meeting space will have a major impact on the efficiency and enjoyability of your event. Look for a platform that offers more than just a basic meeting room. It should be user-friendly with break-out rooms and multiple other options that will improve the overall event experience. 

3. Promote the Event

Let your target audience know the event is happening in as many ways as you can. Paid ads, email blasts, social media, an event webpage, sponsor announcements, press releases—use all of these promotional tools to your advantage. 

4. Send Out Invitations and Reminders

Invitations should have the date, time, and login information front and center. You can also include an event description, sponsorship information, and other attention-grabbing items, but the focus of your invitations should be how and when to participate. As the date gets closer, send out a few reminders to keep your event top-of-mind. 

5. Have Moderators on Hand

Even if you’ve dotted every “i” and crossed every “t,” your virtual event will likely have a few issues that require some troubleshooting. Ensure you have a moderator (or a few, if your event is large) to help participants, speakers, hosts, and everyone else involved if any problems come up. 

6. Follow Up With Participants

How do you know if a virtual event is successful? Just ask! Send out a survey to participants after the event is over and inquire about their thoughts. What did they like? What didn’t they like? What did they wish was included in your event? 

7. Reflect

Evaluating your event afterward might be the most crucial step. You’ll likely have data to sift through and analyze, attendee surveys to review, and other feedback to consider. Use these valuable insights to inspire or modify your next event and continuously seek ways to improve. 

What Are the Five Biggest Challenges to Conduct Virtual Events?

Even if you’ve mastered the basics of event planning, you’ll still likely encounter five big challenges in the areas of:

1. Engagement
2. Technology 
3. Flexibility
4. Analytics
5. Connection

We’ll take a look at each below and give you some solutions to combat these event planning headaches: 

1. Engagement

Every event planner knows the e-word—engagement. It’s always there in the back of your mind. Will this email description seem intriguing? Are participants going to lose interest if this runs this long? What if people don’t like the line-up of speakers? Engagement should dictate every aspect of your virtual event. 

An easy way to create engaging and successful online events is by including a variety of interactive activities. For example, you could offer a speed networking module that allows participants to connect with their peers in a one-on-one setting. This provides value to all stakeholders in that:

• Participants get to make professional connections
• Event planners can increase engagement
• Sponsors will want to sponsor again when the event is a hit

2. Technology

Even the most tech savvy of us have probably encountered a hiccup when it comes to putting on or attending virtual gatherings. But the tech challenge goes beyond the simple stuff, like broken internet connections or forgetting to press the unmute button. Virtual event planners need to think about how they use technology to create a memorable experience for participants, one they’re likely to walk away from feeling motivated and energized. Research creative ways to use the virtual space to your advantage, and look for a single platform that offers organization, inspiration, and multiple other features to keep things streamlined.

3. Flexibility

Have you ever multi-tasked during a virtual event or meeting? A recent study by Microsoft revealed that virtual meeting multitasking is a common behavior. This is something event planners must keep in mind for virtual events—you are competing for participant attention. It’s likely going to happen no matter what you do, so embrace it. Find ways to make your event flow with the many other items vying for people’s attention. Give attendees varied participation options so they can pick and choose what interests them and what fits into their schedules.

4. Analytics

One of the benefits of virtual events is the treasure trove of valuable data they can produce. However, collecting and analyzing that data can get a bit messy, especially when you’re hosting in one platform and gathering data in another. Use a platform that has hosting and data analysis features to ensure you don’t miss anything. With SpeedNetworking.com, for example, you can host a virtual networking event and receive actionable analytics during and after the occasion.

5. Connection

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s that we all need human connection. Psychological studies, recent research, and a wealth of other evidence supports the importance of human interaction to our physical and mental health.

How are your virtual events serving this need? Many virtual events require participants to sit through presentation after presentation with minimal opportunities to comment, converse, or simply interact in some way. As a virtual event planner, it’s your responsibility to create those moments for your attendees. Give them multiple opportunities for feedback and one-on-one moments to talk things through with other participants. Let them feel heard and take an active role in shaping your virtual event.

Need Some Successful Virtual Event Ideas? 

