“80% of B2B customers make decisions based on the experience they have with each other. This is a clear indicator of how important networking can be for business.”
Networking is essential at every event, whether it is a conference, trade exhibition, or corporate gathering. It fosters exchanges of knowledge and the discovery of prospective business opportunities by facilitating connections among attendees. It is vital to give abundant networking opportunities in addition to creating an immersive event experience with modern technology, captivating exhibits, and recognised keynote speakers.
While participants may go home with prizes and instructional guides, the key to having a memorable and talked-about event is to provide compelling networking opportunities. Fortunately, the development of innovative technologies has greatly benefited event planners in making networking opportunities more accessible, convenient, and efficient, consequently connecting like-minded participants throughout the event lifetime.
In this blog we will delve into the benefits of networking at any event and have a look at some of the features that make the networking aspect in events smooth.
Understanding the Benefits of Networking
Expand your professional network: Networking allows you to broaden your professional circle, boosting your chances of discovering new employment prospects, partnerships, and possible clients. It allows you to access a larger pool of resources, knowledge, and skills.
Build relationships and enable collaborations: Events provide a platform for networking with peers in the field, potential mentors, and thought leaders. These connections can lead to collaborations, joint ventures, and useful insights that can help you advance in your profession or business.
Enhance personal and professional growth: Attending events with diverse professionals exposes you to new perspectives, ideas, and experiences. This exposure promotes personal and professional development by extending vistas and questioning assumptions.
Keep up with industry trends: Certain events frequently draw industry experts and thought leaders who share valuable insights and knowledge. Attending these events allows you to stay abreast of the latest trends, emerging technologies, and industry best practices.
Solution offered by Samaaro for Networking in Events
Matchmaking: Our matchmaking feature updates matches in real-time based on users’ previous connections and shared interests. For example, if you’re interested in machine learning, you’ll be shown a list of people who share that interest. Once you connect with individuals who are also marketers, the algorithm starts suggesting people who are interested in machine learning and are also marketers. This real-time updating ensures that you’re presented with more relevant connections, increasing the likelihood of finding meaningful matches.
Breakout Rooms: Breakout rooms allow for smaller, more concentrated talks among people who have common interests. Samaaro incorporates a breakout room feature, which allows attendees to join specific topic-based discussions. Event organizers can create and moderate these rooms, ensuring a conducive environment for networking and knowledge exchange.
Meeting Scheduler: Efficient scheduling is vital for maximizing networking opportunities. Build an easy-to-use meeting scheduler that allows attendees to schedule one-on-one meetings with other attendees. This feature is particularly useful in the pre-event phase, as it empowers users to plan their calendar effectively. Attendees can view the availability of other participants and identify potential time slots that align with their own schedule. Users can see each other’s availability and send meeting requests, which eliminates the need for back-and-forth communication and speeds up the networking process.
Business Card Exchange: The days of worrying about losing business cards are long gone. In a digital age, exchanging physical business cards may seem outdated. Instead, you can include a digital business card exchange feature that allows attendees to easily share their contact information. Users can scan one other’s QR codes or share information directly through the app, ensuring convenient and efficient information sharing.
Attendee Chat & Video Call: The inclusion of a chat and video call function within the event platform enhances networking by enabling real-time communication. This feature proves valuable before and after the event, allowing participants to connect and converse seamlessly. Prior to the event, it facilitates introductions, idea exchange, and relationship building. During the event, it enables immediate interactions, question asking, and deeper connections through face-to-face video calls. Post-event, it serves as a communication channel for ongoing engagement, resource sharing, and collaboration. Overall, this feature adds convenience, personalization, and effectiveness to networking experiences, fostering meaningful connections.
Group Activities and Games: Networking can go beyond the conventional formats. To foster engagement and collaboration, incorporate group activities and games. Attendees can take part in team competitions, virtual scavenger hunts, or icebreaker games, providing a fun and engaging environment that allows for comfortable networking and is a great icebreaker between attendees.
In conclusion, the value of networking during events cannot be emphasised. It acts as a catalyst for professional development, personal development, and the establishment of important connections that can have a tremendous impact on our lives. Individuals can manage events with confidence, establish discussions with ease, and build relationships that extend beyond the event itself by applying the approaches mentioned in this post. Networking, whether at a conference, seminar, or industry event, provides excellent opportunity to learn, collaborate, and create new possibilities. So, embrace the power of networking, get out of your comfort zone, and you’ll discover a world of limitless possibilities just waiting to be discovered. Always keep in mind that every connection you make can affect your future, both personally and professionally.
