Networking is one of the main reasons people invest time, money, and energy into attending conferences, trade shows, and other events. But the process can be daunting. How do you walk into a crowded room or expo hall and meet the right people—for example, people who may want to do business with you or help you learn something that will be beneficial?
Savvy planners know it is in their interest to help their attendees achieve these goals, so they don’t leave it to chance. Here are four apps and software products planners can use to foster networking at their events.
Shapr is a free app that people can use throughout the year to meet others with similar business interests. Users create profiles that include their job title and company, a short bio, and interest tags, and then the app uses an algorithm to produce a list of 10 to 15 people they may want to meet. Planners who want their attendees to use the app for networking at their events create a hashtag that users can add to their interests so the system can identify people who are at the same event. Users swipe left to delete a suggested contact or swipe right to show interest in meeting. When two users both swipe right, the connection is made, and they can message each other within the app to set up a face-to-face meeting on site.
E180 launched in 2011 with the invention of technology-driven “brain dates” for events, and in May the company renamed its matchmaking system Braindate. E180 works with planners to develop a personalized engagement strategy that involves an on-site Braindate Lounge staffed by E180 staff and the integration of the matching technology into the event app. Attendees create a profile that includes information about what they hope to learn at the event, knowledge they are willing to share, their hobbies, and any tags they want to use to identify themselves. Users then receive a list of other attendees that fit their profile. By clicking “I want to meet” on a profile, the user can view that person’s available time slots and suggest a time to meet in the lounge. As part of the update in May, the system now facilitates group brain dates, not just one-to-one meetings. After the event, E180 provides planners with data about users’ most requested topics and which attendees were most active in sharing their knowledge.
Brella is a system that works to help people make meaningful connections at events. Users create a profile through the web portal or in the Brella app that can include their photo, company information, and selections from a list of interests and skills customized by the event host. The Brella algorithm uses that information to send users a suggested list of people to meet, in descending order. When two people agree to meet, the system overlaps their calendars to identify times that both are available. It also enables a chat function so the two individuals can discuss where to meet and share additional information to maximize their time together.
Mixalot is software intended for use at structured networking events, similar to a speed-dating experience. Planners create a list of industries and roles that are appropriate for their event—for a tech event it might be investor, business development, marketing, etc.—and attendees use a Web link to set up their profile with the industries and roles that describe them and the people they want to meet. When the networking experiences begins, attendees receive a text message with information about their first match and where to sit to meet them—for example indicated by numbered tables. After a time set by the planner, generally about 10 minutes, attendees receive another text with instructions of where to go to meet their next match. Participants who want to continue the connection after the event receive a list of people they met, allowing them to compile contact information without the need for business cards.
