Improve Networking at Business Events to Boost Sales

Guide

Pre-Event
During the Event
Post-Event
Examples Of

Get ready to amp up your business meet-ups and increase sales with these “10 Ways to Make Networking Better at Business Gatherings and Improve Sales.” Unlock the secrets to supercharge your business event and skyrocket sales!

Networking is the cornerstone of success, and when orchestrated effectively, it can propel your venture to new heights. In this guide, we unravel 10 powerful strategies, tried and tested, to transform your event into a truck load of opportunities. From pre-event buzz to post-event follow-ups, get ready to revolutionize your approach and witness your business relationships and profits thrive like never before. Let’s dive into the art of networking and discover how to leverage this tool to improve sales.

10 Ways to Improve Networking at Business Events to Boost Sales

Pre-Event

1: Online Marketing

Online marketing will play a large part in promoting networking and generating sales at your upcoming event. It can be done in countless ways and, when done right, is sure to take your business event to the next level. Be sure to give your attendees ways to see who is attending the event, which we’ll go into further in the next point. This enables them to connect and strike up a conversation. So, too, is it important for your marketing campaign to focus on exciting your guests for the upcoming event, by offering them things like awards to participate in. Online marketing should not be overlooked; it’s a key factor in planning a successful networking event.

2: Ways to Connect

As mentioned above, giving your attendees ways to connect before the event is crucial. This is a huge part of networking and is important to online marketing and sales generation. This can take the form of an instant messenger feature on your event website or even an event-specific application. Enabling your guests to connect before the event even begins will help them to meet up and network at the event, which leads to talking points that can generate sales leads. Connecting with others in the industry is exceptionally important to making sales, and not only is networking a huge part of that but so is having a way to connect in general.

Examples of Ways to Connect

Email/Phone Contact for Certain Events
Instant Messaging
Bios/Headshots with Social Media Links

Gamification

Turning socializing into a game is an ideal way to encourage attendees to network. This can begin before the event even starts, using a specific application. By using an application, you can award points to the attendees who make the most connections. Points can be given per chat, or for the number of messages sent by a user. This method is a sure way to promote networking and spark conversations among your guests.

Voting for Awards

Getting your attendees in on the action for awards ceremonies can expose them to one another and get the conversation flowing even before the event begins. Whether they’re serious awards or something more casual, the action of being involved plays a huge role in engagement.

Awards are a Great Way to Improve Networking

3: Frequent Updates

Giving frequent updates provides a flow of excitement towards your event, and can make it all the more successful not only as an event but in sales generation as well. Give your guests frequent updates by email or on social media to keep them engaged and give them a point of conversation. This is another step in pre-event marketing, one which is crucial in keeping your attendees looking forward to the event. This is especially true for all hands meetings as well as conferences and sales meetings, when engagement is vital to success. Find more tips for conferences and sales meetings and some of our best all hands meeting themes and ideas.

During the Event

4: Specialized Applications

Specialized applications can improve networking at your event by enabling guests to have one specific hub of communication. Here, they can exchange contact information, which can lead to sales and collaboration. These applications can alert guests to who is nearby or organize attendees according to their job title or specialty. This can give your guests a starting point for conversations that can further your business as well as their own.

Using Applications to Network

There’s no shortage of pre-designed applications to boost networking at your event, as seen in this list by one networking app. These applications connect guests by job title, interest, or specialty, and are a great way to encourage networking at any event. If you’d like, you could even design your own specifically for your event, although there’s no shortage of amazing

5: Event Badges & Name Tags

Event badges are designed to encourage networking. Badges and name tags can be made even more detailed by including QR codes linked to attendees’ contact information and can even be further modified to be a tool for navigating the event itself. Networking happens, like all conversations, with a starting point, and a name tag can serve very well as a conversation starter.

The Importance of Badges

Event badges are exceptionally important in event planning. We have an entire event badge resource guide devoted to their importance and ways to make them even more useful. These badges serve as an introduction between guests, a way to navigate the event or venue, and a form of security. They can also be a great tool for marketing, networking, and a way to create effective sale funnels.

Use Name Tags to Help Improve Networking that Boosts Sales

6: Giving Time to Socialize

Giving your guests time to socialize is of utmost importance. Networking (and sales leads!) happens when attendees are given time to converse and connect. At your business event, setting aside a designated time for guests to get engaged and have experiences gives time for networking to happen. These times can be laid back like cocktail mixers or something exciting like an excursion. We have plenty of ideas for company excursions that are sure to get your guests engaged.

Examples of:

Cocktail Hour
Happy Hour
Group Excursion(s)
Meals During the Event

Happy People Boost Sales at Networking Events

Post-Event

7: Wrap Email & Highlight Gallery

A wrap email, video reel, or highlight gallery is a great way to not only promote sales but also keep your guests’ conversations flowing long after the event ends. This can ensure they don’t lose their connections, extending networking in the process. Wrap emails are also useful to ensure every detail of the event is noticed and to ensure guests look forward to the next.

