Always Collect Business Cards From Your Guests
Even if you obtain attendee contact information from online sign-ups or even a sign in sheet at the door, collecting business cards is still an important practice. There are numerous purposes to collecting business cards that can prove useful. For example; they can be used as back up contact information if anything happens to your sign in sheet or registration software data. They can be used, if placed in a bin when of attendees enter your event, to be pulled out randomly when giving away door prizes. They can be used in obtaining physical addresses or other information not available through online sign-up or sign in sheets. There are even more reasons to collect business cards but the acquisition of them is very easy; simply request attendees hand over their business cards when they first enter your event and are signing in. Most will do so gladly.
Name Tags or Badges Are an Important Element to Add On
You must consider that when people come to network they are in a room full of strangers. Networking is a social exercise but it also has an end goal in mind. Many attendees may feel intimidated and uncomfortable while others may be more focused and have a goal of who they want to meet. In either case removing the guesswork and putting a name and a company with a face is valuable to your guests. By using name tags for badges you are helping your attendees to collapse time frames and making it easier for them to interact with one another. There are even networking events in which the badges are color-coded by industry. This is excellent because it allows more focused networkers to approach who they wish as well as avoid others whom they may feel are not a good match.
You May Want to Hire a Good Photographer
If you're planning on hosting a networking event chances are you're not going to stop with just one. As you go through the process of hosting several events it is a good idea to record the happenings via photos or videos. This is a good idea for a few reasons; you can post these photos or videos on your event website. You can e-mail attendees photos or videos of events they attended and subsequent events. By posting these photos or videos you are displaying visual proof that your events are worthy of attending. Depending on your role in event itself, you may or may not have time to take flicks or film it yourself. Therefore, it is a good idea hire a professional photographer to take photos or record your event activities. Hiring a professional almost guarantees that there will be higher quality than doing it yourself. Many photographers are affordable for short periods of time.
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