Having created and hosted my first event, I wanted to give your the early results. It was a small event with 12 attendees. I had planned for 15-20 and there were four last minute cancellations. I was very stressed that the event would be too small, thinking that people would feel it was a waste of their time. I have attended networking events and been disappointed with turnout, I didn’t want people to feel that way at my event.
It didn’t, and here’s why:
- Networking wasn’t the focus. The event had a purpose and an activity, other than passing out cards.
- I didn’t call it networking. I used the word “social” and it felt like a party.
- I had a great room. The studio at Peterson Photography was set up with a couch, coffee table and some small bistro chairs. We spread the food and wine out in three stations so people would gather in small groups and move to get more wine, savory or sweet snacks.
- Small can be an advantage. Everyone who attended commented on how happy they were that it wasn’t big “like a networking thing”.
- Have someone else run the activity. When I have parties at home, I never get to see the guests. Having the main attraction as the portrait photography, the photographer and her assistant managed moving people in and out and I got to mingle.
- Invite some ringers. While my purpose was to meet new prospects, I also invited some colleagues who have become friends. Having a few people I know mixed in made it feel that much more social.
- Follow up. In addition to the new connections I made who already have thought of needs, We will be mailing their pictures along with some information as a secondary, subtle reinforcement. Having met both me and the photographer, they are much more likely to read about or businesses now.
- Lastly, I cold emailed to a list of 1700 people for four weeks and got only about 40 unsubscribes. If I had done the same thing with a newsletter about my company it would have been mass exodus, crossing those prospects off our list forever. I opened communication by offering something of value positioned well for my prospects and they responded by letting me speak to them.
I had three purposes when creating this event: build the image of my firm, get in the room with great prospects, and warm up an audience so I could email regularly about other programs and eventually other news. It has worked very well and we are in full swing promoting next month’s meatier and more expensive program, Social Media Connections, Making Then Work at Work.
I was one of the lucky people who attended Beth’s Headshot Social and I had a great time and met and spent time with several new people who I would never have met were it not for this event. This is my kind of networking. Sure we talked about what we all did for work but we talked a lot about our real lives as well.
You did a great job and I think the room setting you mentioned is a key ingredient. Even if there had been 50 people there it would still have felt intimate with groups of three or four hanging out talking and getting to know one another. I didn’t even know it was a networking event…I thought it was a cocktail party!
Thanks Traci!