Hosting a virtual networking event is a great way to stay connected with colleagues, partners, and customers during social distancing. However, creating an engaging and successful virtual event can be challenging. To help you get started, here are four pieces of guidance for hosting a successful virtual networking event. From choosing suitable virtual team-building activities to creating an inviting atmosphere, these tips will help ensure your virtual networking event is successful.
1. Choose the right platform
Choosing the right platform for hosting a virtual networking event is essential for the success of your event. Selecting a forum allowing maximum interactivity and engagement between attendees is crucial. For example, if you’re hosting an online event that involves team-building activities, you’ll want to select a platform that provides the tools to facilitate collaboration and discussion.
Or, if you’re planning a virtual conference or networking event, you’ll want a platform that includes features like video conferencing, interactive polls, and Q&A sessions. Again, consider the type of event you’re hosting and look for a platform that can provide the necessary tools to engage with your attendees.
2. Promote your event
Hosting a successful virtual networking event requires the proper promotion of the event. An effective strategy to promote your virtual event is to create an online presence and use various online channels to reach your target audience.
Start by creating a social media campaign and use hashtags related to the event, such as #virtualconference, #virtualevents, or #networkingevents. This will help you build an enormous following and connect with people interested in attending your event.
You can also use email marketing to spread the word about your event. For example, send out regular newsletters and email blasts to inform people about the upcoming event and include information about the agenda, team building activities, and how to join the event.
Consider using digital advertising campaigns on Google Ads or other digital platforms. Utilizing digital advertising campaigns can help you reach a broader audience and increase the visibility of your event.
Finally, consider reaching out to industry influencers or colleagues in your field who might be interested in attending or helping to promote the event.
By combining these tactics, you can effectively promote your virtual networking event and ensure it reaches as many people as possible.
3. Create an engaging agenda.
Having an engaging agenda is vital when hosting a successful virtual networking event. You want your attendees to feel engaged and connected, even if they are attending online. To ensure this happens, start by creating an agenda tailored to your event’s purpose.
If your event is focused on team-building activities, consider incorporating icebreakers to help break the ice. You could also organize interactive games or discussions to bring your guests together. Additionally, consider offering short presentations from speakers or panelists for a virtual conference or seminar.
Whatever you decide to include in your agenda, it’s essential to ensure plenty of opportunities for people to interact with each other. This could involve giving attendees time for Q&As or group exercises to get them talking. You can even provide team-building activities during the virtual event to promote collaboration and communication.
By creating an engaging agenda focusing on networking and team-building activities, you can ensure your virtual event will succeed!
4. Follow up with your attendees
Once your virtual networking event has ended, the work still needs to be done. Therefore, following up with all of your attendees is essential, as this will help ensure they have a positive experience and stay engaged after the online event.
A great way to do this is by sending out a survey to each attendee, asking them for feedback on their experience. This can give you a priceless understanding of what performed well and what areas need improvement for future virtual events.
Another option is to use team-building activities to help keep your attendees connected after the event. This could include playing a game together or sharing photos from the virtual conference. These activities foster relationships between your attendees and can be a fantastic way to amuse them in virtual events.
Finally, thank your attendees for participating and encourage them to stay in touch with each other. You can create a group chat or mailing list to keep everyone connected and ensure they know you appreciate their support of your virtual networking events.
Following up with your attendees after the event can ensure that everyone had a positive experience and show them that you value their participation in your virtual networking events.
CONCLUSION
Hosting a virtual networking event can be an effective way to stay connected with colleagues and build relationships while everyone is working remotely. However, choosing the right platform, promoting the event, creating an engaging agenda, and following up with attendees are essential.
Virtual networking events don’t need to be limited to purely professional conversations either – incorporating team-building activities or even fun icebreakers into the event can create an even more memorable experience for attendees. Whether you’re hosting a virtual conference, an online event, or any other virtual event, these tips can help you ensure your virtual networking event is successful.
Team building activities are significant for virtual networking events, as they can help participants get to know each other in a more informal setting. In addition, games like virtual charades, trivia games, or scavenger hunts are great options for injecting some fun into the event.
Similarly, if you’re hosting a virtual conference, incorporate some interactive components into the agenda, such as polls or Q&A sessions with speakers. Ultimately, virtual networking events should be thoughtfully planned to ensure that participants have meaningful interactions that leave them feeling engaged and connected.