Marcel Wijermars
Q: Where are you from? And what brings you to Amsterdam?
MW: I grew up on a farm in the countryside of The Netherlands, near a small town named Wijhe.
The reason I’m in Amsterdam is because it’s the best place in the country for running and attending events for entrepreneurs and business founders.
Q: Tell me about your business. What’s your mission?
MW: My mission is to empower entrepreneurs to attract clients and generate sales through live events.
I do this by organizing fun networking events for entrepreneurs.
Some of these events are designed to spark strategic partnerships between different business founders, and other events are designed to give entrepreneurs other powerful tools to attract clients to their business (webinars, live events, speaking from stage, etc.).
All these events are designed to feel like a fun activity with friends, rather than a formal (networking) event. That’s why I’ve named this event business: No More Networking.
For the entrepreneurs who want to take it a step further, I offer the Micro Event Blueprint.
This is for entrepreneurs who want to organize their own events to attract clients (and at the same time enhance their social life). I share the Micro Event Blueprint with groups (I speak at events for entrepreneurs) and individually (1:1 consulting for entrepreneurs to design and execute a profitable event strategy to attract clients).
Q: What’s your day-to-day like as a business owner?
MW: I begin my day with a nice filter coffee and my laptop, with my phone switched off. I prefer not to start my day bombarded by other people's priorities.
I make a priority list of tasks for the day that will move the needle for my business, and work on the most important tasks for a couple of hours.
My tasks vary; some are related to planning and promoting new events for my event business, while others are related to my Micro Event Strategy consultancy. Here, I assist clients (experienced entrepreneurs who want to add Micro Events as a sales channel for their business) with challenges such as, “I didn’t sell enough tickets for my event yet, what can I do?” and “I didn’t make any sales from my event, what can I improve?”.
In the evening, I might host or attend an event in the city.
On nights without events, I often enjoy a solo dinner in a nice restaurant, reading a book and recharging my social battery (I’m a bit of an introvert).
Q: What do you wish you had known before starting your business?
TL;DR - Leveraging in-person events is key when starting or growing a business.
MW: I wish I had known earlier how crucial attending and organizing events is when starting or scaling a business.
In my early business years, I worked in isolation, dedicating all my time to improving my product. It was frustrating to see that opportunities went to other people who had an inferior product but had better connections.
However, everything changed when I began attending and organizing events.
Trending Jobs, a business I co-founded and later exited, transformed after I attended an industry event in London. A connection I made there enabled us to launch the platform in the United States. Within a year, 80% of our revenue came from U.S. customers, all thanks to that one connection that was made at an event!
For my current business (networking events for entrepreneurs), I created my strategy after I organized a simple 'Entrepreneur Dinner' in Bali.
I initially organized the dinner only to find out which challenges entrepreneurs struggle with, to create digital products to help address those issues.
I preferred organizing one dinner to connect with several entrepreneurs and gather their insights, rather than conducting numerous tedious market research calls (I just don't like calls).
I invited my target audience to the dinner, and not only did I enjoy a fantastic evening, but I also collected valuable input on which products and services to offer. It became clear: entrepreneurs are seeking events - structured, curated, and fun events where they can connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and business founders.
This realization was a breakthrough after months of unsuccessfully trying to launch new products for entrepreneurs. Organizing that one simple event provided me with all the input I needed and a network of ambassadors who loved the entrepreneur dinner and spread the word. I ended up hosting many more entrepreneur dinners in Bali, turning it into a popular weekly event. It marked the beginning of No More Networking, which, in the first eight months of launching, has hosted events across three continents and connected over a thousand founders.
Q: What has been your biggest obstacle so far? And what did it teach you?
MW: My biggest obstacle so far has been generating profitable sales for my business.
I had to learn how people decide to buy things (a good read on this is Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson), how to create offers that sell, and how to use events to bring clients to my business (something I talk about in Introduction to Micro Events).
Q: What has been your biggest win so far? And how did you celebrate?
MW: My biggest win so far was making my first sale at an event I organized!
For 3 years, I organized events and meetups just for fun, to bring people together. The idea that I could also earn income from these events never crossed my mind.
That first sale at one of my events was a magical moment! I enjoyed a great evening, provided value and connections for the attendees, and made money at the same time.
Q: Name one book or resource that helped you the most with building your business. How did it help you?
MW: The book Expert Secrets, by Russell Brunson, helped me a lot. Among many valuable insights, it explains how to create offers that sell effectively, based on how individuals make (purchasing) decisions.
Q: What’s one thing you do every day to keep your business on track?
MW: Every day, I start with my own priorities. I avoid checking my phone or email during the first hours of the day. This allows me to focus on tasks that significantly impact my business, before becoming reactive to other people's priorities.
Q: How would you describe your working style in 3 words (or less)?
MW: No-nonsense.
Q: What 3 tips would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
MW:
Tip 1: Get out there! Attend in-person events and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, especially those in your industry.
Tip 2: Organize events. This is one of the quickest ways to attract clients and establish yourself as a leader in your niche. Plus, it's easier than it might seem.
Tip 3: Master the art of selling. Understand how individuals make buying decisions, learn to craft compelling offers, and find effective ways to present these offers to your ideal clients. Remember, without profitable sales, you don't have a business, you have a hobby.
Q: Lastly, what inspires you most about Amsterdam? Do you have any favorite spots to work or hang out at?
MW: What inspires me most about Amsterdam is the diverse mix of ambitious entrepreneurs from various backgrounds.
Initially, I struggled to find the perfect spots and events for connecting with these entrepreneurs.
So, I took matters into my own hands and started organizing networking events for entrepreneurs in Amsterdam:
Founders Table, a networking dinner for entrepreneurs, is often hosted at the Mediterranean restaurant Tasca Bellota.
Founders Academy, where entrepreneurs learn strategies to attract clients to their business, frequently takes place at StartDock co-working.
On a slightly unrelated note, I absolutely love all Small World Catering’s food. They have the best sandwiches, salads, and quiche in town.
Q: Where can we find you and your business online?
Personal
Website: https://www.marcelwijermars.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcelwijermars/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelwijermars/
Business
Website: https://www.marcelwijermars.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorenetworking
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomorenetworking
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-more-networking/
😎Personal bio
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. At age 11, I started buying electronic devices at flea markets to sell them at a profit.
Though I never completed formal education, I founded a lead generation business, and after that a U.S. job search platform, Trending Jobs. This platform has been used by millions and I successfully scaled it to generate over $2 million in annual revenue.
In recent years, I gained an interest in organizing events.
I began with free events and meetups for digital nomads. In March 2023, I launched premium networking events for business founders and entrepreneurs. In just the first eight months, I organized events across three continents, connecting over 1,000 founders.
By popular demand, I am now sharing my strategies on how to attract clients while building a loyal community, through the power of Micro Events.
I help entrepreneurs attract clients while building a community through the power of Micro Events: I offer 1:1 consulting, and I speak at events for entrepreneurs.
💻Business bio
No More Networking helps entrepreneurs attract clients to their business, by offering fun networking experiences to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs. These events facilitate connections with like-minded entrepreneurs, fostering strategic partnerships and warm introductions.
In addition, we provide entrepreneurs with the precise tools and strategies needed to attract clients to their business.
Learn more and sign up for events at: nomorenetworking.com
The Micro Event Blueprint offers entrepreneurs a comprehensive strategy to attract clients and generate sales through Micro Events.
These small, enjoyable, and simple-to-organize live events - such as intentionally designed networking dinners, workshops, and masterclasses - are perfect for attracting and converting clients.
Learn how to attract clients with live events at: microeventblueprint.com
