Maybe you’re just starting out as a planner or maybe you’re a seasoned professional looking to meet some new people. Either way, learning how to network as an event planner can be a valuable career building tool. Here are four easy ways to get connected.
Professional Associations
Nothing beats face-to-face contact. To meet other event planners in your area, look for local chapters of organizations such as Meeting Professionals International (MPI), International Special Events Society (ISES), Event Planners Association (EPA), and Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC).
Members at ISES LiveOnce you’re a member, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet both planners and suppliers. Meetings can include networking events, socials, and educational seminars. If you really want to get involved, apply for a leadership role on the board. Some associations can also help you earn hours towards the Certified Meeting Professional program.
Meetup
For a more casual way to network in person with planners, join a meetup. Meetups are informal gatherings for people with common interests. Get-togethers can include happy hours, special tastings, and networking events. To find a group near you, search within topics like Event Planning and Wedding Planning. If you don’t see any Meetups in your area, start one of your own and then invite all your local contacts.
LinkedIn
Keep up with the latest industry trends and discuss topics in groups like Event Planning & Event Management. (Pro tip: If you’ve already joined one of the professional groups listed above, look for its members-only LinkedIn group.) LinkedIn can be a great avenue for finding new vendors to work with and getting referrals from other members. Participating in group discussions will also increase your visibility as a planner and can result in more visits to your profile page.
If you’ve never used or heard of this microblogging platform, you might be a little overwhelmed at first. We recommend first creating an account and following event industry accounts, such as Message Blocks (shameless plug). Twitter will then populate suggestions for more accounts to follow. Then listen. What are people talking about? The easiest way to keep track of event industry trends is to follow the most widely used hashtags, e.g. #eventprofs and #meetingprofs. Check out the tweets below:
Once you’re ready to jump in, think first about your brand voice (do you want to promote yourself as a planner or the company you work for?). Answer questions, share articles, and participate in Twitter chats.
Planners, have any other networking tips to share?