Networking is a cornerstone of successful events, and hybrid and virtual solutions offer innovative ways to facilitate these interactions. By integrating smart tools and multi-device functionality, you can create a seamless networking experience for all attendees.

Tools for Enhanced Networking:

• Sponsor and Exhibitor Interaction:
  Set up dedicated areas — both physical and virtual — for attendees to interact with sponsors and exhibitors. For virtual participants these can include live demos, Q&A Sessions, or Chat Rooms hosted by sponsors.
• Interest Based Virtual Lounges:
  Create dedicated spaces for virtual attendees to mingle, just like in-person participants would in a physical networking area. Incorporate video chat and group discussion features for added interactivity.
• Integrated Social Media Feeds:
  Encourage attendees to share their experiences on social platforms directly through the event platform, creating a buzz while fostering organic connections.
• Structured Speed Networking Sessions
  Organize timed one-on-one or small group networking sessions where attendees can quickly connect and exchange ideas or contact information. These sessions can be virtual or in person, with a structured format that ensures that every participant is afforded multiple opportunities to meet new people. 

Hybrid event solutions ensure that networking opportunities are not limited to in-person interactions, empowering every attendee to build valuable connections regardless of how they participate.

One of the most impactful ways event organizers can reduce their carbon footprint is by utilizing hybrid event platforms. A hybrid event combines in-person and virtual components, allowing participants to engage in the event from different locations without the need for travel. This not only expands the reach of the event but also dramatically reduces the environmental impact.

Studies have shown that hybrid events can help cut carbon emissions by as much as two-thirds. When participants attend virtually, the need for travel, hotel accommodations, and other logistics that contribute to carbon emissions is significantly reduced. Furthermore, virtual events use far less energy compared to the operational costs of running large venues for in-person attendees.

Hybrid events also contribute to cost savings for both organizers and attendees. Event organizers can reduce the need for physical space, food, and other resources, while attendees can avoid travel costs. This creates a win-win scenario where sustainability goals are met without sacrificing the quality or reach of the event.

Virtual events are often one-way communication streams where presenters speak to an audience without much interaction. To make the experience more engaging, consider featuring select attendees on-screen alongside presenters. This can create a more personal and interactive experience, fostering a greater sense of involvement.

By inviting audience members to participate, you create opportunities for discussion, feedback, and collaborative learning. This strategy is particularly effective for smaller virtual events where the focus is on discussion and dialogue. You can select attendees based on their expertise, contribution in the chat, or prior involvement with the topic.

For example, during a panel discussion, you might invite participants to share their insights, ask questions directly, or provide testimonials. This creates a conversational dynamic that keeps the event from feeling too lecture-based and gives participants the chance to see themselves as contributors, rather than passive listeners.

This method also works well for virtual networking events, where participants can engage in one-on-one or small group discussions with the speakers and fellow attendees.

Virtual events have emerged as a powerful tool for crisis communication. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations turned to virtual platforms to communicate with stakeholders during times of uncertainty. Michele Dobnikar, whose expertise lies in virtual events, highlighted the advantages of using these platforms in crisis situations.

Virtual events allow businesses to communicate quickly and effectively with large audiences, providing real-time updates, and addressing concerns as they arise. They also offer interactive features such as polls and participant analytics, enabling organizations to gauge audience reactions and adjust their messaging accordingly.

Elizabeth Ortega added that video communication plays a crucial role in building trust during a crisis. “Seventy percent of what we communicate is non-verbal,” she said, emphasizing the importance of body language and facial expressions in conveying authenticity. Virtual events give businesses the opportunity to put a face to their response, reducing anxiety, and fostering a sense of connection with their audience.

While capturing engagement metrics is relatively straightforward for virtual events, in-person events pose more of a challenge. Gathering accurate and comprehensive data about your in-person attendees has traditionally been difficult, as it often requires more manual processes like surveys or physical sign-ins. However, hybrid events — those that combine both in-person and virtual elements — can serve as a game changer by allowing businesses to collect data more efficiently.

With a hybrid event, in-person attendees can be encouraged to interact with event content via their mobile phones or event apps, which allows businesses to capture participation metrics just like they would with virtual attendees. Mobile applications can track:

• Attendance duration
• Session participation
• Survey completion
• Questions asked via live polls

By merging in-person participation data with virtual engagement metrics, businesses gain a holistic view of how their audience is engaging with the event. This leads to more accurate and actionable event success metrics, and in turn, improved decision-making for future events.

Creating a seamless hybrid event experience requires expertise in both virtual and in-person event management. A professional virtual event management team brings the technical skills, experience, and creativity needed to ensure that both your in-person and virtual attendees receive the same high-quality experience. They handle everything from coordinating the logistics of live streaming, to managing virtual breakout rooms, ensuring that your event runs smoothly from start to finish.

Moreover, a professional team can help you design an event that not only engages customers in the moment, but also nurtures relationships for the future. By offering virtual attendees the same valuable insights, interactive opportunities, and personalized experiences as in-person participants, you create a sense of inclusion that encourages them to invest in future in-person events.

While automation is a powerful tool, there are times when adding a human touch to your meetings can make all the difference. Incorporating an operator-assist feature into your conferencing call solution can elevate your meetings by providing a more professional, organized experience for participants.

Operator-assisted calls introduce the service live virtual event professional who handle various aspects of the meeting for you, including greeting attendees, managing technical issues, and ensuring that the call runs smoothly. This service can be especially beneficial for larger, more complex meetings or important events where maintaining a high level of professionalism is essential.

These operators are experts in managing virtual events and can troubleshoot issues in real-time, ensuring that the meeting proceeds without interruptions. Their presence also alleviates the burden on your internal teams, allowing your employees to focus on the content of the meeting rather than managing the technical logistics in the background.

Whether it’s a large company-wide meeting, a client presentation, or a high-profile webinar, adding an operator to your enterprise conferencing solution can help ensure that everything runs smoothly and professionally.