You’re struggling to manage your business networking events. What tools can help you streamline the process?

1 Set your goals and strategy

Before you start looking for tools, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you want to approach your business networking events. What are your objectives, target audience, value proposition, and success metrics? How do you want to communicate and engage with your network? How do you want to follow up and nurture your relationships? Having a strategy will help you choose the right tools and use them in the best way possible.

2 Find and join relevant platforms

One of the first steps to streamline your business networking events is to find and join the platforms that suit your needs and goals. There are many networking websites and apps that cater to different industries, niches, interests, and formats. For example, you can use Meetup to find and join local groups and events, Eventbrite to discover and register for online or in-person events, or LinkedIn to connect and interact with professionals and influencers. You can also use niche platforms that focus on specific topics or sectors, such as Women in Tech, Startup Grind, or Creative Mornings.

3 Organize your events and contacts

Once you have found and joined the platforms that interest you, you need to organize your events and contacts in a way that makes sense for you. You can use tools like Google Calendar, Outlook, or Calendly to sync your events across different platforms, set reminders, and manage your availability. You can also use tools like HubSpot, Zoho, or Airtable to create and update your contact database, segment your network, and track your interactions and outcomes.