Speed Networking

There was an event like this at Biz Jam...very fun if it's well organized and not too loud (i.e people sitting too close, etc). This would be fun with some mingling afterwards.

Nancy

(http://www.hoptosignaroo.com)

A few months back, I attended my first Speed Networking event hosted by local chamber of commerce. It was great in that "small talk" was minimized, allowing focus on business introductions. Bell rang and seats shuffled every 3 minutes... each person had 1.5 minutes to communicate the value of their business to the other. It was catered and was a great way to meet 20+ people in under 2 hours and not spend too long with any one.

:: bc ::

Networking is about building relationships and connecting with other people. In order to truely benefit from it I think it would be best to leave the speed dating concept to dating. Robert http://yourhydeparkhomes.com

I like the idea of meeting many people in a short amount of time, but I must agree that it might take more than a few minutes for me to get to know someone, and for me to reccomend them. I think referring someone is a reflection of me and my business, so a 10 to 15 min period may be better.

FYI-Howard Howell hosts 1 or 2 lunches a week where each memeber attending is given 10 min or so to speak to the group, (small 10 people per event) to highlight their business, and tell others what they are looking for. I have attended one, and I plan on going on a regular basis. I think this serves a very similar purpose, but does a bit less of the one on one. I have used the intorductions to then follow up one on one.

I think both are good ideas, and would be interested in attending either.

I agree that "speed" is not a networking quality, unless you have quantity to back it up. I have found that after meeting a person several times, even if only for a short time, I get to know them. I tend to enjoy getting to know people rather than sitting through as many elevator speaches as I can. Building relationship isn't a race. Trust takes time.

I like this idea, because our Portland Chamber (Portland Business Alliance) does this at their meetings. Though it is a group of 5 people, and we each get a chance to present our 60 second commercial. The reason I liked it, you could really be focused on the individual, rather than trying to remember 30 business names and commercials at once (as they do at the beginning of each meeting.)

I think if you do go forward, it would be best that you do it in groups of 3 or more, and you get 15 minutes with each group. the way I experienced it, each person got a letter - A,B,C or D and that was how you rotated.

I also agree with the quality over quantity, but this is a good way to see what connections you have in common with people in a structured manner.

I do appreciate the Speed idea. I think this is because I'm intereseted in what people are looking for (i.e., clients, services, etc) and I can either help them now, at a later time, or never. And I like to be able to tell people quickly what I'm looking for, and then they may have a fit for me now, in the future, or never. I think it also has us all practice being able to share about our business in 2-3 minutes, which I think is critical.

I love this idea. It gives you just enough time to get your message out and receive information on other businesses. If someone has a service that you don't need, you may know someone that does. Word of mouth is great.

Looks like this could be perfect for some folks, okay for others, and downright icky for still others. Why not give it a try?

As an ice-breaker, I think Speed Networking is awesome. I had mixed feelings about before I tried it, but went to a Biznik Speed Networking event last year and had a blast!

I'm the first to admit that it takes time to build a relationship and one of Biznik's mottoes is "relationships over referrals," but when you're in a room full of people, like a Happy Hour, and you're at a loss for who to talk to first, a quick round of Speed Networking can really get the conversations flowing.

Remember, they're not meant to replace a more in depth conversation, but rather to introduce you to as many people as possible in a short amount of time, with whom you can then follow up with.

Brian Crouch started another Biz Talk thread on Speed Networking a year ago - see it here.

O, and I here's a good place to mention it. We're going to introduce a "speed networking area" at this year's BizJam (Biznik's Indie Business Conference on July 10) called the "Connective Cafe".

A new round with 8 pairs of chairs will start every 30 minutes. Each hour the focus or target of the round will change.

Ideas I have for the targets so far are:

• Wedding Industry (florists, photographers, pastry chefs, event planners, etc.)

• Real Estate Industry (real estate, mortgage, financial planning, stagers, home repair, movers, etc.)

• Health Practitioners (Chiropractic, LMPs, physicians, Accupuncturists, fitness trainers, nutritionists, etc.)

• Web and design (web developers, programmers, graphic designers, copywriters, project managers, etc.)

• Small Business Support Services (bookkeepers, organizers, virtual assistants, concierge services, project managers, etc.)

People want things fast so Speed Networking, Extreme Networking, and Power Connecting all have high appeal and it can be a highly leveraged use of time.

Here is a suggestion to help everyone get more out of the 2-10 minutes.

Include a 15-20 minute training/discussion to set up how to ask good questions, listen, and then set up follow up.

You might role play some example scenarios both good and bad so audience really 'gets' it.

You've probably discovered, successful networking in any venue is having a clear objective, asking the right questions, and then following up.

I've been involved in quite a few "speed networking" events in various settings. I agree with Christian. It can be a good way to get that one-to-one connection with undivided attention (even if for just two minutes!) and assess potential for partnerships. But, of course, nothing takes the place of the deeper relationship building.

Also, as Gina suggests, it gives us practice in refining our "elevator speech." (If our listener has a furrowed brow after we are finished, it may be a good time to go back to the drawing board and work some more on our pitch.)

Wonderful idea -- and great discussion (replies) here, too.

I have taken part in such events, and in one case the people to meet up with were "assigned" by a randomization process -- I thought that was neat, but now that I think about it, I also think it would be especially interstesting if at the end you were encouraged to make one or more introductions -- maybe it could even be done like a contest (though I guess it would be more like a "raffle" prize that came out at the end)!

:D nmw

The way to focus the time in a Speed Networking situation is to realize that networking is the BEGINNING of the conversation. You are looking for potential clients or potential networking partners. You are NOT looking to make a sale on the spot. Too many people forget this about networking situations, thus they are often disappointed.

Your event will be more effective if you take a few minutes at the beginning of the event to help people understand that this is the beginning of the process and give them a methodology for sorting out the people they have met -- i.e. "people on my 'A' list need to be contacted within 24 hours, people on my 'B' list within 7-10 days, and people on my 'C' list may not need to be contacted at all."

Speed Networking is such an interesting and different animal that you probably need to do some training beforehand to help participants gain maximum value from the event.

I spoke about this very issue in my latest article for Biznik called MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL SEMINARS. One of our tasks at the seminar was to "speed consult" a new entrepreneur. It was fun and I learned a great deal about how imaginative we can be together!

http://biznik.com/members/jennifer-manlowe/articles/making-the-most-of-your-professional-seminars-0