How To: Hosting a Networking Event Doesn’t Suck

Let’s face it: networking events can be boring. You know the drill: you show up at a bland venue, exchange some small talk with strangers, and hand out your business cards. You hope to make some meaningful connections, but you end up feeling awkward, bored, and frustrated.

But what if you could turn your networking event into a fun, engaging, and memorable experience for your guests? What if you could attract the right people, spark meaningful conversations, and create lasting relationships?

Do you want to grow your professional network and reputation? Do you want to attract and connect with the right people in your industry or niche? Want to have fun and enjoy yourself while doing it?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to host a networking event that rocks. A networking event that is not boring, awkward, or frustrating. A networking event that is fun, engaging, and memorable. Your own networking event that will make your guests rave about you, your brand, and your message.

But how do you host a networking event that rocks?

How do you plan and execute a successful networking event that will achieve your goals and exceed your expectations?

In this blog post, I’m going to show you how. I’m going to share with you the secrets and tips that AAC has learned from our thousands of clients hosting hundreds of networking events that rocked. I’m going to show you how to:

• Pick a theme and a goal that resonate with your guests
• Make it interactive and gamified to break the ice and boost the fun
• Provide value and variety to keep your guests engaged and interested

By the end of this blog post, you will have a clear idea of how to host a networking event that rocks. You will be able to create your own networking event that will help you grow your professional network and reputation.

Ready to rock? Let’s dive in.

Pick a theme and a goal that resonate with your guests

The first step to hosting a networking event that rocks is to pick a theme and a goal that resonate with your guests. A theme and a goal that will make them curious, excited, and eager to join your event.

A theme is the main topic or idea of your event. It helps you narrow down your target audience, set the tone and mood for your event, and create a common ground for conversation. For example, you can pick a theme related to your industry, such as “The Future of Fintech” or “The Rise of AI”. Or you can pick a theme based on your interests, hobbies, or passions, such as “Travel Lovers” or “Bookworms”.

A goal is the main purpose or outcome of your event. It helps you measure the success of your event and provide value to your guests. For example, your goal can be to generate leads, find potential partners, or learn new skills.

Once you have a theme and a goal, you can use them to craft a catchy and compelling invitation and follow-up message for your guests. You can also use them to decide on the format, venue, and activities for your event.

Here are some tips on how to pick a theme and a goal that resonate with your guests:

• Research your audience: Find out who they are, what they want, and what they need. Use online tools like LinkedIn or Facebook to learn more about their profiles, interests, and preferences. Use online surveys or polls to ask them directly what they are looking for in a networking event.
• Align your theme and goal with your brand and message: Make sure that your theme and goal are consistent and coherent with your brand and message. Use your theme and goal to communicate your brand identity, values, and personality to your guests. Use your theme and goal to showcase your expertise, authority, and credibility in your field or niche.
• Be specific and relevant: Avoid generic or vague themes and goals that can confuse or bore your guests. Choose themes and goals that are specific and relevant to your audience, industry, or niche. Choose themes and goals that are timely, trendy, or controversial, and that can spark curiosity, excitement, or debate among your guests.

Make it interactive and gamified to break the ice and boost the fun

The second step to hosting a networking event that rocks is to make it interactive and gamified. Interactive and gamified means that you use various tools and techniques to encourage participation, feedback, and collaboration among your guests. This way, you can break the ice, boost the fun, and create a positive and energetic atmosphere.

Here are some examples of interactive and gamified tools and techniques that you can use:

• Polls and surveys: You can use online platforms like Mentimeter or Slido to create polls and surveys that your guests can answer using their smartphones. You can then display the results on a screen and use them as conversation starters. For example, you can ask your guests to vote on their favorite travel destination, book, or movie.
• Quizzes and trivia: You can use online platforms like Kahoot or Quizizz to create quizzes and trivia that your guests can play individually or in teams. You can then reward the winners with prizes or recognition. For example, you can quiz your guests on their knowledge of your industry, theme, or brand.
• Games and icebreakers: Create games and icebreakers that your guests can play in small groups or pairs. You can then ask them to share their experiences or insights with the rest of the audience. Obviously, you want to cater these to the industry of your event. Need ideas checkout this blog from ASANA on 45 Team Building Games to Play With Your Team.

Here are some tips on how to make your event interactive and gamified:

• Choose the right tools and techniques for your audience and theme: Make sure that the tools and techniques you use are suitable and appropriate for your audience and theme. Use tools and techniques that are easy to use, fun to play, and relevant to your topic. Avoid tools and techniques that are too complicated, boring, or offensive for your guests.
• Balance the challenge and the fun: Make sure that the tools and techniques you use are challenging enough to keep your guests interested and engaged, but not too hard to make them frustrated or discouraged. Use tools and techniques that are fun and enjoyable, but not too easy to make them bored or complacent. Adjust the difficulty and the duration of your tools and techniques according to your guests’ feedback and performance.
• Encourage interaction and collaboration: Make sure that the tools and techniques you use are interactive and collaborative, and not passive or competitive. Use tools and techniques that require your guests to communicate, cooperate, and share with each other, and not to isolate, compete, or compare with each other. Foster a friendly and supportive environment where your guests can learn from and help each other.

