{"id":4636,"date":"2021-04-07T14:47:49","date_gmt":"2021-04-07T18:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.holtxp.com\/?p=4636"},"modified":"2023-07-13T15:01:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T19:01:31","slug":"how-to-prepare-for-hybrid-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holtxp.com\/branded-environments-blog\/how-to-prepare-for-hybrid-events\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips on How to Prepare for Hybrid Events"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you Digitally Prepared? Tips on How to Prepare for Hybrid Events<\/h2>\n

We are all aware that in-person meetings, trade shows, conferences, and most events continue to be canceled or postponed for the beginning of 2021.\u00a0 Unfortunately, none of us know exactly when events and travel will be back to \u201cnormal,\u201d but with the help of vaccines, it does seem that the return is within our sight.\u00a0 What has evolved during this past year is the need to be prepared digitally. And what lies ahead of us is a different type of event \u2013 hybrid events<\/strong>.\u00a0 The events industry strongly agrees that the need to combine both in-person and virtual experiences will be a crucial and long-lasting event strategy going forward.<\/p>\n

With this in mind, planning for 2021 events and customer meetings remains a must, whether they end up being virtual events, face-to-face, or a blend of the two.\u00a0 So, what do you do?<\/p>\n

What is a hybrid event?<\/h2>\n

A hybrid event is a combination of both in-person and virtual settings of your trade show or event.\u00a0 Participating in a hybrid event allows exhibitors to meet face-to-face with attendees while also engaging with prospects online via a live streaming, interactive webinar, or other virtual platforms.\u00a0 Many companies are maintaining travel restrictions due to safety concerns, which leaves the digital experience as the only viable option for participants.\u00a0 Globally, virtual events were already gaining popularity prior to the pandemic<\/a>.\u00a0 Therefore, it is safe to say that adding hybrid events and virtual offerings to your event strategy is here to stay!<\/p>\n

Realize that this is a new way of meeting, making deals, and getting business done.<\/h2>\n

The upside to virtual is its flexibility.\u00a0 It can be live, recorded, provides an opportunity for follow-up engagements, and can extend far beyond the fixed dates of a live event.\u00a0 Take advantage of this chance and use digital offerings to continue to engage and speak to your virtual audience.\u00a0 Attendees want more than just keynotes and sessions.\u00a0 They also need this time to meet with experts, to schedule demonstrations, and to make decisions on how they will achieve their objectives.<\/p>\n

Realize that this gives you the opportunity to broaden your audience<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n

Since October 2020, 95 percent of B2B enterprises have adopted some form of virtual events. The event industry has been pleased to report two to five times the number of attendees compared to in-person user conferences. Having the proper virtual platform and ease of accessibility is as important as ever.\u00a0 Virtual showrooms, virtual training facilities, facility tours<\/a>, etc. may all be incredible interactive tools to support your audience engagement on and off the show floor.<\/p>\n

\"hybrid<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Understand that it is one event with two experiences<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n

Content is going to be delivered differently for a hybrid event.\u00a0 You must engage with remote attendees while also connecting with in-person participants.\u00a0 Ensuring that your content is engaging and consistent to both audiences will be crucial to your hybrid event’s success. It will be important to have activities planned for both virtual and in-person attendees; however, isolating the groups from one another will most likely create too much division within your overall messaging.\u00a0 Maintaining a balance between audiences will be an important objective for any hybrid event.<\/p>\n

Try live interaction!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We just determined that this was one event, but there are two separate experiences happening.\u00a0 It is much harder to keep your remote attendees engaged.\u00a0 Try a studio setting of Questions + Answers and or live polling.\u00a0 This not only keeps the attention of your audience, but it provides you the opportunity to gather some useful insight from them in real-time.\u00a0 These sessions can be live-streamed within your trade show exhibit, as well, so that you are working to keep your messaging the same between the two experiences.<\/p>\n

Think outside of the box!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Attendee engagement is by far the most important element when executing virtual events, yet most would say this is also one of the most challenging goals to accomplish. Do not forget that audience fatigue is a real issue for remote attendees and it should be considered during your planning. Keynote speakers and educational sessions are vitally important, but what are you doing to set yourself apart from your competitors’ events?\u00a0 What will your online audience remember about your hybrid event?\u00a0 Bring in music, maybe even an artist to play live for a breakout session, but make sure to find a way to truly engage your attendees instead of assuming that your audience will just show up and listen intently from start to finish.<\/p>\n

Time Zones Matter.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A major benefit for hybrid events is that participants can attend virtually from around the world!\u00a0 However, at the same time, this does create new challenges in making certain that you are accommodating attendees from various time zones.\u00a0 As mentioned before, live interaction is important for audience engagement, but your remote audience should be able to access your sessions and offerings on-demand.\u00a0 If you are planning on offering the same live session multiple times, make sure you post your schedule so that people can choose the time that best fits them.<\/p>\n

Track your analytics on and off the show floor.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Your ROI from the show and your virtual attendees are equally important, so making sure you are gaining insights from both experiences is key.\u00a0 Your post-event planning and follow-ups are just as important as the activity during the event.\u00a0 Use the backend data provided from your virtual platform to know who attended which session, how many sessions they attended, etc.\u00a0 This will help you to tailor your follow-up communication specifically to individual attendee needs and interests.<\/p>\n

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Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Times have really changed, and it is time for us to make the necessary adjustments in the business events world.\u00a0 We are still navigating unpredictable waters, but we have all learned a lot in the last year.\u00a0 You must be prepared, you must be flexible, and you must be able to pivot quickly when the time comes!\u00a0 Hosting and participating in hybrid events will help you make those changes.<\/p>\n

About The Author<\/h2>\n
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Kim Osborne is a marketing specialist from Holt Experiential in North Carolina.\u00a0 She has 15 years of experience in trade shows and environmental branding. She strives daily to provide clients with unique and valuable information, while also supporting them throughout their trade shows, event marketing programs, and corporate branding opportunities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Contact Holt Experiential
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