The prospect of meeting interesting and potential allies - career-wise or for business partnerships - ranks high as a motivation for attendees of conferences.
Even though there are no face-to-face interactions, handshakes, or bumping into someone at the coffee line, virtual conference networking equally offers great opportunities. The Wall Street Journal reports that networking is crucial in this time of virtual experiences. Leads are always available, and virtual conference networking events can be just as effective as physical ones. If done properly, of course.
As boundaries shift or, in some cases, disappear completely, the question is, how do you harness these new horizons? Or, more specifically, how can you maximize the networking experience at virtual events?
More so, if you’re also someone who's thinking of hosting his own event, we at Oreed aim to provide a top-notch online event platform that helps event organizers connect with their target audience in an unforgettable way. Our goal is to remove the hassle normally associated with virtual conference networking events, so organizers and exhibitors can focus on what matters most: engaging the audience.
The following are some ways to build effective one-on-one relationships.
1. Set your virtual conference networking goals
Pinpointing your networking goals is the first step in the right direction for successful networking. By narrowing down your targets, you will be able to concentrate on meaningful relationships. If you want to set realistic networking goals, you should ask yourself who the most important person/brand is, how you are going to meet them virtually, and how many targets you can achieve. You will have a crystal clear direction on your target this way.
2. Make social media a part of your marketing strategy
One of the best virtual networking ideas is to leverage social media. Actively post on your social page/s before and after attending the event.
If you post a description of the event you're going to attend, mention your enthusiasm and expectations as an attendee. This might help you discover other attendees or encourage others to register.
Use the event hashtags in your posts so you can categorize and increase engagement. Once you've done that, you can also click on them to see if you can enter into discussions.
Find out the latest dates and information by joining the event page.
It's a great networking opportunity to start engaging and creating relationships with others before the event even starts on social media.
3. Make your attendee profile stand out
Attendees interested in virtual conference networking events are encouraged to create profiles to connect and search for one another.
When well-crafted, it can showcase your unique qualities and experiences, helping you stand out and be more memorable.
Furthermore, it gives you a chance to meet prospects and business partners.
Make sure you fill out all the fields in the event profile. This will help you attract attendees' attention if you highlight your unique skills, interests, and experiences.
In addition, we recommend that you link your social media accounts if at all possible. This will allow you to gain new followers and quickly engage with your audience.
4. Take advantage of speed networking
How to network at a virtual conference? Here's an easy and established route. Speed networking is an established method of introducing yourself and telling your guests what you do. Put a fun twist on it by making it more personal with guest instead of their title.
Provide prompts urging people to talk about their dreams, their personal highlights, and what they do on the weekends. Developing your professional network isn't just about connecting with the right people.
In this changing version of speed networking, people can meet people they get along with personally - whether their interests are similar or they have a completely different outlook on life.
5. Establish a small community
Use the private messaging features on the event platform to have side conversations with attendees. Unlike in-person events, virtual conference networking events allow users to have private conversations during presentations.
In addition to engaging in live sessions, you can also engage in private conversations with other participants. Starting by asking your connections about what they think of the speaker can help build trust and show the new contact that you value what they have to say.
6. Share insightful content
Prepare infographics, compile resources you've found helpful, and create branded content you can share with others. Giving more than you take is a smart networking strategy.
Use relevant article links to highlight a topic or go into more depth. Be smart with your sharing, so you don't overwhelm the discussion.
7. Be a part of the discussion
Your insightful comments can spark conversations with other attendees, which may lead to future collaborations or partnerships. Participating in planned events is the fastest way to make your presence felt.
Take part in breakout sessions and share your industry expertise to establish your credibility. You should provide some comments or ask a few questions per session so that other participants can share their insights and questions. Do not overdo your enthusiasm when sharing ideas.
8. Follow up on your new connections.
While the virtual event is still fresh in everyone's mind, be sure to follow these steps in the first three days following the event:
- Send an email thanking your event contacts and asking for further conversations
- Find out what people are saying about the event on social media platforms; connect with them
- Send link requests with reference to the event to your new connections on LinkedIn
- If you set up any post-event meetings/calls during the event, double-check your notes to make sure you attend them after the event.
Don't forget to check your spam folder regularly to avoid missing any similar requests from people trying to connect with you.
9. Sign up to speak at the event
One of the fastest and most effective ways to gain exposure at an event is by sharing your expertise.
Being a speaker in front of hundreds or thousands of other attendees makes you more attractive to other networkers.
You can not only expose yourself as an individual but also showcase your organization's innovative work by speaking at a conference.
Networking Opens Up Opportunities
Many people who have achieved high levels of success in their chosen field will tell you that networking has been key to their success. The benefits of attending prestigious schools, joining sororities, fraternities, or participating in alumni networks are often cited as networking and relationship building. In addition to its popularity, LinkedIn is also one of the biggest social media platforms.
People who use LinkedIn are proving that virtual networking works as evidenced by the success stories around the people who use the service. Virtual connections can lead to business partnerships, jobs, and more.
Regardless of your role at the event, virtual events are a great way to expand your professional network.
For sponsors:
To reach out to prospective customers, sponsors and exhibitors invest their resources in events. Sponsors can also get in front of their target audience and start conversations by organizing networking lounges or happy hours. If they don't close a deal immediately, they can still build connections that may lead to sales and brand awareness in the future. Sponsors can reach attendees who may not visit their booths and exhibitor sites through these networking activities.
For attendees:
In addition to finding your next job, partnership, or client, networking is a great way to get referrals for career or business prospects. As discussed above, it's also a great way to learn. By speaking with someone who holds the position you hope to hold in the future, or who works at your dream company, you can gain a lot of knowledge.
For organizers:
Event organizers can also benefit from networking. You may be able to meet prospective clients or partners for future events or other business ventures by networking. Besides helping you find sponsors and vendors for future events, it's a great way to get feedback from attendees on how the event is going and what they might improve on.
Conclusion
Even though most virtual networking ideas and events don't allow for face-to-face networking, careful planning and effort can help you reach your networking goals. By engaging virtually, you can easily connect with other professionals from the comfort of your own home.
And to make that happen, you need to put in the work. Even if you attended talks at an event and then signed off without attending ice breakers or happy hours, you will miss out on valuable networking opportunities. During networking sessions, you can discover what you have in common with other attendees and share something about yourself. But finding out what you have in common is only the first step to establishing a connection.
Think beyond attending a virtual event to network and consider hosting your own event where you can tailor the experience to what is most valuable to you.
Our unified event management platform provides all the features needed to go from attending events to hosting them.