Things to Include:

Photo or Video Highlights
Any News from the Event
Awards Winners

8: Announcements

Announcements will keep your guests engaged post-event, and things like awards will give them reasons to stay in touch. Making announcements about sales goals being reached will also motivate and inspire your attendees. Setting aside time for news like this is also great content for dripping content or creating content for post-event email campaigns.

9: Micro-Events

Organizing micro-events for those attendees living near one another can keep their connections from stagnating and keep networking going long after your initial event ends. These can be virtual or in-person, and serve as a good way to keep your attendees in touch. These events can be casual, like cocktail parties or luncheons, to give guests more time to talk and connect, or something thought-provoking, like meetings.

Ideas for Micro Events

Cocktail Hour
Dinners
Luncheons
Masterclasses
Smaller meetings

Boost Sales with Improved Networking at Business Events

10: Social Media Campaigns

Tips:

Make Content to Drip

Making content drip after the event is a successful marketing strategy. By filming or photographing content at the event and using it to steadily promote, you can boost sales as well as further your ROI. This strategy is simple yet effective, and with a little planning as to photography at the event, goes a long way.

Do Shoutouts for Big Sales Goals

Shouting out your attendees or employees on social media when they’ve hit big sales goals is a great motivation! Acknowledgment and praise go a long way toward encouraging others, especially in a business setting.

Utilize Throwbacks

Throwbacks to your event can help not only spark further networking but also maximize your ROI on future events. By showcasing your event, you get guests pumped up for the next, as well as introduce newcomers to your event. These throwbacks can spark conversations among your guests, encouraging them to do business with one another as well as keep in touch.

Examples of Ways to Improve Networking and Boost Sales at Business Events:

NEOM’s Gala & Sales Event – Nominated for BizBash Best Award –

NEOM, a desalination technology company, hosted a 2-day gala and conference in San Francisco centered around sales and investments for their technology. We turned an already beautiful venue on the San Francisco Bay into an aquatic paradise. This event had unforgettable experiential marketing, in which attendees got to taste-test desalinated waters purified by NEOM’s innovations.

XOS Fleet Week Event – Nominated for BizBash Best Award –

This Fleet Week event was an activation event designed to promote sales for XOS’ new electric truck line. Guests were treated to an amazing reveal of these innovative vehicles (which took a lot of event fabrication on our end!) and time to network, mingle, and take home some seriously awesome swag.

Behr’s 2023 Conference

Behr’s 2023 sales meeting and conference brought 1,200 guests to Las Vegas for an unforgettable stay. Teams not only got to attend the meeting and network but also go out for an off-roading excursion. With good times, good food, and good conversation, this sales meeting was one we won’t soon forget.

Sales Meeting for Bank

This bank’s officer meeting involved 800 employees and took our team 126 hours to prepare. This event was truly a sight to behold, with a full 7-minute graphics package and stunning decor. This event involved not only the sales meeting portion but two cocktail mixers in a stunning garden, giving plenty of networking opportunities to guests.

Sales Meeting in Miami

This Miami software company’s annual sales meeting took place on the top of a Miami penthouse. Networking, we saw, came with ease in a beautiful location. This meeting was a meaningful one, with plenty of connections made and conversations had during its run.

Access Asia Networking & Sales Conference

This trade summit and sales conference sought to unite 300 entrepreneurs and investors to Alibaba and, from there, the Chinese market. This 2-day conference and trade summit was hosted to introduce US-made products into AliBaba’s catalog, giving these business owners an amazing opportunity. This conference was a resounding success and an unforgettable experience for all.

Calik Denim’s Networking & Sales Event

To celebrate their 30th anniversary and collaborate alongside potential customers, Calik Denim hosted a unique, unforgettable art expo. With 30 pieces of fashion and art designed using their denim, this event functioned as not only a sales event but a networking event, too.

Meeting & Networking Event at an Expo

This kickoff meeting for a digital company held as a part of a larger expo, was as captivating as it was memorable. 2,000 employees had the chance to network and make connections, not only at their event but as a part of the larger expo, too. We brought in a futuristic design with plenty of entertainment and delicious food designed to spark conversation, furthering networking with each experience.

Virtual Awareness & Networking Event

This meaningful event centered around raising awareness for substance abuse brought care professionals together virtually to network and share their experiences. This meeting, held during National Recovery Month, involved many touching factors and served to not only encourage the behavioral health workers, but connect them to each other and the community they serve.

Start Planning Your Networking Event Today

Are you ready to transform your sales or networking event into unforgettable experiences? Event Solutions is here to make that happen. As a full-service event planning and production company, we provide award winning conference planning services. Whether it’s a B2B or B2C, we’ve got the expertise to turn your ideas into reality. Let’s collaborate to create remarkable events that leave a lasting impact. Reach out to Event Solutions now at 1.800.366.0603, and let our team of professionals maximize your event ROI.