Client events can be one of your most effective business development tools. The magic is in the setting—where people feel relaxed, connected, and open to conversation. It’s a great way to deepen client relationships, meet their friends and connect with COIs.
But let’s be honest: they take effort. From planning to follow-up, it’s easy for client events to feel like a burden. The good news is that you don’t need big budgets or elaborate venues. Smaller, more intentional events tend to outperform large events:
They enable deeper conversations.
They’re lower cost and lower hassle.
They’re more likely to entice clients to bring guests.
So what are the best events to host? It depends on where you live and who you serve, but we’d like to share some creative ideas to stimulate your thinking.
You’ll notice we’ve intentionally skipped the more obvious ideas like wine tastings, steak dinners and holiday parties because you already know those work. The goal is to get you thinking creatively, especially if you’re planning multiple events throughout the year.
The more frequently and thoughtfully you show up, the more opportunities you create for conversations, introductions and growth. You don’t need to be extravagant. You just need to be consistent.
Here are 15 events that are easy to execute and built for connection.