Attendee Matchmaking
What is attendee matchmaking and how do you set it up?
Attendee matchmaking is the use of event software to suggest which attendees should meet, based on the profiles, interests and goals they gave, and to help them book those meetings. It replaces chance encounters with a short list of relevant people.
This guide explains how it works, how to set it up in seven steps and how to judge the result. For a wider definition, see what is event matchmaking.
Updated by the Eventdex team
4.7/5 from 39 reviews on each
How attendee matchmaking works
The process has four parts. Each depends on the one before it, so weak profiles lead to weak matches.
Profiles
Each attendee gives details the system can compare: role, organization, interests and what they want from the event.
Matching
The software compares profiles against each other and ranks suggestions. Eventdex's matchmaking page describes matching on preferences, with scoring and AI-based matching that shows the top matches for each attendee in a dashboard.
Meeting requests
Attendees pick from suggestions and request or accept meetings. They can also message people and like profiles.
Scheduling
Accepted meetings go into each person's agenda at a time and place both can make. Eventdex's page says attendees can reschedule or cancel 1-on-1 appointments.
Eventdex business matchmaking
How to set up attendee matchmaking
Start this at least a few weeks before the event, so attendees have time to fill in profiles and book meetings before they travel.
| Step | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Set the goal: which meetings should happen, and between whom | Defines the match rules |
| 2 | Choose the profile fields people will fill in | Matches can only use what is collected |
| 3 | Add matching rules, such as shared interests or buyer and seller roles | Shapes the suggestions |
| 4 | Open meeting slots in the agenda and set meeting length | Gives people time to meet |
| 5 | Ask attendees to complete profiles, with reminders | Profile quality drives match quality |
| 6 | Open booking and send a list of suggested people | Starts the meetings early |
| 7 | Review no-shows and unbooked attendees before the event | Lets you step in to help |
What to ask in a matchmaking profile
Keep it short, and prefer choices over free text, since choices are easier to compare. Good fields tell the system what a person offers and what they want.
What I do
Role, organization and area of work, picked from a list.
What I want to find
The kind of person, supplier or customer the attendee wants to meet.
Topics I care about
A few interest tags from your event's themes.
When I am free
Availability, so the system does not propose times that cannot work.
How to measure matchmaking
Measure the funnel from profile to meeting to follow-up. Compare these numbers across events using your own data. Eventdex's pages describe dashboards, analytics and reports for matchmaking but publish no benchmark figures, so do not borrow a target from elsewhere.
| Measure | How to read it | If it is low |
|---|---|---|
| Profiles completed | Share of attendees with a full profile | Send reminders; shorten the form |
| Meetings requested | Share of attendees who asked for a meeting | Improve suggestions; prompt attendees |
| Meetings accepted | Share of requests that were accepted | Check the match rules and time slots |
| Meetings held | Meetings that took place versus those booked | Check no-shows, reminders and room signage |
| Ratings or feedback | Attendee view of meeting quality | Review whom you matched and why |
| Follow-ups | Contacts exported or messaged after the event | Send a follow-up prompt |
What Eventdex's pages say
Eventdex's matchmaking page describes preference-based matching with scoring, attendee to attendee matching, 1-on-1 scheduling, bulk schedule changes, meeting ratings and reporting. It does not publish match-quality figures. Eventdex's pages do not describe how matches are explained to attendees, so ask in a demo.
Eventdex matchmaking
Where Eventdex covers each part
- Business matchmaking appAI recommendations from preferences, with 1:1, group and hosted buyer meetings.Learn more about Business matchmaking app
- Event networking appMatchmaking, speed networking, roundtables and chat rooms in one place.Learn more about Event networking app
- On-demand table bookingHow tables are assigned for meetings that were not pre-planned.Learn more about On-demand table booking
- Virtual speed networkingTimed one-to-one conversations with matched attendees.Learn more about Virtual speed networking
“Eventdex helped me run a smooth registration process during my event and helped me deliver an excellent mobile application to my event's attendees. Their support team was brilliant and I really enjoyed incorporating the Eventdex solutions into my events.”
University at Buffalo
Eversource Energy
Georgia Tech
Influence Communications
FAQ
Attendee Matchmaking: common questions
What is attendee matchmaking?
It is software that suggests which attendees should meet, based on profiles, interests and goals, and helps them book the meetings. Attendees get a short list of relevant people instead of relying on chance.
How does matchmaking decide who to match?
It compares profile fields, such as roles, interests and what each person wants to find, and ranks the results. Eventdex's matchmaking page describes preference-based scoring and AI-based matching.
When should matchmaking open?
Open profiles several weeks before the event and booking at least a couple of weeks ahead, so people can plan travel and agendas around meetings.
Is matchmaking worth it for a small event?
It helps most when attendees do not know each other and want specific contacts. At a small event where people already know each other, a simple attendee list and some hosted introductions may be enough.
Does Eventdex offer attendee matchmaking?
Yes, Eventdex's business matchmaking page describes AI matching from preferences, attendee to attendee matching and scheduling of 1-on-1 and group meetings. Eventdex's pages do not publish match-quality figures.
See Eventdex matchmaking in a demo
Start with a free interactive floor plan, or talk to an event specialist on +1 (866) 434-5088.