You might think speed networking is a bit quick and dirty, but it’s a brilliant way of getting results in an open networking room.
The important thing is to have the right strategy.
Be clear about what you want to achieve.
If you’re going in to sell, you’re likely to be disappointed! However, if you set yourself a goal to positively extend your network and find 2-4 new high quality connections… then success is there for the taking!
You’ll be able to add everyone you meet to your social media audience. This means that you’ll connect with EVERYONE you meet and then you can cherry pick productive conversations with 2-4 of them to see how you can more proactively help each other.
Make your pitch count!
The humble elevator pitch is often dismissed, but it is in fact the starting point for many successful business opportunities and conversations.
It’s also a crucial part of attendance at a speed networking or table shuffle event.
It’s well worth planning what you’re going to say in advance. Try to format your pitch to achieve the outcome you want.
For example, if you want to meet more people in a certain industry, ask each person at the end of the pitch if they work with anyone like that.
Before the event make sure you know how long you get to pitch. It may be as little as 30 seconds for a speed networking, but you could get as much as two minutes in a table shuffle. If you can’t find out this information, then it’s best to plan for 30 seconds. If you have longer, tell a quick story about a client you recently helped to fill in the time.
Be as concise as you can in your pitch and speak to everyone with the same amount of enthusiasm. Thse events are repetitive and tiring so it’s easy to let this slip if you’re not careful.
Of course, there will be people that you aren’t interested in. But, remember you are getting to meet every single person in attendance – which in an ordinary open networking event you don’t get the luxury of.
Other useful tips
- Make sure you take a bottle of water. These rooms can be hot and stuffy and you’re going to be talking a lot, for well over an hour!
- Smile! You have such a microscopic moment to build rapport in a 30 second pitch. Being greeted with a friendly face will put the person you are speaking to at ease and they’ll be more receptive to what you are saying.
- Props are also a great addition to either of these types of events and don’t forget plenty of business cards or some marketing literature to give to everyone you speak to. They are going to meet a lot of people so they need to be able to look back and remember who they spoke to.
- Take a pen. In between shuffles you might want to make a note on a business card to remind yourself about something later.
- Why not give everyone a small promotional item to make you more memorable?
As always, the magic of networking is in the follow up…
Set up a coffee (real or virtual) with your 2-4 cherry picked people before you leave the meeting; or get in touch with them later that day.
Plan to have a genuine conversation with them.
Not a sales pitch! Get to know each other and learn more about what you both want to achieve. If you can think of someone that would be a great onward conversation for them, then make that introduction and they will very likely want to do the same for you. You could even invite them along to another networking you attend.
Do this at every event and it won’t take you long to develop a healthy, productive network of connections. Especially if you’ve done some good deeds along the way!
A little story about how I got results from Speed Networking.
Back in February 2020 (just before Covid struck!) I attended a speed networking hosted by the Doncaster Chamber.
During that fast paced and very noisy event I was fortunate to meet, Sharon Evans, Community Fundraiser for the Children’s Air Ambulance. Following our two minutes of interaction, we were keen to be on each other’s coffee date card and it’s fair to say that we have really hit it off. The conversation ranged all over the place and we quickly developed onward plans of how we could help each other.
Despite Covid interference, that relationship has become a fantastic friendship. Since then, The Growth Community and the Children’s Air Ambulance have created a very exciting strategic partnership which continues to benefit both organisations in many different ways.
So, don’t be put off by a table shuffle or a speed networking event
Approach speed networking or table shuffles with an outcome in mind and you’ll get some good results – but remember not to sell!
Make 2-4 new friends and invest some time in them. They could be the key to your next best client and a whole lot more!
