Grand openings, customer appreciation, ribbon cuttings, new member orientation, lunch & learn, these are all fancy pseudonyms for networking events.  While meeting new people is wonderful the real power of the event falls back on the development relationships with the people you meet.

Now there are usually 5 types of people at an event:

1. Card Peddler– Just there to dish out their cards and leave so they can say they made the effort to go to the event.
2. Serial Networker– The person who is at every event and aims to collect everyone’s card as fast as they so they can add them to their spam list.
3. Connector– The person who is working the room to make sure to connect anyone and everyone that they can.
4. Savvy Networker– The laid back but focused person who looks to meet 1 or 2 great people at every event. They make connections as often as they can, but are more focused on learning about those they converse with.
5. Host– Person or Organization who is running the shindig.

I think is goes without saying that avoiding being or hanging out with numbers 1 and 2 is imperative to making the most of an event.

Let’s talk about the power player, the host. This is the most influential person at any event. They are the one with the list, the one who chooses when they or others get to speak, the only perceived authority figure in the room, the one with the clout!

When you are the host you are the one everyone wants to connect with; however you are also usually the one making sure everything is flowing smoothly and people are enjoying themselves so it is important to have support.

Here are 7 ways to make sure your event is packed with your target audience:

1. Leverage professional association’s you are a part of or where you target demographic is. Many organizations have ribbon cuttings, grand openings, and networking opportunities. The more organizations you can quietly or publicly band together the more influential the event will be.

• Example: I went to a grand opening of a Title Agency in South Tampa. They are a part of two Chambers of Commerce, and various other organizations. They had both Chambers promote their ribbon cutting and spaced them out by an hour. This drew an additional 100+ people than the average mediocre attendance at these types of events.

2. Invite clients as an appreciation opportunity.

3. Utilize your local business publications. The Business Journal, Gulf Coast Business Review, etc. You will need to potentially give a different title to the event for different audiences.

Examples:

• Clients– Customer Appreciation
• Chamber– Ribbon Cutting
• Biz Journal– CEO Happy Hour
• General Population– Networking Event

4. Engage with vendors to invite their contacts and clients

5. Invite a few people you know that can be connectors in the room. This is an excellent way to make sure people are meeting each other and the not so outgoing people will feel welcome and included.

6. Post to social media

• Do a Promoted Post on Facebook
• Post into a discussion on LinkedIn

7. Include in all promotions the availability of food, drinks, entertainment, and door prizes.

As a great sales trainer once said “The fortune is in the follow up!”

Whether you are hosting an event or attending, make your follow up timely and mutually beneficial for all parties concerned.

If you would like to join us at one of these events and mingle with executives from around Tampa Bay come out to one of our amazing clients, FCS Inc. on May 9^th for a grand opening of their remodeled office.

Event Details:

May 9^th, 4:30-7:30
8315 N. Saulray St. Tampa, Fl. 33604
Food, Beer, and a Cigar Bar!
Door Prize: Two Kindle Fire

Good luck at your next networking function and we hope to see you around.

If you would like to RSVP for the FCS Grand Opening, email Sherri Leach- sherri.leach@fcsinc.com.

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