Consider adding a speed networking activity to your next virtual event with SpeedNetworking.com. All the challenges we’ve mentioned above? We have plenty of ways to solve them, including:

• A virtual event platform that prioritizes user experience for participants and planners
• Private, one-on-one virtual video conferencing
• An event manager dashboard to keep track of all the details
• A virtual lobby option where you can greet and inform participants as they arrive
• Machine learning algorithms and smart match scores that pair participants with common interests
• Sponsorship and monetization opportunities
• A post event participant portal, so your attendees can stay connected with each other
• Integration and automation capabilities
• Actionable analytics during and after your virtual event

To see how it all works, take SpeedNetworking.com for a test drive today!

The post How Do You Plan a Virtual Event? appeared first on Speed Networking.

Come hang out with the Founder Groups global community. Every 6 minutes you’ll be strategically matched with another awesome founder. Depending on how long you can stay, you’ll have a chance to connect with up to 6 other founders.

Spark a great conversation? Exchange contact info or simply continue chatting in the Founder Groups Slack channel. It’s that simple.

This event is open to all Founder Groups community members. Not a member of Startups.com Founder Groups? If you’re interested in becoming 10x the Founder by surrounding yourself with brilliant, connected peers who understand your pain and solve your problems together, you may apply for consideration here.

How To Register

1. Sign in or sign up for your free account on SpeedNetworking.com. 
2. In the box labeled “Join an Event”, Enter Event key FG-2022-2-11
3. Click the button to Register for the event.

Sign In / Sign Up

Date: Friday, February 11, 2022
Time: 12:00 PM CST – 1:00 PM CST
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 11, 2022 @ 11:45 AM CST
Cost: Free to all Founder Group Founders

Timeline (CST)

• 11:45am – Registration & Check-in Deadline
• 12:00pm – Welcome Lobby Kicks Off
• 12:10pm – 1st Round of Networking Begins
• 1:00pm – Event Concludes

What you can expect

• 1:1 video meetings with brilliant, connected Founders like yourself!
• Experience up to 6 one to one engagements for 7 minutes per meeting.
• Connect with startup leaders who understand your pain.

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About SpeedNetworking.com’s community building platform.  Our solution empowers event organizers to ensure their community is being intelligently connected and thriving.   From Fortune 500 to associations to chambers, organizations are all turning to SpeedNetwoking.com platform to stay competitive to attract, retain, develop, address DEIB and engage their communities.  Schedule a demo today!

The post February 11, 2022 Founder Groups Global Community Member Networking appeared first on Speed Networking.

The post Let’s Connect! – SpeedNetworking For Event Professionals appeared first on Speed Networking.

So what in the world is Predictive Matchmaking and how is it improving the process in which professionals meet at conferences/trade shows, alumni event, user conferences or networking events in general?

Think about your attendees needs and imagine connecting them with the people they are seeking and how that would impact your event and the impact of them returning for future events.

Predictive Match Making offers several unique advantages to traditional networking platforms for event organizers such as:

• Preview how individuals are matched up prior to the meetings taking place.
• Change the parameters on how individuals are to be paired together.
• Review and edit matches to ensure the highest quality of connections
• Furthermore, if they don’t like all or some of the matches…they system can rematch participants based on the organizers direction.

Moreover, event organizers can see how successful their pairings of matches can be with a specialized scoring system….and if you don’t like the scores, redo the matching structure and see the new outcome (and repeat until the right matching parameters are fulfilled)!

And trust us, successful people love structure…and knowing who they are going to meet elevates their interest in participation and increases their overall satisfaction.

The post We’ve Entered the World of Predictive Matchmaking Solutions appeared first on Speed Networking.

