How do you invite more people to your business networking event?

1 Define your goals and audience

Before you start inviting people to your event, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and who you want to reach. Do you want to generate leads, build relationships, showcase your expertise, or learn from others? Who are your ideal attendees and what are their pain points, interests, and goals? Having a specific and relevant purpose and target group will help you craft a compelling message and offer value to your guests.

2 Choose a format and platform

The format and platform of your event will depend on your goals, audience, and budget. You can choose from different types of events, such as webinars, workshops, panel discussions, speed networking, or roundtables. You can also decide whether you want to host your event online, offline, or hybrid. Online events are more accessible and cost-effective, but offline events can create more personal connections and engagement. Hybrid events combine the best of both worlds, but require more planning and coordination.

3 Create a landing page and registration process

Once you have decided on the format and platform of your event, you need to create a landing page and a registration process that will entice people to sign up. Your landing page should include the following elements: a catchy title, a clear value proposition, a brief agenda, a list of speakers or facilitators, a call to action, and social proof. Your registration process should be simple, secure, and seamless. You can use tools like Eventbrite, Meetup, or Zoom to create and manage your event page and tickets.

4 Promote your event through multiple channels

To reach more people and increase your attendance rate, you need to promote your event through multiple channels and platforms. You can use email marketing, social media, blogs, podcasts, videos, or press releases to spread the word about your event. You can also leverage your existing network, such as your clients, partners, colleagues, friends, or family, to invite or refer others to your event. You can also partner with other organizations, influencers, or media outlets that share your audience or niche.

5 Engage your attendees before, during, and after the event

To make your event more memorable and effective, you need to engage your attendees before, during, and after the event. You can send them reminders, updates, teasers, or surveys before the event to build anticipation and excitement. You can also create a hashtag, a group, or a chat for your event to facilitate interaction and networking among the attendees. During the event, you can encourage participation, feedback, questions, or polls to keep the audience interested and involved. After the event, you can follow up with thank-you notes, recordings, slides, or resources to show appreciation and provide value.

6 Measure your results and improve your next event

Finally, you need to measure your results and improve your next event. You can use metrics such as attendance rate, engagement rate, satisfaction rate, or conversion rate to evaluate the success of your event. You can also collect feedback from your attendees, speakers, or partners to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your event. You can use this data and insights to improve your event planning, promotion, and hosting skills and to create more impactful and rewarding business networking events in the future.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?