Key Takeaways: To boost networking at events, structure your schedule, create online engagement, and use wristbands strategically to help people connect.
- Start building connections before the event with online channels and a dedicated hashtag.
- Include networking breaks and breakout sessions to give people space to mingle.
- Provide free food and drink as a natural way for attendees to gather and talk.
- Use colour-coordinated wristbands to help people identify roles, industries, or groups and break the ice.
Business events are a great way to get like-minded people together to discuss the issues that matter to them. When done correctly, business events are also great networking opportunities, but for these events to be successful there needs to be a structure in place to allow people to mingle. When planning events like conferences and seminars, it can be easy to get caught up in the logistical details such as ensuring that audio visual equipment is working, but it’s also important to pay attention to networking opportunities. Things like making sure there is a natural place to gather can be vital for a successful event. Here are some other ways to ensure successful your networking event is successful.
Create an online community
On the run up to the event, encourage online conversation to help break the ice before the event has even got underway. Introducing a hashtag specific to your event and letting the attendees know to keep track of it is a great way to encourage people to start talking to each other beforehand and during the event.
- Create online communities or event-specific hashtags to break the ice.
- Encourage early conversation so people feel more comfortable when the event starts.
- Schedule in breaks, breakout areas, and offer food/drink to facilitate mingling.
- Use colour-coded wristbands for different roles or groups to spark conversations.
Include networking time in the schedule
When planning an event, it can be tempting to try to schedule back-to-back speeches to fit everyone in. However, if you want to allow people a chance to mingle and network then it’s important to vary the schedule. Including some breakout sessions.
Provide free food and drink
When people start to get hungry at a networking event, they’ll leave the premises if there isn’t a selection of food available. Food and drink is a natural conversation starter and also gives people an excuse to gather in one area. It’s important that the food and drink are offered for free as queuing at the bar isn’t the best way to get the conversation started during an event.
Colour Co-ordinate Wristbands
Name badges can get very complicated and actually put people off talking to each other. If you will be asking your attendees to wear wristbands during the event, colour coordinating these can help people to strike up conversations. Speakers can wear one colour, staff can wear another colour, returning guests can wear another colour and so on. If you are expecting people from different industries, you could ask them to wear a Tyvek wristband that is a different colour for each industry.
Make Your Next Event More Connected
Use tools like colour-coordinated wristbands, pre-event organising, and thoughtful scheduling to enhance networking and leave attendees feeling engaged.
