B2B Networking Lunch Themes

Blind Date Networking - Blind dates do work!

Do you sometimes feel that networking is like a blind date?
Do you sometimes start off with high hopes and then walk away thinking it was a waste of time and money?
Unlike other organisations, The Business Exchange has a great track record with networking – mainly because new ideas such as its Blind Date network meetings are always being tried and tested.

Blind Date networking is one of the more unusual and successful networking events held and as the name suggests, this form of networking is when two businesses meet for the first time.

The idea is to sit back to back with each other and ask each other questions. Because you’re back to back, everyone who takes part
in this form of networking says it concentrates their minds on finding out as much as possible about each other’s business. Ten minutes is given for each pair, five minutes for each business delegate, to see if the services or products of the other business are of interest and if so, to make arrangements to follow up after the event with a further meeting.

Comedy Networking - Find the other half

Jokes are usually made up of two halves – and this is the basis for The Business Exchange`s comedy networking sessions. Have a laugh while you do business and you’ll find it lightens the atmosphere and makes it easier to mingle and meet valuable contacts.

On arriving, everyone is given one half of a joke – either the joke or the punch line with the aim to find the other half. While all networking meetings are great for making deals, introducing some comedy into the event is a great way to improve networking skills – find the joke to your punch line or the punch line to your joke while meeting many different people. Meet someone, greet them and move on to the
next while searching for your opposite half to your joke. Comedy networking events are great ice-breakers, a fantastic way to get to make even more business contacts.

Speed Networking - Not just one but several meetings

Speed networking is rapidly growing in popularity as more and more business leaders recognise the benefits it brings to their organisation.
Instead of one or two meetings, there’s a chance to meet dozens of potential contacts. And as each exchange lasts just a few
minutes, you won’t get stuck in an unwanted long conversation wondering how to escape.

Getting face to face with people is the only way to really find out if there are any potential business’ opportunities – with speed networking you are guaranteed to meet many more people that you would not have had the opportunity to otherwise meet or network with.

At many network meetings people often drift towards those they already know and don’t meet others who may turn out to be great contacts.
We usually have tables of eight people with four of the delegates moving clockwise every ten minutes. A table monitor keeps the time and allows everyone to say their pitch. And with only half the table moving on each time, this is a great chance to sharpen pitches so as to keep
them varied and fresh.

Speed networking encourages conversations and the building of business relationships with great results – the perfect contract is easier to come by if you get the chance to meet more of the right people.

The Presentation - A longer pitch

Do you ever feel you’d like to have longer with someone – really get into the nitty gritty of what products or services your company offers?

The Business Exchange’s Presentation networking sessions allow you to do just that. If you’ve got something to shout about, then get in touch with us and we’ll organise for you to have the floor to give a presentation in front of the whole group.

This can utilise tools such as a projector or it could be that you want a white board or flip chart. You’ll have 20 to 30 minutes to wow the audience and get across your message. This type of networking is popular with dynamic businesses which are going places,
so get in touch with us to have your say!