Organizing networking events—well, any event really—can be tricky. Finding the right time, day, and format to suit everyone isn’t easy! Currently we’re working on finding the best time and format for our Meetups at the Pub.
The HD8 Network is well known for our networking events.
I started holding networking events in the HD8 area back in 2013 and held them monthly until Covid locked us all down – I did try them online, but as we were attracting people from all over the country and not many from HD8 area, it felt disingenuous and so I stopped holding them.
However after years of people asking when the next Meetup was going to be, I have begrudgingly restarted them.
I say begrudgingly because organising events takes a lot of effort and enthusiasm, as well as being a thankless task. However the main reason, is because it mixes with our messaging – especially when you need to send so many reminders to get people to meetings.
The HD8 Network is an online platform which offers online visibility in the local area for businesses and non profit organisations.
We run the Meetups as an optional extra feature – because people ask for them.
For the past two months, we’ve hosted the HD8 Network Meetup at the White Hart Pub in Denby Dale.
- Last month, we ran the session from 1–3pm, but many people told us they couldn’t attend or had to leave early for the school run.
- This month, we adjusted the time to 12–2:30pm to accommodate school schedules. Since the event overlapped with lunchtime, we included food in the ticket price—but that, of course, affected the cost.
Now, after speaking with the pub, they’ve suggested opening earlier for us. This would allow us to hold structured networking first, followed by an optional meal afterward. However, offering food as an optional add-on complicates ticketing. For example –
The other option that runs through my mind, is holding the event in the evening, after usual work hours. This is particularly a consideration as I can sometimes be told “that’s when I am working” when I invite people to the Meetup during the day.
But do people want to attend networking outside of work hours, interrupting their personal time?
However this opens up a whole new line of questioning – is networking part of work, or is it something extra?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
- What time works best for you when attending a networking event?
- If you’re paying for a networking event ticket, what do you expect to be included?
- Or do you have a rule that you don’t pay to attend networking events?
Your feedback will help us create the best possible experience for everyone. Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts!
If you are interested in attending our Meetup events please either get in touch or book your ticket on Eventbrite – https://HD8-network.eventbrite.com