Ask HN: How to organize a “successful” networking event?
There are many aspects of organizing a successful networking event, but I'm curious about one very specific aspect:
How do we make sure that people make new acquaintances at a networking event you've organized?
I'm part of executive team at OPEN Islamabad where we organize networking events for local professionals and entrepreneurs almost every month. We have observed in those events, most people don't come out of their comfort zones and stay in the company of people they already know. We are exploring what can be done, so that attendees get best out of these events by making new connections. I'm very much interested in benefiting from experience of other folks who have organized such events and have faced same problem. Here are my specific questions:
* As the saying goes "You can't improve what you can't measure", I'm curious how we can measure that attendees are exchanging contacts?
* After we have measured number of contact exchanges, what can be done to improve it?
* After people have exchanged contacts, how to educate them that they convert those acquaintances into long term contacts for their own benefit? Can this aspect also be monitored and improved?
Any thoughts, opinions, pointers and experiences will be much appreciated.
Many thanks,