Provide value and variety to keep your guests engaged and interested at networking events

The third step to hosting a networking event that rocks is to provide value and variety to your guests. Value and variety means that you offer different types of content, activities, and experiences that are relevant and useful to your guests. This way, you can keep your guests engaged, interested, and satisfied throughout the event.

Here are some examples of value and variety that you can offer:

• Content: You can provide informative, inspiring, or entertaining content that relates to your theme and goal. You can use different formats, such as presentations, panels, workshops, or podcasts. You can also invite experts, influencers, or celebrities to share their insights, stories, or tips. For example, you can host a presentation on the latest trends and innovations in your industry, a panel discussion on the best practices and challenges in your field, or a workshop on how to improve your skills or solve a problem.
• Activities: You can provide fun, creative, or challenging activities that allow your guests to interact, learn, or compete with each other. You can use different types of activities, such as networking games, speed dating, scavenger hunts, or escape rooms. You can also provide incentives, rewards, or recognition for the participants. For example, you can host a networking game where your guests have to find and talk to people who share a common interest, hobby, or goal, a speed dating session where your guests have to pitch themselves or their ideas in a short time, or a scavenger hunt where your guests have to find and collect clues or items related to your theme or brand.
• Experiences: You can provide memorable, immersive, or surprising experiences that make your guests feel special, delighted, or amazed. You can use different types of experiences, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, live entertainment, or pop-up events. You can also provide personalized, customized, or exclusive experiences for your guests. For example, you can host a virtual reality experience where your guests can explore a different world or scenario related to your theme or goal, a live entertainment show where your guests can enjoy a performance by a famous artist or comedian, or a pop-up event where your guests can discover a hidden or secret location or activity related to your theme or brand.

Here are some tips on how to provide value and variety to your networking events:

• Choose the right content, activities, and experiences for your audience and theme: Make sure that the content, activities, and experiences you offer are suitable and appropriate for your audience and theme. Offer content, activities, and experiences that are relevant, useful, and interesting to your guests, and that can help them achieve your goal. Avoid content, activities, and experiences that are irrelevant, useless, or boring to your guests, or that can distract them from your goal.
• Balance the quality and the quantity of your content, activities, and experiences: Make sure that the content, activities, and experiences you offer are high-quality and valuable, but not too overwhelming or exhausting for your guests. Offer content, activities, and experiences that are well-prepared, well-presented, and well-executed, but not too long, too complex, or too demanding for your guests. Adjust the quality and the quantity of your content, activities, and experiences according to your guests’ feedback and satisfaction.

Mix and match your content, activities, and experiences to create a unique and diverse agenda

The final step to hosting a networking event that rocks for marketers is to mix and match your content, activities, and experiences to create a unique and diverse agenda. An agenda is the plan or schedule of your event, which outlines the sequence, timing, and duration of your content, activities, and experiences. An agenda can help you organize and manage your event, and provide a clear and smooth flow for your guests.

Here are some examples of how you can mix and match your content, activities, and experiences to create a unique and diverse agenda:

Alternate between content, activities, and experiences in your networking events

You can alternate between content, activities, and experiences, where you provide different types of value and variety to your guests, and keep them engaged and interested throughout the event. You can also balance the challenge and the fun, and encourage interaction and collaboration among your guests. For example, you can follow this sequence:

To host networking events that truly stand out, we’ve adopted the INSPIRE framework to create a memorable and impactful experience for our guests. Here’s what each letter represents in our carefully curated event sequence:

Introduction (5 minutes):

We kick off with a warm welcome, setting the stage for what’s to come. We’ll outline the event’s purpose and what you can expect, ensuring everyone is on the same page from the start.

Networking game (15 minutes):

Dive into an engaging activity designed to break the ice and foster meaningful connections. Participants will find and converse with others who share a specific interest in social impact projects or causes.

Sustainability Impact Presentation (15 minutes):

A focused 15-minute presentation on sustainability best-practices your industry follows, where insights, best practices, and case studies are shared. This segment invites guests to contribute their experiences and questions, enriching the collective learning.

Pause (10 minutes):

A well-timed break allows everyone to relax, refresh, and engage in casual conversations. This interlude is accompanied by light refreshments and soothing music to add to the ambiance. Don’t underestimate the importance of this step! It might seem insignificant, but it’s the precursor to building connections at the end of any networking event.

Interactive quiz (10 minutes):

Test your knowledge with a quiz on industry relevant trivia. This fun and informative session uses platforms like Kahoot or Quizizz, with prizes awaiting the winners.

Real experience (15 minutes):

Experience the tangible impact of marketing campaigns through a real-time training showcase. You can incorporate cool tech like a virtual reality showcase or a free marketing playbook that you go through with your guests. Or an immersive segment offers a firsthand look at the positive changes your work brings to communities. This is the practical value you can give to your attendees.

Evaluation (10 minutes):

We conclude with a session for feedback and future engagement. Express your thoughts on the event and how we can evolve. Join our online community, sign up for newsletters, and stay informed about upcoming events.

By following the INSPIRE sequence, we ensure that our content, activities, and experiences are diverse, engaging, and, most importantly, inspiring.

By mixing and matching your content, activities, and experiences, you can create a unique and diverse agenda that will make your event stand out in a sea of vapid networking events. Hopefully this blog has helped you avoid the pitfalls of awkward, suck-y networking events.

And if you need event supplies, there’s only one place to go. We’re AAC, the one-stop event shop!

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