Technically speaking, a hybrid event is a meeting of people both virtually and in person. Today, people in business rely on the flexibility to host event in several diverse ways. In fact, often customers expect it. Technology over the last decade has made hosting events virtually much easier. So here is what you must know about hosting hybrid events in 2022 and beyond.
Hybrid events are here to stay. As COVID-19 has taught us, sometimes it is easier to attend events in your pajamas, and sometimes you just must be there. As our world continues to move from completely virtual to live events, some people are noticing that they prefer the convenience of one or the other, so a hybrid format provides a terrific opportunity to reach a larger audience.
Let us say that your company has never attempted to create a hybrid event. Where would you even start? Today, there are numerous platforms that give you the ability to add a virtual element to any hosted event, as long as you have Wi-Fi. Did you know that 71.1% of event organizers say that connecting the in-person and virtual audience is their biggest challenge?
If the answer to all these questions is “yes” you are on track to creating your first hybrid event. Now you just must decide it if you want to host the event privately or “live-stream” it to the world.
Zoom, is one of the leading free platforms designed for companies to host virtual events. Some of the notable features of Zoom include that ability to host up to 100 guest free. In addition, there are no limits to the number of meetings you can host. Zoom allows for sharing screens, one-on-one meetings, and chats between all participants and for individual participants to message each other. Some of the downfalls of a free account on Zoom are that the meetings can only be 40 minutes in length for group meetings. One-on-one meetings on Zoom can last up to 30 hours without disruption. To learn more about different Zoom plans for virtual events click here.
TrueConf like Zoom allows for your business to have a free account for video conferencing. TrueConf Online Free Plan is a great option for those who want to communicate with colleagues, family, or friends with comfort and without any additional investments.
Learn more about plans and paid options for TrueConf here.
Facebook Live is a great fit for businesses looking to reach more people with hybrid events. You can use the platform to live-stream anything from product demos to your hosted events. In fact, Facebook allows the host to schedule the event ahead of time. Your followers on Facebook can comment and chat live. One of the interesting features is that Facebook allows the business to customize the audience or simply allow anyone to access your live-stream when you go live.
Learn more about Facebook Live here.
YouTube Live, like Facebook Live, is a platform that allows for business to record a live event, demonstration, or presentation and host that event live and replay it on YouTube as a replay event. You can add content to the same channel your business may host other product demos or presentations and embed the feed into your website or embed a video for replay options on your website.
Learn more about YouTube Live-Streaming here.
When done well, hosting hybrid events can be used as a key networking metric for business. In fact, 81% of organizers finding networking the top metric in measuring audience satisfaction. That is important considering that 89% measure a hybrid event’s success by audience satisfaction. It is estimated that 47% of event organizers find hybrid events are great for geologically dispersed audiences. Today, hybrid events are not going to fade away, and the sooner your business adapts the better. Flexibility maters and creating hybrid events means offering more options for consumers.
Additionally, B2B counts success differently, with 94% of organizers counting success by the pipeline generated. An 43% prefer virtual events. Considering pandemic fatigue, where people just want to go somewhere else, combined with early issues faced by organizers, which have improved, these events will become more popular and better quality, especially with VR and AR technology.
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