SBT Networking & Events

HOW TO NETWORK ONLINE MOST EFFECTIVELY

BY NETWORK MY CLUB FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, BRADLEY HATCHETT

CHRISTMAS MOST CERTAINLY ISN’T CANCELLED!

BY YBRIGHTON

THE POSSIBILITIES OF VIRTUAL BUSINESS

SBT SPEAKS TO OWNER OF MONK MARKETING AND ORGANISER OF B2B EXPOS, MIKE MONK

SBT NETWORKING & EVENTS SPONSORED BY:

How to network online most effectively

Finding yourself attending more online networking events?

Network My Club Founder & Managing Director, Bradley Hatchett explains how you can get the most out of each online networking event and make it an effective use of your time…

Like face to face Networking networking, there are & Events many things you can do to prepare and make networking online more effective for you. Also, like face-to-face networking events, our advice to members is very similar.

We threw ourselves into adapting to hosting online networking events from the outset of lockdown. We’ve learned a lot. Improved significantly. Seen the good and bad when it comes to approaching them.

I’m here to help you avoid the bad. By reading this you’re already ahead of the game. So, here are my tips on how to get the most out of your online networking:

Arrive prepared

Much like face-to-face networking events. The value in what you do before and after is arguably more important than actually turning up.

What can you do to prepare in advance?

Be on time – if the organiser doesn’t send out a reminder or calendar request, make a reminder yourself. We encourage attendees to arrive 5-10 minutes before our online meetups and encourage you to make this a habit.

Pen and paper at the ready – unlike at a usual networking event, you can have an online conversation in a group and take notes on interesting or relevant parts where you could help, find out more information and follow up more personally.

Connect up with other attendees –

a good networking event organiser (us) will share a delegate list in advance. We do this the day prior. Research that list. Add people on LinkedIn. Let them know you’re going to be there. You can even use it as a chance to arrange a time to meet on a table in the event. LinkedIn is our recommendation; a Facebook friend request might be a bit strong…

Become familiar with the software and functionality

We use innovative online networking software REMO. But there are many other software and programmes emerging and being used.

If the organiser doesn’t (we do) send out a pre-meetup email in advance to help you prepare and ensure you’re set up correctly, take the time yourself to understand how it works.

This will save you time and the inconvenience of trying to work it out at the start of the event. Your fellow attendees will be very appreciative too.

Be present

Turn off notifications on phone and laptop. Or even better, put your phone away somewhere.

Allow yourself to be fully focused throughout the entirety. You may think that you can multitask, but it certainly doesn’t look it.

Book the time out in your diary like any other networking event or meeting. Avoid distractions and optimise your (and other attendees’) time taken to be an active and engaged part of the call.

Opportunity to learn

Approach online networking events (and any event) as an opportunity to fine tune your business pitch. Your personal introduction. Make it as clear and concise as possible.

With glaring eyes on you, you’ll quickly establish who is engaged and who is not. Do this in your preparation, but if it doesn’t go exactly how you wanted, review it, learn from it and improve it for next time.

Use the networking event to learn about others. Find out something interesting about them and their businesses. When you next meet in person, you’ll be able to refer to these times having built a better understanding and personal relationship with someone.

Environment & technology set up

Set yourself up in a quiet room or area.

This not only helps avoiding any distractions and remaining present at the event, but is also courteous to other attendees not having to hear background noise.

Position your device in an area with good lighting with your camera at eye level if you can. Rather than having it look up your nose!

We also recommend, where possible, to use headphones with microphone to ensure best quality sound. This avoids an echo and reduces the chance of picking up background noise.

Opportunity to learn

Approach online networking events (and any event) as an opportunity to fine tune your business pitch. Your personal introduction. Make it as clear and concise as possible.

With glaring eyes on you, you’ll quickly establish who is engaged and who is not. Do this in your preparation, but if it doesn’t go exactly how you wanted, review it, learn from it and improve it for next time.

Use the networking event to learn about others. Find out something interesting about them and their businesses. When you next meet in person, you’ll be able to refer to these times having built a better understanding and personal relationship with someone.

Have these questions up your sleeve Conversation starters when networking online are more difficult to come by compared to a face-to-face event.

Put these tips into action. Join us at an upcoming online meetup or become a part of the Network My Club family. Find out more by visiting our website www.networkmyclub.co.uk.

Bradley Hatchett

Christmas most certainly isn’t cancelled!

‘Tis the season to be Networking jolly and spend quality & Events time with your people. Festive celebrations may look a little different this year, but with YBrighton, Christmas isn’t cancelled! Our elves have been busy creating a variety of ways to bring festive cheer to your team. We’ve carefully designed various different concepts to bring your team together to celebrate Christmas in our new, ever-changing climate. From festive experience packs to socially distanced socials – we’ve got you covered.

Christmas Cause Box

Get creative with your rewards this year!

