A Wider Net

nTAG makes digital nametags that are smarter than I am. When I meet people at an event, I may be pre-occupied sizing someone up, or hiding behind a ficus while I gather enough courage to introduce myself and try to strike a deal. But these little gadgets would be busy scouting the area for people I need to meet. It finds a match based on compatible interests, common goals, desired products and services, and other criteria. It doesn’t care about necktie patterns (although maybe it should), but it does let you know if someone nearby is looking to form a partnership compatible with your business, and it even introduces you. How much is THAT worth?

The new nTAG nametags are small, elegant, and functional - especially when compared to their predecessor. The old ones, which we covered in a webcast shortly after their launch several years ago, were a little clunky in appearance. They were cool, and the concept was sound - it just needed to evolve. Well, they’ve evolved.

These slick badges have little displays on them that tell you about the people nearby. They allow you to share your contact information with attendees and exhibitors, even long after you’ve met them. With them, you can participate in polls, assessments, and audience response activities.

They’re primarily an onsite service. If you’re looking to network people prior to an event then you would need a solution from the online networking systems like introNetworks, BD Metrics, or Leverage Software. The data from those systems can be fed into the nTAG system to create a seamless pre-, during, and post-event networking and communications service.

Regardless of which solution you choose, and I strongly recommend you consider some kind of networking solution for your event, you should take time to ask your stakeholders what they want to get from the event. Who do they want to meet? Why? And how can those conversations help them grow their business? Answers to these questions, and others, will form essential groundwork for building the networking environment. Good preparation will make the experience intuitive and highly rewarding for participants. You will be rewarded with a higher percentage of repeat visitors, larger audiences, and greater satisfaction ratings.