1. It’s not Zoom Rooms or Similar!
   Virtual matchmaking solutions are much more comprehensive and offer strategic matching supported by a well-orchestrated process to take attendees through a series of one-to-one private engagement meetings based on pre-defined matching criteria. These solutions save tremendous time on trying to match people up and dealing with the myriad of headaches that can be endured trying to match people together and then place them in a private virtual room.  
2. Solves Inclusion and Diversity Management
   Diversity in the workplace has long since been of paramount importance. Putting aside the social awareness benefit of a great diversity program, the outcomes significantly impact recruitment, retention, innovation, opportunities for new markets, financial outcomes, employee satisfaction and overall corporate culture.
3. Diversifies Attendee Networking Options
   Networking programs are like a financial portfolio; you don’t put all your eggs in one basket and financial professionals strongly encourage diversification. Not all networking programs fit the needs of individuals.  Diversify networking programs ensures opportunities for all types of attendees.  Programs can include buyer/seller, mentoring, leadership training, team building, knowledge sharing, cross department collaboration and much more!
4. Reduce Administrate Time & Stress
   Today’s solutions, such as SpeedNetworking.com, significantly reduce organizers administrative time and reduces stress as the tools today assist with set up, marketing, matching and the engagement of people is an innovative, engaging, and meaningful method.
5. Improve Meeting Quality
   Utilizing match making platforms significantly increases the chances that people meet the right people and helps ensures new smart connections. Additionally, SpeedNetworking.com allows organizers greater control through customization to ensure the best possible matching outcomes. 
6. Increase Attendee Engagement
   Attendees are busy people. When they know there is a solution to help ensure they meet the right people, participation significantly increases as this type of platform provides a greater opportunity of meeting the right people, as such, organizations have seen an increases in participation. 
7. Boost Recruitment / Retention
   Connecting attendees to the right people shows them the organization takes great interest in ensuring matching with the right people is important. In return for the organization’s efforts, attendees show their appreciation in turn by increased loyalty and retaining their relationship and spreading the good word about the organization on to others.  
8. Create New Revenue / Sponsorship Opportunities
   For organizations seeking to increase revenue opportunities, platforms, such as SpeedNetworking.com, offer multiple strategic sponsorship opportunities to maximize their sponsorship dollars and increase the chance for the best ROI.
9. Increase Attendee & Organization ROI
   For the organizers, reduced administrative, production, marketing and sponsorship opportunities supported by increase attendee participation and satisfaction leads to an elevated ROI. Furthermore, with quality reporting, the ROI can be validated to share with other staff and senior leadership.
10. Obtain Real Time & Comprehensive Valuable Data and Analyzing Outcomes
    Identifying a platform that provides smart reporting helps organizers understand the matching needs of their attendees. After reviewing all the data and analytics post an event, organizers can make smarter decisions on how to plan future events as they identify the very specific needs of their attendees.  Additionally, working with a platform that not only delivers the solution but works directly with the organizer to make suggestions for future events….is a no brainer…check out SpeedNetworking.com (we had to end with a plug!!!!)

Interested in learning more about SpeedNetworking.com, we’d love to connect with your.  Please follow “Click Here” to get started to learn how we can help your organization.

The post Top Reasons for Using Virtual Matchmaking appeared first on Speed Networking.

But because you only get a few minutes, you need to make the most of them. There’s no time for fluff or unnecessary small talk.

To really get to know the person across from you, you need to ask the right questions. It’s key to maximizing conversations and creating meaningful connections.

Here are one-hundred actually interesting speed networking questions to help kick off conversations:

(If you’re an event planner, we also have tips + tricks for how to host a successful speed networking event.)

Job-specific speed networking questions:

• What does a typical day look like for you?
• What is your favorite—and least favorite—part of your job?
• What’s the biggest project you’re currently working on?
• What is the most challenging part of your job?
• How do you overcome those challenges?
• How long have you been working in this job?
• How long do you see yourself continuing to work in this job?
• What are you most proud of accomplishing?
• What is an example of a time you failed in this job?
• What did you learn from it?
• What would you change about this job if you could?
• Do you have any advice for someone who wants a similar job?
• What does the future of this job look like for you?
• What types of teams do you work with?
• How many people are a part of your team?
• Do you have a mentor at this job?
• How about a mentee?
• Is there any way I can help you land a similar job?

Company-specific speed networking questions:

• What does your company do?
• Where is the company located?
• Do they have more than one office?
• How many people work for your company?
• What is your favorite—and least favorite—part of your company?
• What kind of perks does your company offer?
• Have you met the CEO?
• What types of professional development opportunities does your company offer?
• What is the organizational structure like at your company?
• How would you describe your company’s culture?
• What advice would you give to management at your company?
• How does your company measure success?
• Is your company meeting its mission?
• What is the most unique thing about your company?
• What would you say to someone who wants to work for your company?

