Networking events just got easier.

You have high-potential social network connections you’ve never met in person. Everyone does. Now you can network over breakfast face to face with these Perfect Strangers. All you risk is the cost of an omelet, but you might gain one or two valuable referrals/clients/resources. Great cost/benefit ratio, yes?

First, sign up for the Perfect Strangers Breakfast Network on LinkedIn. It’s an open group, free, and growing. Next, check out LinkedIn Events to see if there’s a breakfast scheduled at a time and place that works for you. If not, start one! LinkedIn will manage invitations, RSVPs, inquiries, etc. Finally, invite other people from all your personal social networks. Invite them to invite others, who can invite others.

At the breakfast, one person gets to be timekeeper, and everybody gets 5 minutes (total!) to pass out business cards, explain what they do, and describe who the perfect referral would be for them that day. A prospect? Vendor? Employee? Employer? Expert? Resource?

We started the PSBN LinkedIn group, and had the first breakfasts in our area (Chicago). They were interesting, lively and productive. Want to get this working in your city? Join the group, recruit others, and schedule a place with good omelets on the Events page! After, tell PSBN how well it went, add ideas to improve the concept, hints for effective recruiting … even good breakfast places to choose!

Please share this with your whole contact list via email, Twitter, Facebook and (especially) LinkedIn. The more the merrier.