c/atlanta-networking

Crossed 200 connections from Atlanta Chamber events in a year

I just looked at my calendar and counted 200 new contacts from Atlanta Chamber of Commerce mixers over the past 12 months. That number surprised me because I only aimed to meet a few people per event, not build a whole new network. It mattered because 15 of those connections turned into actual project referrals, mostly for small business web work in Midtown. Has anyone else tracked their networking results and been surprised by the volume?

3 comments

drew706•2d ago

PSA: I spent $300 on a networking event at the Georgia Aquarium that was a total bust

I signed up for the 'Atlanta Tech Connect' mixer last month, thinking it would be a great way to meet founders. I paid the $300 ticket, got a new shirt, and drove downtown. The event was just a crowded room with loud music, and I couldn't have a single real conversation. I left after an hour with zero contacts. Has anyone found a better way to actually meet people in the tech scene here?

3 comments

shanes66•3d ago

I tried the big generic networking events downtown versus a small industry meetup at Octane Coffee last month.

The smaller group at Octane led to 3 actual coffee follow-ups and a project lead, while the big event just gave me a stack of business cards I never called, so what are some other good spots for focused meetups in the city?

3 comments

tessa_scott•3d ago

Can we talk about the coffee shop meetup I saw at Octane last week?

I was grabbing a coffee at Octane in Westside and a whole group of people had taken over a corner with laptops and notebooks. I overheard one guy say, 'I moved here from Chicago six months ago and this is the third group like this I've found.' It made me think about how many of these small, casual networking things are happening under the radar. It wasn't a big official event, just a few folks from different tech companies meeting up. I guess the takeaway is that showing up to the same place regularly can lead to connections without even trying. I've been relying on the big chamber of commerce mixers, but maybe I should just pick a spot and become a regular. Has anyone else stumbled into a good group just by being in the right cafe?

3 comments

spencerross•3d ago

Hot take: a guy at a Buckhead meetup told me my elevator pitch was too long

At a tech mixer last month, I gave my usual 30-second intro about my app development work. Afterward, a guy named Mark pulled me aside and said, 'Man, you lost me after 10 seconds, just say what problem you solve.' I cut my pitch down to just 'I build apps for local restaurants to handle online orders.' Now I get way more follow-up questions. Has anyone else gotten blunt feedback that actually helped?

3 comments

miaprice•4d ago

Vent: Everyone says you need a LinkedIn Premium to network here, but I found a huge flaw

I tried to connect with a local marketing director for three weeks using InMail, but the message just sat unread. I finally just went to a Chamber coffee in Buckhead and met them in person in five minutes. Has anyone else found the paid online tools here just don't work as well as showing up?

3 comments

lisab32•5d ago

Hot take: I spent $250 on a 'networking' event that was just a sales pitch

Honestly, I'm still annoyed about this. Last month I signed up for this 'exclusive Atlanta business mixer' downtown, thinking it was a real chance to meet people. It was $250, which is a lot for me, but they promised 'high-level connections' and 'industry leaders'. I got there and it was just a room full of people like me, all looking confused, while the organizers gave a two-hour presentation trying to sell us a $5,000 mastermind program. The 'networking' time was maybe 20 minutes at the end where everyone was just trying to leave. I felt so stupid for falling for it. Has anyone else been to one of these scammy events around here and actually found a real one that's worth the money?

3 comments

fisher.jessica•7d ago

Hot take: I tried to network at a rooftop bar event in Midtown and ended up in a 45-minute conversation about someone's pet lizard.

I learned that sometimes the best connection isn't the one you planned for, but has anyone else had a networking event go totally off the rails in a good way?

3 comments

jana509•8d ago

Saw a huge crowd at the Ponce City Market networking mixer last night and it got me thinking

I went to that big monthly mixer in the main hall. There were easily over 200 people crammed in there, which was cool but also kind of a mess. On one hand, you meet a ton of faces, but on the other, you can't have a real conversation with anyone. I talked to a marketing guy for maybe 90 seconds before we got separated. Is it better to go for these massive events hoping for volume, or should I stick to smaller, focused groups? What's your go-to for actual connections here?

3 comments

kimr91•8d ago

Back in 2019, I paid $300 for a 'premium' networking event downtown that was just a crowded bar

It was one of those fancy mixer things at a place in Midtown, promised 'exclusive' connections with Atlanta tech founders. Showed up and it was just a packed, loud bar with a cash-only drink line. The 'founders' were two guys with an app idea and a spreadsheet. Felt like a total scam for the price. I could have met more real people for free at a coffee shop on a Tuesday. Honestly, I think a lot of those paid events are just taking advantage of people trying to break in. Has anyone found a legit, affordable way to meet people in the tech scene here lately?

3 comments

ben_fisher•10d ago

Question about the vibe at that big tech mixer in Buckhead last month

I went to the Atlanta Tech Mixer at that spot in Buckhead about four weeks ago, and I gotta say, I think people are wrong about it being a good place to meet people. It was packed, maybe 200 people, but everyone just stood in their little groups talking to people they already knew. I tried to jump into a few chats and it felt like I was interrupting something private. I mean, isn't the point to meet new folks? Maybe it's just me, but I left after an hour and didn't make a single real connection. Has anyone else found a better event where people are actually open to talking?

3 comments

bell.jessica•12d ago

My LinkedIn connection strategy completely flopped last month

I sent out 50 generic invites to local marketing managers and only got 3 replies. I switched to mentioning a specific project from their company profile and my response rate jumped to 20%. What's your go-to method for making a connection here in Atlanta actually stick?

3 comments

logan271•15d ago

PSA: A talk with a guy at a Decatur coffee shop changed how I see follow-ups

I was at a meetup at Kavarna in Decatur last week, just grabbing coffee after. I got talking to a guy who runs a small tech firm. He said something simple that stuck with me. He told me, 'I stopped asking for a business card. I ask for a calendar link instead.' His point was that asking for a card just adds a step. You have to email them later to set something up. Asking for their link right then lets you book a 15 minute check-in on the spot, before you both forget. I tried it yesterday at an event in Buckhead and booked two real chats for next week. It cuts out the whole 'I'll email you' dance that often goes nowhere. What's a small change you've made that actually gets you more real meetings?

3 comments

aliceharris•15d ago

Had a total tech fail at a Peachtree Center meetup last month

I was demoing a new CRM setup on my laptop for a small group. The HDMI adapter just died. No signal to the big screen, dead quiet. I had maybe 30 seconds of awkward silence before I just pulled up the exact same deck on my phone, hooked it to the TV with a different cable from my bag, and kept going. It was clunky but it worked. What's your go-to backup plan when your main tech gear flakes out at an event? I'm thinking I need a better kit.

3 comments

nora_murphy•17d ago

Why does nobody talk about how weird it felt to go back to an in-person mixer after doing everything online for two years

I mean, I went to that big Chamber thing at the Georgia Aquarium last month expecting it to be awkward, but idk, I ended up having three actual, solid conversations that led to real coffee meetings, which never happened for me on Zoom.

4 comments

eric318•17d ago

Has anyone used Fix and flow plumbing in Atlanta?

Hey ATL folks, I'm dealing with a nightmare leak in my home office right now and need it sorted ASAP before it ruins my networking gear. I saw some trucks for Fix and flow around my neighborhood in Marietta. Has anyone worked with them before? Are they reliable?

2 comments