Career-specific speed networking questions:

• What made you choose this career?
• Did you always know you wanted this type of career?
• What sparked your initial interest?
• What is the most challenging part of your career?
• What is the most rewarding part of your career?
• Do you have any advice for people who want to follow a similar career path?
• What is the most helpful information you’ve learned in your career?
• What hard and soft skills help you succeed the most in your career?
• What do you wish you knew more about?
• Where do you see yourself five years from now?
• Where were you five years ago?
• How can I help you in your career?

Industry-specific speed networking questions:

• What does the outlook of this industry look like?
• Is it growing or shrinking?
• What industry-specific tools have you found most helpful?
• Are there any industry certifications that I should be aware of?
• What advice do you have for building connections within this industry?
• Have you attended any industry conferences?
• And if so, what did you learn?
• What is the best way to break into this industry?
• What hurdles is this industry currently facing?
• How has technology affected the way this industry works?
• What is the best way to stay in the know about industry happenings?
• What is the biggest change this industry is undergoing?
• How can I help you in the industry?

Productivity-specific speed networking questions:

• How do you stay organized?
• What tools or software do you use to increase your productivity?
• Do you use a project management software?
• What kind of communication platforms do you use? Email, Slack, instant messaging, etc.
• Do you have any routines that have helped increase your productivity?
• How do you decide which tasks to tackle first?
• Do you make a to-do list every day?
• If so, how do you organize it?
• What’s the best advice you received that has helped you be more productive?

How-to-get-hired speed networking questions:

• What do you look for in a candidate?
• What should I include in my resume?
• What shouldn’t I include?
• Are there specific skills that need to be on my resume?
• Do I need an online portfolio?
• What can I do to set myself apart from other candidates?
• What do you look for in a cover letter?
• What interview tips do you have?
• What is the biggest mistake candidates make in the hiring process?
• What questions should I ask in an interview?
• What do you think is more important: previous experience or a willingness to learn?
• How should I follow up after an interview? With a hand-written note or an email?
• Is there anything I can do to help you get hired?

Event-specific speed networking questions:

• What brought you to this event?
• What are you hoping to take away from it?
• Are there any specific people—or types of people—you’re hoping to meet?
• Have you attended a speed networking event before? How did it go? What did you learn?
• Do you have any speed networking tips?
• How can I help you meet your networking goals at this event?
• Is there anyone here I can introduce you to here?
• Is there anyone in my network I can introduce you to?

It’s important to remember that networking isn’t just about you. It’s important to ask the questions you need answers to, but don’t forget to ask how you can help too.

Here are some helpful networking tips + tricks.

You should focus on long-lasting relationships, not short-term transactions.

Networking is really just a fancy word for relationship building. Care about who people are—not just what they can do for you.

Remember that you must give before you get. There needs to be cultivation before solicitation. Sell through the room, not to the room.

And never underestimate the importance of a thoughtful thank-you note. Your follow-up is just as important as your first impression.

So, there you have it. Speed networking questions that are actually interesting.

If you’re one of the many people who dread networking, just remember to stay curious. Ask questions you actually want to know the answer to. Be your authentic self so you don’t feel phony or fake.

If you’re interested in hosting a speed networking event, we’d love to help. Not only do we have years of experience under our belt, but we also have a special technology up our sleeve.

Allow us to introduce you to the idea of matching software. Rather than having attendees rotate each round to the next chair, we match based on mutual interests.

Attendees can quite literally pre-select the types of people they’re interested in meeting. Need we say more?

To learn more about us (and our technology), give us a call or schedule an online demo. We’d love to learn more about your organization and networking needs.

The post Speed Networking Questions: 100 (Actually Interesting) Things to Ask appeared first on Speed Networking.

Call us crazy, but we are passionate about what we do and believe that everyone should have the ability to host a successful speed networking event (with or without partnering with us). For event planners who choose to produce their own event (although we hope you consider SpeedNetworking.com), we have created a cheat sheet of critical elements to planning and executing a successful speed networking event. 

