How Hosting a Networking Dinner Party Can Build Your Brand
In 2017 we will be returning to what we call our influencer luncheons and dinners. We’ll be aptly naming them ‘The Return of The Dinner Party’, an eclectic gathering of personal friends, acquaintances and interesting folks dining together to enjoy the different perspectives of others.
The concept has long been in the PR practitioner’s tool for networking and building influence, however reading Dorie Clark’s e-book Standout Networking really does put it into a great process to follow. I've since become a huge fan her books.
Clark describes the importance of deeper and more meaningful human connections in a world overly obsessed with speed networking and ‘online relationships.’
It is true that a classic way for entrepreneurs to become connectors is through convening people over food. Breaking bread together is a uniquely bonding experience.
(Have you read Keith Ferrazzi’s classic networking book, called Never Eat Alone.)
As Clark describes in her e-book Stand Out Networking, dinner gatherings have also become the cornerstone of Canadian entrepreneur Scott Oldford’s personal relationship-building strategy.
Apparently Clark learned about Oldford when a mutual friend emailed her, asking if she’d like to have dinner with Oldford in New York City. Intrigued, she said yes, and she says she found out more about marketing and technology in his company and his approach to meeting people than she had in years.
From spring 2014 to that fall Oldford embarked on a networking binge, conducting an estimated 40 lunches and dinners with a mix of friends and strangers. (originally inspired by fellow Canadian entrepreneur Jayson Gaignard.
The gatherings typically involve eight to 16 people, and he’s held them in Newfoundland, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Nashville and Miami. The networking value has been enormous. Olford said he’d had about 440 to 450 people he’d come into contact with at these dinners.
But his goal wasn’t to add new contacts to his database.
His vision was just connecting with people, and helping people with challenges by having other bright minds people in the room.
Clark too is a fan of the networking dinner and organises several a month. She says for one of those monthly dinners, she brings together a group of fellow business authors, so they can talk shop about the writing and book marketing process, as well as ancillary lines of business we’re involved in, such as speaking, teaching and consulting.
The second dinner is more of a mix – long time friends I’ve been meaning to catch up with and folks she has met at conferences or events and would like to get to know better. Each dinner is capped at 10 people.
We like to keep our networking dinners down to six attendees. It means everyone gets to know each other across the table and the conversation is shared, rather than segmenting into little groups. We also personally invite via a phone call everyone and then follow up the invitation with a handwritten note. In a world where we are so obsessed with technology it is always received with delight.
If you’d like to come along or renew acquaintances we’d love you to join us so get in touch.