10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Online Events

Coronavirus has forever changed the networking world; online networking events are all the rage now. And many are finding they’re even more effective than in-person networking. If you haven’t attended one already as a business owner, you’re probably in the minority! Let’s get you started. 

And if you have attended or even organized one, read on for some tips from a pro on how to make the most of it. More people than ever are meeting in virtual events to learn new skills, grow networks, find customers and build relationships. 

All you have to do is take advantage of them.

Our co-founder & President, Venkat Krishnamurthy recently interviewed Sunil Bhaskaran the founder of Global Business Mastermind, a company dedicated to teaching professionals how to engage and convert business clients. 

We’ve combed through that interview, talked to a bunch more experts, and put together 10 tips for getting the most out of networking events. 

Ready? Let’s go.

The Power of Online Networking Events

If you've been to an online networking event already, you've probably noticed a few things. They're fast, easy, and usually don't cost much, if anything. Oh and you don't have to leave your couch or change out of your sweats (yes please).  

They can also be really fun and rewarding—39 percent of people socialize more online than in person. That goes for extroverts and introverts alike. If you tend to clam up in physical events or are a little shy, you might find online events less stressful. 

“Across the board, people love it,” says Sunil. “We get great feedback. Everyone raises their hands to say they got value out of the event.”

Related: Introverts fear not: This is the networking guide for you

No matter what, you'll probably meet 30 to 40 people in one event, which is pretty great for an hour or two of your time. 

The question, then, is how do you make sure you're getting the most of each event you attend?

10 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Online Networking Events

Sunil and other experts are here to help with 10 tips on how to soak up every minute of your online event experience. 

1. Learn the Tech

It really helps to know the technology that the presenters are using so you can focus on the conversations, rather than audio issues. 

If you're on with Sunil, you'll be using Zoom. He's perfected his Zoom skills so he can bring hundreds of people online. He sets up Zoom to a gallery view—think The Brady Bunch—so you can see everyone at once. 

This is an example of a Zoom gallery view set up for 25 people.

“It made it very interesting because you could connect with people's faces, and biologically, we're all attuned to doing that: connecting faces, eyes, and smiles,” explains Sunil.

Sunil also uses Meetup and Alignable to reach out to people and build relationships. 

Related: 3 Simple Ways to Use Alignable to Stay Connected

2. Find Events That Fit Your Goals 

There are so many events happening online, from concerts to group classes to nationwide conferences. We'd love to attend every single one of them (and our managing editor keeps trying), but it's just not possible. So how do you choose?

Sunil makes sure to create events for specific audiences, which is a good way to look for them too. You might try looking for your niche, industry, goals, skill set, and so on. 

If  you need help, use Alignable to check out the events happening in your community or post one of your own.

Wherever you land, Sunil suggests sharing your feedback to help the event designers craft the best experience. "Keep us in the loop on what trend lines are,” says Sunil.

3. Pay Attention to the Details

“People are looking for events that intrigue them and get them engaged,” says Sunil. And there are some clues in the event details to help you figure out the best ones.

These places can help you get more info before you sign up:

• Event title: What does the event title say about the experience? What will you learn and take away from it? Look for events that are compelling and clear about their offerings.
  For example, one of Sunil’s most recent events was titled, “Expand your Business Networking, Houston and Silicon Valley.” If you want to expand your business networking in these areas, this is the event for you!
• Audience: Try to find more details about who will be there and if the event is right for you.
• Positioning: Sunil uses words like secrets, opportunities, etc. in the advertising to be clear about the events' goals. 
  
  

4. Perfect Your Introduction

There's a little less time in online networking events than there is at in-person ones. So Sunil suggests condensing your intro to make the most of it. 

Think of it like speed dating for business. But better.

If you're attending an event with Sunil, he'll help you out by giving out guidelines. They'll encourage you to “very succinctly tell people what your business serves.” 

When it comes to introducing yourself and your business, “your audience and your narrative are definitely two of the most important things that you've got to demonstrate,” says Sunil. In other words, know your story and be able to tell it quickly.

