We're excited for you to experience the way we network on Alignable! A Smart Connect℠ event is the perfect opportunity to meet new business owners. Each breakout room is a 7-minute opening conversation to see if you'd like to continue building the relationship after the event.
Guidelines for Attendees
Do
- Introduce yourself warmly and authentically.
- Ask meaningful questions.
- Share valuable insights and experience.
- Follow up after the event.
- Give the other attendee your full and undivided attention.
- Leave the other attendee time to talk about the topic in the breakout room.
Don't
- Join a Smart Connect℠ while driving — it is dangerous.
- Give a sales pitch.
- Focus solely on what you can gain from the conversation.
- Dominate the conversation.
- Join a Smart Connect℠ using an account that is not yours.
Important things to note:
- Come ready to participate — you will be breaking out into 1:1 networking sessions, so you must have your camera on and microphone working.
- All communication must be business professional. For your security, we strongly encourage you to keep communication on the Alignable platform through in-app messaging.
- Focus on building genuine connections. Your ideal referral partner may be in an industry you have never considered. Talk about your business and yourself, not what you're selling. Your goal is to meet new business owners and connect with them.
How to Report Negative Networking Behavior
We have a streamlined way of reporting actions that do not align with positive networking behaviors. These include, but are not limited to:
- Overt self-promotion
- Being distracted during the breakout session
- Language that is abusive or disruptive in nature
To report your breakout partner, click the report flag on their profile card as shown in the screenshots below. This is anonymous and will not alert them during the meeting. Reports are sent to our Trust and Safety team to evaluate and can lead to conditional or full loss of Smart Connect℠ access.
We take these reports very seriously and urge you to review these guidelines before attending. Familiarizing yourself with our expectations helps you contribute positively to the community.
Account Sharing and Virtual Assistants
Smart Connect℠ events are intended for the registered business owner or the individual associated with the Alignable account. Virtual assistants and staff members may not attend a Smart Connect℠ event by logging into their employer's account.
Logging into another member's account is a violation of Alignable's Terms of Service, regardless of intent. Each attendee must participate using their own Alignable account.
If you are a virtual assistant or team member who would like to attend a Smart Connect℠ event, please create your own Alignable account or get added as a team member to your employer's account to register and join.
Additional Resources
For a deeper walkthrough, see the Smart Connect℠ Guide for Attendees.