Hybrid corporate events are becoming increasingly popular, as they allow businesses to reach a wider audience and save on costs. However, engaging remote attendees can be challenging, as they may feel disconnected from the in-person audience.

Here are a few tips on how to engage remote attendees at hybrid corporate events:

Choose the right platform

When choosing a platform for your hybrid corporate event, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Features: Make sure the platform has the features you need to engage remote attendees. This includes things like live video streaming, polling, Q&A, and chat.
• Ease of use: The platform should be easy to use for both remote and in-person attendees.
• Scalability: Make sure the platform can scale to accommodate your event size.
• Cost: Platform costs vary, so be sure to compare pricing before making a decision.

Some popular hybrid event platforms include:

• Zoom Events
• Microsoft Teams Live Events
• Cisco Webex Events
• Hopin
• InEvent
• PheedLoop

Design for both audiences

When designing your hybrid corporate event, it’s important to keep both the in-person and remote audiences in mind. Here are a few tips:

• Use a variety of presentation methods. This could include video, audio, text, and images.
• Make sure all activities are accessible to both audiences. For example, if you’re having a breakout session, make sure it’s available to remote attendees as well.
• Consider using a dedicated moderator for the remote audience. This person can help to keep the remote audience engaged and answer their questions.

Prepare speakers and moderators

It’s important to brief your speakers and moderators on how to engage the remote audience. Here are a few tips:

• Speak clearly and slowly. Remote attendees may have difficulty hearing you, especially if you’re speaking quickly.
• Use visuals effectively. Visuals can help to keep remote attendees engaged and make your presentation more informative.
• Answer questions from remote attendees. Make sure to give remote attendees a way to ask questions, and be sure to answer them promptly.

Monitor and measure engagement

It’s important to monitor and measure how engaged remote attendees are. This will help you to identify areas where you can improve. There are a few different ways to do this:

• Use platform analytics. Most hybrid event platforms offer analytics that can show you how engaged remote attendees are. For example, you can see how many people are watching the live stream, how many questions are being asked, and how many people are participating in polls.
• Use surveys. You can send surveys to remote attendees after the event to get their feedback on their experience. This feedback can help you to identify areas where you can improve.

Keep the conversation going

It’s important to provide opportunities for remote attendees to interact with each other and with the in-person audience. This can be done through chat rooms, social media, or networking activities.

Here are a few ideas:

• Create a dedicated chat room for remote attendees. This will give them a place to connect with each other and ask questions.
• Encourage remote attendees to use social media to share their experiences and connect with other attendees. You can create a hashtag for the event and encourage people to use it on social media.
• Host virtual networking events. This could be a simple meet-and-greet or a more structured event, such as a panel discussion or Q&A session.

By following these tips, you can create hybrid corporate events that are engaging for both in-person and remote attendees. So, what are your experiences with engaging remote attendees at hybrid corporate events? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below and let’s keep this conversation going!