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Onsite Networking Experience Best Practices

  • Updated

*As of October 2021, Grip Web Networking is no longer supported on Internet Explorer due to Microsoft announcing that they will be sunsetting the browser come June 2022

 

This article provides inspiration for organisers when planning their onsite experience in conjunction with using the Grip Matchmaking Solution. 

ONSITE SUPPORT ELEMENTS:
  • Support Helpdesk
  • Meeting Lounge

General Setup

A large part of the onsite experience and the best practices depend on the type of meeting locations you're having in the platform. In general, we advise having an app & networking helpdesk as part of the Meeting Area in a dual function if you have a Meeting Lounge. 

If you do not have a Networking Lounge, we suggest doing one of the following:

  • Bundling App/Networking support with your registration support at the entrance of the venue. 
  • Placing a helpdesk in or near your Exhibitor Lounge where a Grip Customer Success Manager can also talk prospective new exhibitors through the benefits of the platform for exhibitors.
  • Positioning a support Helpdesk on the tradeshow floor will provide a high-level of interaction but might not be the easiest for people to find when they really need it.

Reminder of the Grip Meeting Location Matrix

A reminder of the Grip Meeting Location Matrix

Support Helpdesk

Please find below a list of examples of support desks that hopefully provide inspiration for your event! 

Laure, Lee, and Jake - Proud members of the Grip Team onsite at Money 20/20 in the PayPal Lounge.

Maria, member of the Grip team onsite at Silmo as part of a dedicated "app helpdesk" on the trade show floor.

Meeting Lounge

In general, there are a couple of 'best practices' around creating a great onsite networking experience in regards to the design of the Meeting Lounge.

Crucial points to keep in mind are:

  1. Always go for High Tables, Table Tops or High Boys! No matter what you call them go for tables that people can stand on in combination with an optional two stools. The main reason is that this eliminates the problem of having to drag around chairs if a third person joins the meeting (something that frequently happens). The other reason is that otherwise, people will start chilling and working in your Meeting Lounge which can obstruct the flow of meetings and cause frustration among delegates.
  2. KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid). Tables should be positioned in a clear grid layout. This makes it easy for people to find their table and avoids confusion. It also makes it easy for people to know when they are in the 'meeting lounge.
  3. Generally don't require people to "check-in". While partitions can give a feeling of exclusivity which can be desirable when there is no more than 10 meeting tables in an area this is not advisable when you get above this number, why?
    1. The math simply doesn't add up. Assuming every check-in takes 15 seconds on average. This means that with two people you can "check-in" 8 people per minute. With meeting slots of 15 minutes, and let's say 50 meeting tables you would need to check-in 100 people in a period of roughly 5 minutes which is just doesn't work and would require A LOT of support people.

This event had 100+ Meeting Tables in a single open-plan space at the centre of the Exhibition Floor.

100+ Meeting tables across two areas, one in the back of the hall and one at the centre of the Exhibition Hall.

Premium networking area overlooking the trade show floor.

 

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