METHOD FOR FACILITATING BUSINESS NETWORKING

Embodiments of a method for efficiently and effectively facilitating introductions between individuals who can help each other professionally include promoting an event in a locally focused medium that appeals to business leaders, requiring advance registration, charging a fee, and limiting attendance. A list of expected attendees can be available for review upon arrival, and introductions can be made at the beginning of the event while cocktails are served. A guest speaker can makes a presentation of general interest, after which each attendee is required to briefly tell the group who they are, and what they are specifically seeking. Each attendee must also make a special offer that is only valid until the next event. Time is then provided for attendees to approach each other individually. In embodiments, attendees must provide to the host summaries of their presentations, which are circulated to all attendees after the event.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A novel method for promoting and conducting professional networking events efficiently and effectively facilitates beneficial introductions between individuals who have common interests and/or who can be of help to each other. The fundamental elements of the invention can be expressed according to the acronym “COAR,” in that the invention includes opportunities for each attendee to “Communicate,” whereby each event attendee informs the group as to their identity and that of their organization; to “Offer,” whereby each individual offers something of value to the group; to “Ask,” whereby each attendee asks for something that they are specifically seeking; and to “Receive,” where attendees hopefully receive valuable help from each other.

With reference toFIG. 1, in embodiments each event is promoted ahead of time in at least one medium that has a regional focus and is directed to individuals who at least have access to strategic leaders in their fields100. In various embodiments, attendees are required to register in advance, a fee is charged, and/or attendance is limited102.

As the attendees arrive at the meeting, they are able to review a posted list of expected attendees and their organization104. In some embodiments, the staff asks if there is anyone they would like to meet, and performs appropriate introductions during an initial social period during which cocktails are served104. In embodiments, each attendee is given a card on which to record a summary of their “COAR” information. In some embodiments, the cards are small, thereby forcing the attendees to be brief and concise, both in writing and later during oral presentations.

A presentation follows from a guest speaker106, providing information likely to be of interest to a wide range of attendees. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1, each attendee is then required to stand and make a brief presentation to the group108, during which they briefly state who they are110(“Communicate”). Each attendee is also required during his or her presentation to make a special offer of some kind to the group112(“Offer”), typically a free sample, a free service, a meal at a specific restaurant, or some other inducement that is related to their business or will otherwise encourage further discussion. Attendees are further required to describe something that they are seeking114(“Ask”).

Before the event concludes, the attendees are given time to approach each other116, typically to help each other in achieving their stated goals and/or to express interest in the special offers (“Receive”).

These elements work together in a highly synergistic way. Promoting the event in a trade medium with a regional focus100increases the likelihood that the attendees will represent businesses that either have their headquarters in the local area, or at least an important branch office in the area. Selecting a trade medium that is directed to strategic business leaders and to those who have access thereto helps to ensure that most attendees will be able to make or influence decisions at their organizations, thereby increasing the likelihood that the attendees can be of professional help to each other.

Requiring advance registration, charging a fee to attend, and limiting attendance102induces each attendee to make a personal commitment and an investment in advance of the meeting. As a result, attendees tend to give the event a high priority and rarely fail to attend. And when they arrive at the event, they are determined to take it seriously and to “make it work” for them.

Posting a list of expected attendees with their “COAR” information104and providing materials for taking notes helps the attendees to efficiently identify and seek out others who might be helpful to them, or whom they may be able to help. Introductions performed by the staff further helps to create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

Serving cocktails at the beginning104serves as an added inducement to attend, and also tends to create a relaxed and congenial atmosphere in which attendees will be more likely to look for ways to help each other and to think “outside of the box.” It also helps to prepare the attendees to stand up and address the group, which might otherwise be uncomfortable or stressful for some.

The presentation by a featured speaker106provides further inducement for attendees. Even if an attendee does not form any useful connections at a given event, he or she will at least have obtained some valuable information.

The attendee presentations108are at the heart of the invention. After stating who they are and who they represent110(“Communicate”), each attendee is required to announce an offer or inducement of some kind112(“Offer”). For example, a free consultation, tickets to an event, a free lunch at a specific restaurant, and such like. Knowing ahead of time that each attendee will make a special offer serves as a strong added inducement to attend the event, since it is human nature to want to take advantage of a special offer or “deal,” and so individuals often look forward with excitement and anticipation to hearing about such offers. In addition, the offers can be of significant value to the attendees making them, since once an individual has taken advantage of a special offer and has appreciated its benefits, the individual is likely to try to repay the favor in some way. At the very least, an individual is likely to take time over a free lunch to get to know the host better and learn about what they do and what they offer, and the individual may try even harder afterward to help the host who provided the lunch.

Each attendee is then required to state what they are looking for114(“Ask”). In some embodiments the attendees are allowed to make general statements, such as “new customers for . . . ” followed by a re-statement of whatever their business provides. However, attendees are strongly encouraged to be highly specific. For example, “I would like to be introduced to someone who makes strategic decisions in the IT department of XYZ Corporation.” Such rather specific requests are often highly effective at stimulating the creative problem solving abilities of the other attendees, whereas a general appeal for new customers typically stimulates fewer responses.

Attendees are strongly encouraged to take notes during the individual presentations108, so that they can efficiently approach each other during the final period of the event116, and so that they can remember details later if an opportunity should arise to help a fellow attendee (“Receive”). In embodiments, writing materials are provided to the attendees specifically for taking notes.

Attendees are also required to document the highlights of their presentation in writing on provided forms, including their goals and special offers, and these forms are collected afterward so that the information can be summarized and distributed later to everyone who attended118. In embodiments, it is a rule that all of the special offers must remain valid until and only until the next event is held120. Of course, this encourages attendees not to delay in taking each other up on their offers. Also, it helps to promote the next event.

With reference toFIG. 2, in some embodiments attendees enter their COAR information onto COAR cards as they arrive, and these COAR cards are posted for all attendees to review. In some embodiments, photographs202are taken of the attendees as they arrive, or beforehand if they are members of the sponsoring organization. These photos are then displayed and or posted for review during the meeting and in some embodiments receptacles are provided for attendees to leave notes and/or business cards204if they wish to pursue further contact.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 2, attendees do not give oral presentations108. Instead, they are given the opportunity to review each other's posted COAR information206, and then to seek each other out, either during the meeting116or afterward208. The approach ofFIG. 2may be preferred for example if it is desirable to host a large group of attendees, such that individual oral presentations would be too time consuming.