Micro-Events – There’s something to be said about getting out of your company’s bubble by attending conferences. You have the chance to network, hear fresh perspectives and hopefully become inspired by a few takeaways. Nonetheless, big venues that gather large crowds aren’t every industry leader’s cup of tea.
For one, mega-conferences can be overwhelming. You can’t attend every presentation, roundtable and happy hour. Second, larger events can seem impersonal. It may be more challenging than you thought to connect with the right peers in the most opportune moments.
These reasons and more may explain the rise of micro-events as an antidote to mega-conferences’ drawbacks. Micro-events are smaller, hyper-focused learning opportunities. Yes, you get to network with precision, too. But how do you find them? Here are a few ideas for locating these impactful events.
Online Discussion Groups
Naturally, your industry focuses on specific topics. Whether it’s advances in wireless telecommunications or changing insurance regulations, industry professionals are talking about it. And those discussions aren’t just happening around the company water cooler and in the C-suite. Pros are also having these talks online, including in groups on professional social media and networking platforms.
Within the virtual chatter are mentions of meetup opportunities, roundtables and smaller gatherings. Think lunch and learns or shorter breakfast meetings. There may also be online panel discussions with industry experts and digital soft product launches.
Some professional social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, may require a bit more exploration to find your niche. For example, you could join groups catering to your industry. You could also join LinkedIn groups based on topics that interest you.
Other online platforms are geared specifically toward in-person networking, often amongst smaller groups. Think Meetup or Eventbrite. Meetup has 330,000 active groups across 193 countries, while LinkedIn has nearly 3 million. You’re likely to find something interesting, perhaps even particular topics you wouldn’t be able to engage with elsewhere.
Community Organizations
Nearly every community has a chamber of commerce. Depending on the size of the area, there may also be several community colleges and universities nearby. Local school districts and public libraries are additional examples of community mainstays.
You might not instantly draw the connection between micro-events and these organizations. However, if you dig further, you’ll usually find these facilities organizing smaller gatherings for like-minded professionals. Business after dark events sponsored by a local chamber of commerce are an example. So is a town hall about pressing issues facing local businesses and residents.
Not all events held or sponsored by community organizations will seem like obvious opportunities either. While a morning coffee gathering among small business owners would be a no-brainer, don’t dismiss a ribbon cutting for a new location. If the company operates in a related industry, it could be a chance to learn more. Future micro-events might be announced and discussed. Plus, you could cross paths with peers sooner rather than later.
Libraries also often host groups focused on developing specific skills or gaining experience with certain technology, such as virtual reality. These are opportunities to meet people looking to break into or move up in industries. You can establish local connections and expand your network, which may lead to additional professional prospects down the road.
Trade Publications
Trade publications are go-to resources for what’s happening in your industry. You might think you’ll only discover the big events and major conferences. Yet, trade pubs also speak to more intimate get-togethers. Some of these micro-events could be exclusive product launch workshops. Another example is peer-to-peer workshops designed to forge connections between a smaller group of leaders.
If you need ideas on where to find pubs catering to certain industries, you can look at online resources that categorize by trade. Try subscribing to a few to get a sense of what knowledge you can gain. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to subscribe to the publication itself, see if there’s an email list you can join.
There may be email newsletters with snippets of articles and upcoming events, whether large or small. Attending the larger events first will help you learn about the smaller ones. In addition, larger venues sometimes let attendees add on sessions geared toward closer-knit groups. While there is usually an extra fee, it may be worth it to attend an in-depth learning session or exclusive roundtable discussion.
Finding Your Next Micro-Event
Micro-events have several advantages over the large conferences everyone seems to flock to. There are fewer people, meaning you get the chance to engage in more meaningful conversations with peers interested in focused discussions. Because of this focus, there are fewer competing topics to choose from. You can take a deeper dive into your niche and not feel the overwhelm that comes from crowded arenas with sometimes conflicting information.
Discovering micro-events can be easier than you think. You may need to think outside the box and experiment with information sources to find what you’re looking for. But by going beyond the traditional venues, you’ll start building deeper connections with peers you could otherwise