Last night, I attended my 1st Speed Networking event. It went well!

There was a large room where everyone mingled, networked and ate. A table was provided for biz cards and brochures. That's one mistake I made - I only brought biz cards, I didn't bring my flyers.

They did the speed networking in groups. We sat face to face in long lines of chairs and each person had 2 minutes to talk about their biz. Then a whistle blew and one row moved down one chair.

It was fun and I'd definitely do it again

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Joy Wilder
Wilder Office Approach

Was this through you Chamber membership? IIRC, you're the one who won a Chamber award, aren't you?

I have thoroughly enjoyed my Chamber membership. I tend to be reclusive & it has forced me to get out & interact! Our chamber does not have a speed networking event, but we have member appreciation breakfasts where everyone in attendance is given a 30 seconds to say something about themselves. There is also a leads group where each week you are given one minute to give your elevator speech. Then one member is given 10 minutes to tell about their business.

The speed networking sounds like a great opportunity to give your speech over & over again - something I definitely need! I think I'll suggest it to our chamber events director.

Thanks for sharing!

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Lezly Harrison
Laserdog Productions - Code that Doesn't Bite

Yep! That was me..I was March Member of the Month for my local Chamber. In fact, yesterday I gave my biz power point presentation. It went really well and got a lot of positive feedback

Like yourself, I have a tendency to be reclusive and speed networking forced me to get out of my shell. This event was sponsored through 15(?) local Chambers and gave us the opportunity to market to people from other towns. For $10, it was well worth it!

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Joy Wilder
Wilder Office Approach

I saw Joy there networking up a storm I think I liked the speed networking part more than traditional networking - everyone gets right to the point and I think you get your message out more efficiently and to more people/businesses.
See you next time Joy!

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Kathy
www.theofficevirtuoso.com

Way cool! I have one of these coming up later in April, and I'm looking forward to it. I regularly go to local networking meetings, but the speed networking seems like a lot of fun.

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

I love this! I'm in a small town, surrounded by other small towns! There isn't much of those events around, but I think I would love going to one.

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Amy
www.porterofficesolutions.com

I've heard of these and they sound like a great opportunity to network and tighten up the whole elevator speech concept... there was a group doing them in my state but it seems as though they've stopped doing it... at the time I heard about these kinds of events, I wasn't up and running with my VA business yet so wasn't ready to attend...

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Anne-Marie Regish
http://www.VirtuallyYoursFromCT.com

I attended one a couple of weeks ago. It was a new experience and not only did I really enjoy it, I actually got a project client who will also be a great referral partner out of it. My recommendation is to have your 30-60 second speech down and to bring lots of business cards. If you have brochures or flyers bring them as well. Make sure to have a pen and a small notebook for notes as well. The one that I attended had the notebooks and pens for you to use, but you never know if that will be provided. Also make sure to write notes on the business cards and seperate the real possibility cards from the others. If you think that you will need them or that they could be a client note it on the back and put them in a seperate pocket from the rest.

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Erika Glem
www.advadminsol.com Let my administrative solutions be to your advantage.

My local chamber offered the speed networking too. I wasn't able to attend but I hope they have another one soon. I have attended some evening networking events and I was wondering...How do you follow up from a face-to-face networking event? Email, letter, etc. I know not every card you get is a viable lead but some are and I don't know what to do w/ them after the event.

Originally Posted by yourvirtualofficepro

I have attended some evening networking events and I was wondering...How do you follow up from a face-to-face networking event? Email, letter, etc. I know not every card you get is a viable lead but some are and I don't know what to do w/ them after the event.

I like to send them an email (within 48 hours) telling them that it was great meeting them at the networking event and ask them if they would like to get together for a coffee. If I do not have an email or if they I do not show them reading the email (I have it set up that it shows delivery or read on the emails that I send) within a day, then I will give them a call.

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Erika Glem
www.advadminsol.com Let my administrative solutions be to your advantage.