How to Host a Virtual Networking Event

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Virtual Meet With everyone under social distancing norms due to the COVID19 outbreak face to face, networking cannot even be imagined. However, by hosting virtual events e can bring back some of the joys of networking. Some of the best practices to follow to keep the connections active even at a distance are being discussed here. Before the event: Invite the right people and the right number of people: Its better to keep the number of people to a maximum of eight to allow people to interact with each other. Make sure to include people who don't know each other along with your close friends and contacts you would like to cultivate. One major advantage is that you can have people from all over the world. keep the meetings to below 90 minutes, for a comfortable time for everyone to participate without feeling rushed. Be sensitive to time zones and ensure that the time is convenient for all participants. Make logistics as easy as possible for participants: Once someone has agreed to attend send them a calendar invite with a link to the program you are using. make it easy for them to attend the meet even if they are not familiar with the program and also inform in advance if any software is to be installed. Send out a mail introducing the participants: Include the name of participants, one-line description, link to their social media profile. t humanises the participants. Also, send out in advance any guidelines you want them to follow. During the event: make people feel comfortable: Be ready at least 5 min in advance with your video on so that you can welcome, greet the person as they arrive. Start the introductions about 5 minutes into the meeting and note down in advance if someone has to leave early so that it won't be awkward if they have to sign off during the meet. Give everyone two minutes to introduce themselves with a mix of professional and personal information like hobbies, passion. Ask everyone to answer a specific question: Structure the conversation is such a way that it is not dominated by a talkative guest or goes down a rabbit hole of politics. Some questions to consider - An interesting way you are using your time? the time you have been resilient. How you have adapted to social distancing and work from home What do you enjoy the most now? Something unusual you have this past year. Open-ended questions help people to open up and share more about themselves. Others may discuss and contribute their viewpoint leading to a better rapport and understanding. make sure to interrupt the conversation if it is moving away from the main question and ensure everyone has his say. As this is not conducive to one-to-one conversation keep the gathering small to ensure everyone participates in a lively group conversation. Finally, keep the meeting to its planned time and do not exceed too much. Of course, follow-up the meeting with a mail with everyone in the same mail, thanking them for their participation inviting suggestions for improvement. How to Host a Virtual Networking Event by Dorie Clark and Alisa Cohn May 26, 2020



With everyone under social distancing norms due to the COVID19 outbreak face to face, networking cannot even be imagined. However, by hosting virtual events e can bring back some of the joys of networking.

Some of the best practices to follow to keep the connections active even at a distance are being discussed here.


Before the event:

  • Invite the right people and the right number of people: Its better to keep the number of people to a maximum of eight to allow people to interact with each other. Make sure to include people who don't know each other along with your close friends and contacts you would like to cultivate. One major advantage is that you can have people from all over the world. keep the meetings to below 90 minutes, for a comfortable time for everyone to participate without feeling rushed. Be sensitive to time zones and ensure that the time is convenient for all participants.
  • Make logistics as easy as possible for participants: Once someone has agreed to attend send them a calendar invite with a link to the program you are using. make it easy for them to attend the meet even if they are not familiar with the program and also inform in advance if any software is to be installed.
  • Send out a mail introducing the participants: Include the name of participants, one-line description, link to their social media profile. t humanises the participants. Also, send out in advance any guidelines you want them to follow. 


During the event: 

  • make people feel comfortable: Be ready at least 5 min in advance with your video on so that you can welcome, greet the person as they arrive. Start the introductions about 5 minutes into the meeting and note down in advance if someone has to leave early so that it won't be awkward if they have to sign off during the meet. Give everyone two minutes to introduce themselves with a mix of professional and personal information like hobbies, passion. 
  • Ask everyone to answer a specific question: Structure the conversation is such a way that it is not dominated by a talkative guest or goes down a rabbit hole of politics. Some questions to consider - 
    • An interesting way you are using your time?
    • the time you have been resilient.
    • How you have adapted to social distancing and work from home
    • What do you enjoy the most now?
    • Something unusual you have this past year.


Open-ended questions help people to open up and share more about themselves. Others may discuss and contribute their viewpoint leading to a better rapport and understanding. make sure to interrupt the conversation if it is moving away from the main question and ensure everyone has his say.

As this is not conducive to one-to-one conversation keep the gathering small to ensure everyone participates in a lively group conversation.


Finally, keep the meeting to its planned time and do not exceed too much. Of course, follow-up the meeting with a mail with everyone in the same mail, thanking them for their participation inviting suggestions for improvement. 




How to Host a Virtual Networking Event

by Dorie Clark and Alisa Cohn

May 26, 2020



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