It’s been two years since EO Atlanta members Brad Stevens and Jason Rhoades got here up with a superb initiative to boost member connection and create impression throughout Covid shutdowns: 1-ON-1 Connections.
Throughout these 2020 pandemic days when in-person conferences had been uncommon, Brad and Jason mixed their experience for a typical trigger: To strengthen the weave of relationships between EO members to drive worth. Utilizing digital assistants within the Philippines from Brad’s firm, Outsource Entry, and expertise from Jason’s agency, Toolbox9, they created a way and technological algorithm to assist enhance member connections and engagement—and 1-ON-1 Connections was born!
It was an enormous success throughout EO Atlanta: 1-ON-1 Connections created over 600 connections in its first 90 days, considerably strengthening human connections amongst chapter members.
Offering connection and engagement worldwide
Subsequent, Brad and Jason did what entrepreneurs do finest: Scaled the initiative. Phrase unfold shortly inside EO, and so they now run the 1-ON-1 Connections program presently on an in-kind foundation to EO chapters worldwide. Almost 20 collaborating EO chapters are already reaping the worth from this initiative, together with EO Toronto, EO New Zealand, EO Brisbane, EO South Florida, EO MEPA Bridge, EO Fort Value, EO Europe and EO Western New York.
The mannequin is solely to quickly construct intentional, constant relationships between extra EO members at scale through electronic mail. Whereas ‘chat’ platforms are very worthwhile, they require members to go there to interact. 1-ON-1 Connections delivers proper to every member’s inbox.
And, 1-ON-1 Connections is turn-key, so it requires practically zero work for chapter employees.
“The suggestions has been unimaginable,” Brad shared. “It quickly ‘thickens the weave’ of member-to-member relationships with the intent to drive engagement and retention.” And, it’s totally “non-public label,” so it appears to be like like it’s created by and coming from every native chapter—for instance, the EO Brisbane 1-ON-1 Connections Program.
As well as, 1-ON-1 Connections has purposes for:
- Occasions and conferences. Lately deployed earlier than XCentric, EO’s US Central regional occasion, this system linked convention attendees from completely different chapters, so that they knew a number of extra acquainted faces on the occasion.
- Strategic Alliance Companions (SAPs) and chapter sponsors. EO members can opt-in to be paired with a chapter SAP a number of instances per 12 months. This will considerably enhance worth for the SAPs, who typically battle to get member “face time”.
- EO Accelerator members.
- Sister chapters.
Briefly: 1-ON-1 positively impacts member engagement via speedy 1-on-1 connections that improve worth by systematically pairing members along with personalized introductions that enhance the probability of a helpful private collision.
Although Brad and Jason didn’t initially intend to “make it a enterprise,” on the encouragement of fellow EOers, they acknowledge alternatives for monetizing this system for 1000’s of member-based organizations and conferences.
They see their area of interest as being “the one full-service, non-public label, 1-on-1 connections program for member organizations and conferences.”
What EO members say about 1-ON-1 Connections
“All of us should be knocked out of our relationship bubbles, and this can be a excellent software! —Jon VanderMeer, EO Atlanta, Kiosk & Show
“Each time you meet one other EO member, you get to expertise share, be taught and develop from them―regardless of how completely different your companies are. My first 1-ON-1 Connection assembly was simply what I wanted: I had been so caught in an space, and Jeb Stewart urged an train to strive. He gave me accountability, progress and a superb problem.” — Melissa Davis, EO South Florida, Elev8 Rent Options
“Two EO Toronto members shared that they ended up doing a multi-million greenback deal collectively that by no means would have occurred if not for the EO 1-ON-1 Connections program!” — Shane Bennett, EO Toronto previous president, Built-in Automotive
“I used to be simply launching a brand new health enterprise and wished so as to add a complement line. By 1-ON-1, I obtained paired with a brand new EO member who occurred to have a complement manufacturing enterprise. We had an superior Zoom name, and I ended up touring his facility to know the method and its excellent further income potential.” — Ethan King, EO Atlanta, 6 Pack Dads and Zeus’ Closet
“My second connection was with a brilliant profitable entrepreneur with a number of exits. The timing was excellent, as I’m launching my second enterprise with a watch to sale. I obtained tons of worth and even shifted my pondering solely on my progress strategy. It could have by no means occurred with out that 1-ON-1 Connection.” — Kara Brown, EO Atlanta, LeadCoverage
“It’s all the time on my record to be extra intentional about constructing relationships inside EO. This program handles all of the legwork to arrange environment friendly, impactful conversations so I can concentrate on the enjoyable a part of connecting.” — Shantel Kriss, EO Atlanta, Think about Media
How 1-ON-1 Connections works
Right here’s how the 1-ON-1 Connections program works:
- No main work is required from chapter employees or board members. Software program and digital assistants (VAs) handle all of it.
- It’s “non-public label” in your chapter (ie, The EO Detroit 1-ON-1 Connections Program)
- To start out, all you want is a listing of chapter members. This system will electronic mail the connections—usually as soon as monthly—“colliding” two members to immediate a gathering. The e-mail will embody every member’s firm, bio, web site, LinkedIn profile, and another knowledge you specify. All data is held in full confidentiality.
- Proprietary software program creates “pairings” so everyone seems to be uniquely matched. Discussion board members who know one another properly will not be matched collectively.
- Chapters obtain a dashboard report displaying stats on connections, open charges, click-through charges and survey outcomes on connection suggestions.
- See a pattern 1-ON-1 Connection electronic mail.
Are you prepared for 1-ON-1 Connections?
“Human connection creates worth,” Jason stated. “The 1-ON-1 Connections program brings EO members collectively in a simple, turnkey manner that requires no further administrative work. Consequently, members expertise higher worth from their EO membership, which will increase engagement.”
Is your chapter, convention or different member-based group prepared to attach, collide and create worth? Then it’s time to discover 1-On-1 Connections or electronic mail Brad Stevens for extra data.
For extra insights and inspiration from immediately’s main entrepreneurs, take a look at EO on Inc. and extra articles from the EO weblog.