Send your people a selection of festive gifts, activities and treats from some of Brighton’s best independents in personalised, branded Christmas boxes which are sure to get them into the festive spirit! Go one step further by donating food and gift hampers to families in need over the Christmas period.

Virtual Venue

Themed digital hub and experience

If you were really hoping to get the team together for a good old jolly don’t despair, you still can – virtually! We’ve created an interactive scene for your audience to explore, with various hotspots and link through to their very own virtual activity. Level up the whole experience by including

a video message from the CEO, or host a virtual happy hour experience for the whole team to enjoy together! Our digital elves can do it all, so get working on that wish list!

Experience Party Packs

Pair the virtual activity with a multisensory Christmas Experience Pack. Eat, drink, and be merry together! We’ve created this concept to enhance the theme of your virtual activity with elements which evoke the comfort and fun of Christmas. The experience begins by setting the scene with creative comms and registration, your © Copyright Yellow Fish 2020 people will then receive a doorstep delivery direct from Santa’s sleigh. This includes a full sensory experience with taste, smell and touch to evoke the comfort of Christmas which then in turn links to the virtual experience.

Virtual Activities

Engaging seasonal activities to inspire, engage and share good cheer. We’ve teamed up with some of our favourite local independents to get your people into the Christmas spirit! From wreath or perfume making workshops, to chocolate sculpting, cocktail masterclasses or a wine tasting workshop, we’ve got it all. These experiences are all from the comfort of your people’s own homes, utilising our fireside virtual venue whilst enjoying mulled wine & mince pies!

Gift of Giving

Support the community or those in need this Christmas by taking part in virtual volunteering. Giving back to our communities has never been more important, we’ve selected our favourite projects which enable your people to give something back virtually this festive season. Why not join Santa’s workshop and give back to vulnerable children, from 1 challenging your team to decorate skateboards to creating beautiful

headboards so a child can wake up in their own bed on Christmas morning.

Socially Distanced Socials

Real life COVID-19 safe experiences If you thought a physical celebration was off the table, think again! Reward the team and welcome their families with a private drive-in Christmas movie experience. Guests will arrive in their cars and park up for the evening to enjoy a screening of a Christmas classic. Tucking into wood-fired pizza and delicious mulled ‘mocktails’ delivered right to their car door! Why not enhance the experience further with onscreen messages, signage or sponsored elements for a feeling of ultimate exclusivity!

Tell us what’s on your Christmas List and let’s make your Christmas celebrations the talk of the town!

YBrighton

Telephone: 07825 773160 Email: louisa@ybrighton.co.uk Visit: www.ybrighton.co.uk

The Possibilities of Virtual Business

SBT speaks to owner of Monk Marketing and organiser of B2B Expos, Mike Monk about the impact of Covid-19 on the events industry and how businesses can continue to gain from virtual expos during this difficult time

Thanks for chatting Networking to us, Mike. Can & Events you tell us about the B2B Expos you have been running for the past 3 years?

I have been running the B2B Expos – Brighton Business Expo – since the launch in October 2016, so this year would have been our fifth anniversary. The Expo itself has grown year on year and the reason I chose to launch it was because I saw a gap in the market that suggested a good business-to-business exhibition in the Brighton area was really needed. I’m very happy that I did it but of course I’m disappointed this year because with Covid-19 coming along I was unable to put the exhibition on. I’m hopeful that it is going to happen again in June or July next year. Each year it has grown and this year, had it happened, it would have seen over 100 stands and probably over 700 people through the door. Hopefully next year we’ll be able to get back on track!

Covid-19 has had a huge impact on many businesses, but especially the events industry. Can you tell us about how you have pivoted and why you launched the Sussex Virtual Expo?

Covid-19 has had a big impact on my businesses. It was quite alarming how everything went so quiet from the end of March onwards. I could see I wasn’t going to be holding my exhibition this year and I noticed that sales had really dropped off in my promotional merchandise business, Monk Marketing. I decided to pivot and I’m now doing a lot more online in the merchandise side of things. I have actually also launched a virtual expo – the Sussex Virtual Expo.

How did the Sussex Virtual Expo work and what is next for Virtual Expos and B2B Expos?

Mike Monk

I ran the Sussex Virtual Expo about five weeks go and it was very well received. It saw good numbers and we had around 15 exhibitors for the very first one online. My hope now is that I can run a virtual expo possibly every quarter, while still running the live event each year. I think this is going to be the way of the future now and we’re going to see both virtual and live events happening in the same period.

How do you see the future of virtual events?

I feel the future of virtual expos and live events is still good, albeit we will of course have to think about how we do things and

showcase them on the right platform. I run the Sussex Virtual Expo on the REMO platform, which works extremely well for a virtual exhibition. With regards to having live events, I think there will be restrictions following on from Covid-19, including of course social distancing and many general safety measures put in place. It is likely we will have to limit numbers coming in and have one-way systems around the hall. Having said all of this, I still think we can hold the events and I am optimistic they can be successful – we just have to adjust to the new normal.