I was hoping to post all of this in the discussion section of the new NetworkInAustin.com group on LinkedIn. Unfortunately I discovered the hard way that there is a 2000 character limit. I’ve moved the content to my blog, but would like everyone with an interest in this topic to post their comments to the discussion on LinkedIn. All are welcome to join the NetworkInAustin.com group on LinkedIn.

First let me say thank you for joining the NetworkInAustin.com group here on LinkedIn. I'm very hopeful that this will be a good venue for us to share meaningful thoughts and ideas.

The most common question I'm asked about NetworkInAustin.com is "When are your events." My answer has always been that we don't have events. NIA was designed to be the hub of networking in Austin and I thought that if anything there might already be too many events and the last thing we need to do is create another vent. People just need help finding the events that are most appropriate for them. Apparently I’ve been wrong for a long time...

Recently the demand for events for NIA members has been just overwhelming and I think it's time to give in. Based on all of the feedback it seems that people need to have some type of physical relationship with NIA outside of just the website.

That being the case I want to know how to make these events wildly productive and valuable. Something that you'll look forward to attending and want to bring all of your friends to because of how useful it is for you.

The feedback I'm looking for is your ideas on how to make this happen. First let me share my own thinking that you can either agree with or shoot holes in and provide your own suggestions. I'm open to it all because these events are really going to be about you, not me.

First I'm thinking of doing a monthly event, and based on the feedback I have heard a breakfast meeting would be most appropriate (One person told me that their liver couldn't handle another happy hour!)

I don't want these events to duplicate anything else that's out there. Otherwise what would be the point?

I hope that most NIA members are on an ongoing quest to become better networkers. So why not have a networking breakfast focused on the who, what, when, where and why of better networking?

Of course we need to have facilitated networking opportunities, but I also think that we can learn about the various facets of networking from the multitude of local experts we have right here in Austin.

What about a 50/50 model for these events? Half of the time will be devoted to some type of facilitated networking. The other half will be a speaker or panel discussing some facet of building a truly powerful professional network.

Here are some of my ideas for topics. In your feedback please let us know which you’re most interested in, least interested in, and feel free to suggest your own topic ideas for areas you and others would be interested in learning more about:
 

• Networking – the basics
• Advanced Networking – best practices
• Personal Branding
• Social Media
• LinkedIn/Facebook/Twitter
• Leadership Development (someone suggested a “taste” of Leadership Austin)
• Selling for the Networker
• Marketing to support Networking
• Public Relations/Working with the Media

It’s also been suggested that we do some level of segmentation in the facilitated networking sessions. Grouping B2B and B2C or doing small group pairings based on probable synergies or other common interests, etc.

That’s it for my own brain dump. What are YOUR thoughts???

Happy Networking!

Scott Ingram
NetworkInAustin.com