How I Host Virtual Speed Networking Events

Photo by Chris Montgomery from Unsplash

When COVID hit, our marketing organization had to leave behind in-person networking events of drinks, handshakes, business cards, and awkward small talk. In its absence, we discovered something more efficient and effective: Virtual Speed Networking. Like speed dating, Speed Networking gives you the opportunity to meet many different people in a short amount of time. As the host of speed networking, you’re in control of its success and the speed of which encourages attendees to be focused and make connections — a great thing for introverts.

I’m a to-the-point kind of host who loves meetings that run efficiently and on time, and I make sure that the speed networking is efficient and practical. I’m a no-nonsense, upfront sort of host.

My events require four things: Eventbrite, Zoom, Breakout Rooms, & Polls.

Let’s start with Eventbrite. This is a self-service ticketing platform that allows anyone to create, share, find and attend events. People can search and register for online and in-person events that they’re interested in.

On my Speed Networking Eventbrite page, I clearly explain the purpose of the event and include an agenda. This way people know what to expect to happen during and more people will register if they understand how it works. I try to remove any barriers or hesitation for the shy and newbie networkers.

Here’s my event description

Don’t love traditional networking events?

• Have you ever gotten stuck talking to someone and couldn’t get out of it?
• Didn’t know when or how to ask for someone’s business card?
• Do you want to meet new people but don’t feel like going by yourself?
• Only spoke to a few people or no one?

This event is like speed dating … for professionals! Meet people quickly, efficiently, and never get stuck talking to someone who isn’t a good fit. This is why we’ve limited it to six 5-minute rounds with 2–3 people each. This will allow you to meet at 5–10 professionals in 30 minutes.

And here’s my agenda

5–5:10: Welcome / How it works
5:10–5:15 — Round 1
5:15–5:20 — Round 2
5:20–5:25 — Round 3
5:25–5:30 — Round 4
5:30–5:35 — Round 5
5:35–5:40 — Round 6
5:40–5:50 Wrap up

When it’s time to start the Speed Networking, this is how I host it:

The first few minutes, I admit, are a little awkward. I might have some music playing and as people join, I welcome them by name making sure everyone feels seen. I’ll add my Linkedin profile link in the Zoom Chat and ask people to participate right away to do the same. I might also ask people to share their location. This gives everyone a feel for who is in the room.

As soon as I believe we’ve got the majority of the group in the event, I’ll start. I’ll jump right into explaining how Speed Networking works, who I am, and place everyone into Zoom’s Breakout rooms for 5 minutes. Any latecomers will network with me in the main Zoom room until the next round.

I choose to “randomly” pair people up into breakout rooms. This is the easiest and recommended way because you never know who will show up and who won’t. I don’t recommend creating breakout rooms manually or pre-assigning them, unless you know for sure that everyone on your list will show up.

After five minutes in the breakout room, attendees will automatically return to the main room where we started. To make things a little fun, I use the Zoom polling feature so everyone can interact and learn about other attendees. Some of my polling questions are practical, others are silly. Here’s a list of some of my polling questions.

Sample Polling Questions:

1. Why are you here? (Multiple Choice: to look for a job, to hire someone, to meet people, to learn more about the industry, etc)
2. How many years of experience do you have in the field? (e.g. marketing): (Multiple Choice: 0, 1–2, 3–5. 6–10, 11+)
3. What industry do you work in? (Multiple Choice: eCommerce, B2B, tech, education, etc)
4. Favorite board game? (Multiple Choice: chess, monopoly, risk, ticket to ride, settlers of Catan, etc)
5. Favorite weekend activity? (Multiple Choice: hiking, biking, shopping, hanging with friends, etc)
6. What languages do you speak? (Multiple Choice: English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Farsi, Korean, Italian, Portuguese, etc)
7. What drink could you not live without? (Multiple Choice: coffee, tea, beer, wine, la Croix, soda, etc)
8. Typical Weekend Activity? (Multiple Choice: hiking, sports, cooking/baking, gardening, crafts, family time, movies, etc)

After the poll, we’re on to Round 2 for another five minutes of speed networking. After that, everyone returns to the main room for another poll. We go back and forth between a breakout room and a poll until the end of the event. People tend to loosen up and get more comfortable as time goes on, so the main Zoom room becomes chattier.

When it’s time to end the event, I usually have a little slide deck to promote upcoming events for our Marketing club, the next speed networking date, and I suggest signing up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date. Lastly, thanking everyone for coming and hoping they’ll join again.

Problems to Expect

A problem with Zoom Breakout Rooms is that sometimes people will randomly be placed in a breakout room with someone they’ve already talked to. The more people you have total in your Speed Networking, the less likely this will happen. If it does, I always recommend people leave the breakout room and return to the main room with me. (Zoom now allows participants to leave and join breakout rooms at their own will). I can network with them, or add them to another room.

Some final tips and what to expect for your hosting your first Virtual Speed Networking event.

1. Prepare the poll questions beforehand. Create them and the answers in the Zoom settings.
2. Don’t expect to have all attendees show up if your event is free. All of mine have been free and I’ll get 40–50 attendees, but only 15–20 will actually show up. Bummer!!
3. Promote your event on Meetup (if you have a community), Facebook page (if you have one), through an email newsletter, and on Eventbrite. People can register on Eventbrite and will receive an email with the Zoom link and reminder emails about the Speed Networking Event.
4. The more people the better because it reduces the chances people will be paired up in rooms with the same person.