Networking is an essential part of any successful career. It allows you to build relationships with people in your industry, stay up-to-date on the latest trends, and even find new job opportunities. According to an Edelman study, 81% of people plan to regularly attend networking events that allow them to interact with new people in their industry or occupation. But what types of networking events are out there? In this comprehensive guide, we'll discuss the six types of networking events and how you can make the most of them. The first type of networking event is general networking.
This occurs when you contact people you know, such as friends, family, and colleagues. It's easier to contact these people and re-educate them about what you're looking for and ask them for advice or help. The second type of networking event is an informational meeting. Sometimes referred to as an informational interview, this is a way of starting a conversation with someone you would like to meet. There are two types of people you'll want to meet for a briefing: people with insider information from the company and industry experts. The third type of networking event is a hybrid event.
Hybrid events aren't just conferences and trade shows with a broadcast component; they incorporate several digital components, from gaming competitions to communication between in-person and online participants. The fourth type of networking event is a service group. Joining a service group is one of the best ways to help your community as you expand your business network. While it may not necessarily open you up to direct business as you network through it, your exposure may bring you new potential customers. The fifth type of networking event is a roundtable. Sponsoring or organizing a roundtable to establish business contacts can help you improve your profile as a thought leader and connect with other professionals. The sixth type of networking event is a Chamber of Commerce group.
Chamber of Commerce groups organize local business networking events, such as charitable fundraisers, workshops, meetings, and business card exchanges. You never know who you might meet when attending a networking event, so organizing a networking event should be planned as efficiently as possible. If you're interested in a complete networking platform for businesses, Glue Up's Speed Networking Software solution can do the job for you. We recommend that you explore all possible groups to manage your time wisely by creating networks with the right demographic group. Networking is as old as time itself, but the current look of the examples of networking events couldn't be more different from that of a few years ago.
You just have to lean towards the next generation of networking opportunities, which means being creative in connecting in-person and virtual audiences to establish seamless networks and connections.
