Which Networking Events Are Really Worth Your Time in 2021?

Networking events can be very important to any entrepreneur as they help to broaden your circle of contacts and grow your business.

But not all networking events are the same, and not all of them will be worth your time.

To start with, it’s important to think about what you want to get out of a networking event before attending. Do you want to meet new people, grow the number of contacts you have in your industry, learn how to solve a problem you’re currently experiencing etc?

Once you know what you want to get out of the event, you also have the choice between a number of different types of networking events. These can range from an informal lunch event to more structured events with a formal agenda.

We’ve collated a list of some of the most popular types of networking events and what you can expect from them. This will help you to decide which networking events are really worth your time as an entrepreneur.

Ticketed events

No matter the industry you’re in, there are always many ticketed events that take place throughout the year—these can be things like conferences, awards events, or presentations.

With these, you’ll normally get the chance to network before you sit down for the main event. Get out and work the room, introduce yourself to new people and see if there’s anyone that would be a good contact for you to have. You may even be able to organise a meeting after the event to continue your discussions.

Structured networking

If you want to attend an event that’s specifically for networking in your industry, it may be best for you to find networking groups that organise events for entrepreneurs—for example, services like Meetup where you can find a variety of networking events that are taking place near you.

Virtual networking

If you don’t have the time to attend an in-person networking event, there are still plenty of events that take place virtually.

You can attend a virtual event anywhere in the world so the chance of you meeting a valuable contact is much higher. You can find these events by simply searching online for something like ‘virtual networking event for business entrepreneur”.

Breakfast and lunch events

If you want to attend a slightly less-structured event that also includes eating, a breakfast or lunch networking event will be perfect for you.

You’ll be able to meet new people and sit at a table while you eat which provides a great opportunity to find useful, relevant contacts to add to your network. However, if you get stuck sitting next to people that aren’t valuable to you, it may not be worth your time.

Happy hours

Happy hours are completely informal networking events that have little to no structure, it’s all about mixing and mingling with as many new people as you can.

Unlike breakfast and lunch events, you’re not restrained to sitting at a table so if you’re talking to someone who’s lost your interest, you can simply move on to the next.