Planning a Networking Event
When you are planning a networking event, one of the most important things that you can do is spread the word about your event. While you might make sure that you and your close contacts attend your event, it will mean nothing if nobody else attends because they did not hear about it. Promote your event through fliers and social media. Through word of mouth, news of your networking event will reach other people.
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Allow guests to register for the event, even if there is no cover charge. That way, you can send out e-mails to remind people of the upcoming event. At the event, let guests check in with their names and e-mail addresses. At the same time, do not pressure them too much if they do not want to give their information. The main purpose of this information is to let people know of future events and you can also ask them for their feedback after your event.
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While it is important to feed your guests, the food is not the main event so a banquet or buffet is not necessary. Your guests will not be expecting a full course meal. You can stick to foods that are easy to eat like appetizers and platters. Avoid a sit-down event at tables, as this will prevent people from being able to walk around and mingle.
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For a networking event, bite-sized foods are the best way to go. This way, people can mingle, meet new contacts, and exchange information without having to worry about food getting in the way of any new potential connections. Avoid choosing foods that require a fork. You also don’t want to serve food that can get messy or stuck in your teeth. Try to stay away from strong-smelling flavors like garlic and onion as well.
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Try to prepare your guests ahead of time so they know what to expect. Let everyone know through social media how many attendants you expect to have. This way, people can bring the right amount of fliers, business cards, and samples that they need to bring.
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Come up with a schedule that you can provide the attendants with. You will want to make registration the first thing on the schedule, which can take a half hour. Next is introductions, followed by announcements, presentations, and freestyle networking. Lastly, you will not want to forget the food.
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As the host, it is your job to introduce yourself to all attendants and to make sure that people are mingling instead of standing alone in a corner. If your networking event will be a big one, then you might want to recruit help from some willing volunteers to ensure that the event will run smoothly.
At JRC, we can provide you with the perfect spread of food for your networking event. From a wide variety of hot and cold appetizers to snack and dessert platters, your guests will be able to easily navigate your networking event. Let our team make your networking event a huge success.