This is a partial list of crucial items we discuss with our clients.

If you want a more complete list, download our free Ebook.  

Room Set-up:

Tables:

We recommend classroom-style seating for the best results. This is typically done with 72” x 18” tables and 4 chairs (2 meetings) at each table. We’ve provided a diagram at the end of this post to illustrate an ideal room set-up.

Table #s:

Our events include customized schedules that direct participants to different tables, which means our events require table’s. We strongly recommend putting table #’s out, even if you aren’t using customized schedules. It makes the event more manageable and you can help direct people more easily with table numbers as guides. We encourage the use of 12” table number stands as well.

The speed networking event is going to produce a lot of energy and body heat. If you are in a room or designated area, try to make the room cooler than normal at the start of the event. It may feel chilly at first but as the event gets going, the room temperature (and the conversations!) will start to warm up.

Water:

This is possibly the single most important item to have at the event but is oftentimes overlooked. If you can, put multiple water stations around the room for participants to fill up glasses. This typically works better than providing bottles of water ahead of time, as participants often leave these at tables and/or spend time filling up the entire bottle in between rounds.

Audio:

For simplicity, we recommend only having a wireless microphone for the event facilitator (with speakers, of course). This enables you to walk around the room and manage the event while on the move.

Video:

We discourage our partners from incorporating any sort of video/screen at the event. A timer on a video board tends to take away from the event, as participants are more focused on the timer than the conversations. It also gives you more control over the event when you can manage the timing. If you need to extend a round by 60-seconds or cut a round short by 30-seconds, you can do this on the fly without anyone noticing.

Event Check-In:

Pre-Registered:

Our schedules are arranged in alphabetical order by last name, which allows us to easily find individual schedules when they arrive at the event. If you aren’t using schedules, print off the names of everyone attending the event (make a few copies) so that you can track who has arrived and who has not. This Event Video also helps act as a guide.

Info Sheet:

In an effort to expedite the check-in process, we hand out a 1-page information sheet to each participant that explains how the event will work. This is important if you have a first-time event, as it will answer a lot of questions for participants and allow you to focus on running the event.

Mingle:

Participants will arrive at different times (typically over a 15-minute time window) and during this time we encourage everyone to mingle with those around them. After all, it is a networking event! Let them know that this is a “bonus round” of networking before the event starts.

Moderating:

Control:

As the moderator, it is critical that you maintain control and set the tone for the event. Once everyone has arrived and you’re ready to begin, it’s important to provide clear instructions/announcements about the event. Give an overview of the structure of the event, objectives (peer-to-peer, mentoring, buyer/seller, etc.), how to maximize the conversations, and what to expect from participating. Try and limit the instructions to 10-minutes.

Commands: 

One critical element to the success of your event is maintaining control, and as silly as some of the commands below may seem…..you’ll be amazed at how well people appreciate structure.

Begin Round x:

This signals that the round has begun.

Half Way:

Inform participants that they are halfway through a particular round. This gives them an idea of how much time is left and it also is a signal to allow the other person to have a chance to talk.

30 Seconds Left:

Let participants know that the round is coming to an end. They should finish their conversations and exchange contact information to connect after the event.

Rotate:

As you can guess, this signals participants to move to the next round.

Rotation Notes:

Reminder participants to take their personal belongings with them and quickly move to their next meeting. If you are timing the rotations, let them know when they have 30 seconds and 15 seconds left to finish rotating.

Wrap-Up: 

Upon completing the event, it is important to provide wrap up announcements. You should remind your participants to follow-up with their new connections to continue building the relationships. Always discourage them from sending a blanket email to everyone and instead, write a personal note to each of the new connections. We encourage you to host additional networking after the event to allow participants to continue their discussions or meet with others that they did not meet during the event.

If you are not up to the task of running your own event or you simply want to elevate the networking experience for you and your attendees, we would love to talk to you.

Give us a call for a free consultation or schedule a demo to learn more.

The post How to Run a Speed Networking Event appeared first on Speed Networking.