I've also learned a few things about networking event planning through trial and error. Here's what I would recommend to anyone looking to launch an industry networking event of their own:

To get started, put together an email invite that includes the following: A friendly introduction explaining the purpose of the event and what to expect there; the date, time and location of the event, including details such as how to find the group at the venue and parking information; a request to RSVP by a specific date; and a suggestion to forward the invite to others who might be interested. You might also consider using Eventbrite to manage your event invitations. I began using it to promote my third monthly event and love it – it's totally free, allows you to estimate attendance ahead of time, sends out an automated reminder email to attendees, and makes your event look that much more official and professional.
Choose a venue wisely. You'll want to consider things like location and accessibility, size, atmosphere, cost, and food and drink options. Pick a place that's easy to find and in a central location (if you're in a large city, try rotating venues in popular neighborhoods or sides of town with each event), is on the large and quiet side; offers a variety of affordable menu items and has plenty of parking. For my second event, I chose a large, upscale beer hall in Northwest Portland, but received some complaints about the lack of parking in the area, so I now take that into account when scouting out venues.
The biggest hurdle I encountered when planning my first few events was finding a venue that offered a good-sized, private space without requiring a rental fee or food and drink minimum. To get around this, I've chosen spots with large bar areas and arrived early to claim a few tables, or reserved a few tables in the dining room close together under my name. You can also try meeting with the venue's event manager and negotiating a deal – some may waive or lower fees if they know 30 people will be showing up to order food and drinks.
Promote the group on social media in between events. I created a LinkedIn group for my event, but you can do the same on Facebook and use the online space to make event announcements, recruit new attendees and ask members to weigh in on future venue choices or event activities.
Bring a sign-in sheet, blank name tags and markers to the event, and designate one corner of a table as the registration area (I haven't actually done this yet, but it's on my list for next time). As the event host, you'll want to meet everyone who attends and help facilitate conversations by making introductions. And be sure to take some photos – both posed and candid – when things start to liven up. You can include them on future invites and post them to social media to keep the group's momentum going.
Don't go silent the morning after – send out a thank-you email to attendees to express your appreciation for their efforts to get out, and let them know when they can expect the next event to take place. Settling on a recurring, monthly date, like the first Tuesday or last Thursday of every month, is a good idea so guests can plan ahead. You'll also want to make sure the dates don't conflict with another industry event (I inadvertently scheduled one event the same day as the state's Credit Union Day, when credit union executives would be traveling to the capitol to meet with lawmakers, and this slightly affected attendance).
Think about where you'd like to take the event in the future. You might want to bring in a speaker to talk for 10 for 15 minutes on a relevant topic (no one wants to sit and listen to a long-winded presentation, but a short speech can be a good way to kick things off or create an event "intermission"). Or, make it a mini-trade show and invite a vendor to set up a booth. Charge them a fee for the exposure opportunity, and you could have the cost of your next event covered. Holding a raffle is another way to build excitement (and get people to hang around until the end). Ask a sponsoring credit union or vendor to purchase a prize, like a tablet or smart speaker, and sell raffle tickets to guests when they arrive. Even better, donate the proceeds to a local charity in true credit union spirit. You'll want the group's growth to take place slowly and organically, but don't be afraid to think big.

I'd encourage anyone reading this to start their own version of "Happy Hour for [insert city nickname here] Credit Union People" in their home town, and hope this advice helps you get started. And don't forget, I'm still a rookie, so if you have any tips for me, please send them my way.

Instant Insights /

Tips From a Rookie Networking Event Organizer

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