Getting your pitch down can take some work. Luckily, we have a few tips you can use to make the process easier. Just head on over to our Elevator Pitch Scripts for Small Business Owners for some great ideas!

5. Use Small Groups To Your Advantage

Networking is personal, but it's hard to get personal with 200 people at once. Thankfully, you don't have to. Sunil loves to break his audience out into small groups to help facilitate more genuine conversation. 

Now, you're with five to ten other people, so you can relax a little and talk more freely. Enjoy getting to know people and then share your contact info in the chat. And grab other peoples' emails and phone numbers too.

If you've never been in a break out room before, check out Zoom's feature by watching the video below.

6. Be Fair With Everyone's Time

Some people don't like small talk, but it can help break the ice and kickstart a conversation. However, in online networking events, there’s just not enough time.

Instead, follow Sunil's lead: “We play the fairness card,” explains Sunil, “and people respond very well to fairness. They want to give each other time.” 

And our time is so precious these days, which is why we love that Sunil encourages his participants to respect it. 

7. Follow the Moderator’s Guidelines

Most moderators will have guidelines, so check them out beforehand to make the event run as smoothly as possible.  

If you run into any issues, moderators can help—find one and share your feedback, suggests Sunil. That way, you can keep on connecting while they work in the background.  

“We debrief and find out what worked and what didn’t work after each meeting. Then, we make sure if people are stepping beyond the line we drew, that we make corrections for that," says Sunil.

8. Get a Little Organized

Sunil and other organizers take great care to create standout virtual events. If you want to make the most of them, doing a little prep work can help. 

Try these things beforehand:

• Test your microphone and speakers just to be sure they're working.
• Download the software, or any updates, at least ten minutes before starting so you don’t miss out on your limited time to connect.
• Gather any notes you might need for the meeting and have them ready.
• Shut down distracting windows on your computer or phone.
• Check your background to make sure you’re comfortable with what others will see. Or just use a Zoom background.

If you’re prepared, you’ll make the most of your opportunities no matter how much—or little—time you have.

As Sunil explains, “We usually advertise our events for an hour or hour-and-a-half at most, but by the end, most people want longer—two or two-and-a-half hours. It’s incredible.”

9. Take Advantage of Chat Features

Chat features are interesting places during online events, so keep an eye on them. You might be able to form great connections right then and there. 

Sunil used to look down on chat because he didn’t think it was a good way to connect with people, but his online networking events have changed his mind. “I’ve got a renewed respect for chat,” says Sunil.

Chat can help you intentionally connect and bond by allowing an outlet for asking questions, telling jokes, and more. “I’ve found that people are actually bonding faster online than at an in-person event,” Sunil explains.

One great tip from Sunil? Download the chat log after the networking event because it's filled with good info. For example:

• Contact information of your new connections
• Jokes or personal information that can help you connect more deeply with someone the next time you reach out
• Interesting notes from the event that you might not remember otherwise
  
  

10. Don’t Give Up: Connect Again and Again

We've all been to in-person networking events that are good and others that are, well, not so good. The same goes for online events. That's okay—just try another one!

If you feel like you could do better next time, that's okay too. Sunil emphasizes the need "to be genuine and authentic," rather than perfect. 

Some tips you might try:

• Learn from every event, even if you didn't love it. Maybe jot down what you didn't like and what went well.
• Give yourself a break. Online networking isn't an exact science, and we’re all figuring this out together. 
• Reach out after every event to follow up with the connections you made. 

Online Networking Events: The New Norm

Truthfully, online networking events are the new normal, and that’s awesome. With so many benefits like connecting more easily and with more people, you really can't go wrong. 

So get out there, get connected, keep going, and tell us how you're doing. We'd love to know what's working for you, where you're finding the best events, and what your networking secrets are. Share in the comments.

And don’t forget to check out Global Business Mastermind and the full interview with Sunil on YouTube, here.

For more ways to succeed at online networking, try these reads:

• How to Network and Build Business Relationships Online
• How to Host a Great Business Networking Meetup