Learn about event based social networking.

Specialty Match Network, Inc, the parent company of EventMingle, coined the phrase "Event Based Social Networking" when it started briefing industry analysts in early 2005. Online social networking is not new, it has been around since before the internet. In fact, our founders Jim Harrer and Scott Hunter were part of the computer bulletin board era when they released their Wildcat! Bulletin Board System in 1987. Computer bulletin board systems were by their very nature, online social networks.

Event based social networking is an entirely new approach to introducing strangers. Instead of focusing solely on like-minded individuals when making a potential introduction or match, event based social networking is about matching and making introductions when these * strangers * plan on attending a specific event. Specialty Match Network, with their release of EventMingle.com is initially targeting trade shows and educational conferences for event based social networking. However there is no reason for it to simply stop there. Event based social networking could easily be adapted to corporate meetings when 500 or more people are attending. We believe event based social networking can also be used in large special interest groups and annual membership meetings as well. Whenever you're planning a large event, as defined as over 500 in attendance, event based social networking could easily help make the event more successful by making introductions online, prior to the event's start date.

Where is event based social networking headed? How about events that are not really events at all. One radical idea is basic travel. How much time do people spend on airplanes, trains and other forms of travel? What if you could use event based social networking when deciding what seat you want on an airplane? Imagine searching and reading over profiles of people traveling on the same plane. Instead of sitting next to a total stranger, perhaps you're now sitting next to a new friend or new business contact. Sure, there are a lot of privacy issues and controls that would need to be developed before this type of event based social networking actually succeeded. The point is, it could very well happen.

Will event based social networking expand into other events? We believe it will. We're already talking with partners who are interested in event based social networking for events such as: concerts, sporting events, cruise lines and popular vacation destinations. In many cases, there will be companies and organizations sponsoring these event based social networking communities to help match-up and introduce people who are planning on attending a specific event. Think about it, how many times have you had to gauge the success or failure of a trip solely on the people you met during your journey?

To learn more about event based social networking or if you would like to become a sponsor or partner with us to make this vision a reality, we invite you to write us. Together we can make event based social networking an exciting way for people to meet, engage and interact.

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