The last year has been one of transition. Whether it’s working from home or assisting children with remote learning, we’ve all faced new challenges that have forced us to approach our lives in a new way. However, there have also been several triumphs that demonstrated our resilience as we pivoted to new ways of living and working during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

With in-person events on hold, attendees successfully learned to shift from traditional events to those on virtual and hybrid event platforms. There are many benefits to this change, like the global perspective that allows people to participate no matter their location, and savings on costs related to food, beverage, and space rental fees. 

But there’s also some downsides—and 6Connex’s artificial intelligence matchmaking delivers an outstanding opportunity to take hold of these changes and leverage them for the better. 

Event Engagement: The “Hallway Track”

The power of events is engagement. At a live event, there are often different content tracks participants follow, with each one directed toward a certain specialty. The term “hallway track” refers to the magic that happens in the hallway as attendees maneuver their way to and from each conference session. It’s where attendees network, exchange ideas, and grow their relationships. As a result of the shift to virtual events during the pandemic, that power of the “hallway track” has been taken away from event participants. It’s a tremendous loss that people recognize leaves a gap in creating valuable connections. 

The AI Advantage

When people hear the term “artificial intelligence,” their minds tend to send them into futuristic visions that aren’t reflective of reality. Simply put, artificial intelligence is the use of computer systems to perform tasks normally completed by humans. 

In daily life, AI is actually all around us. Whether it’s robots in an Amazon warehouse, or facial recognition on Facebook, AI plays a significant role in making life easier. When applied to virtual events, AI can actually recreate those vital side conversations and connections that are typically forged during unexpected “hallway track” interactions. 

The 6Connex Approach to Virtual Engagement & Connection

When it comes to virtual events, 6Connex’s AI matchmaking is the link that cultivates organic connection. Using comprehensive tools that study each attendee’s behavioral data, 6Connex can directly help find the people you should be talking to. Whether it’s finding a new role or introducing someone to your product, 6Connex serves as a means to deliver a personalized experience and get you to that next step. 

Recently, the University of Southern California, a 6Connex customer, utilized 6Connex to host hybrid commencement ceremonies for their student body. Since 60% of that student body was out of state, 6Connex was able to bring that population together virtually in a way that duplicated the connections traditionally derived from an in-person event. This hybrid event is just one example of how virtual event technology can play a vital role in creating successful human interactions and connections online.  

When it comes to optimizing your virtual or hybrid event, AI matchmaking is the engagement tool that makes a difference. As we look forward towards a new era of virtual and hybrid events, 6Connex’s unique perspective and advanced technologies will harness AI matchmaking to boost your event’s engagement and create meaningful connections like never before.

See AI matchmaking in action! Request a demo today.

Successful hybrid events – you can do it, too

“In 2020, the pendulum swung all the way from in-person events to virtual events, but in 2021 and beyond, it will come to rest in the middle.” Joakim Jonsson, Chief Product Officer, 6Connex

Playing an important role in event programs, hybrid events are a new and growing strategy. To execute a successful hybrid event, planners and organizers must first think about how to incorporate technology accordingly into the successors of previous events. For example, it’s important to outline goals for attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, and content, and then consider where to leverage hybrid event technology, and how it can add value to the experience.

While the thought of hosting a virtual event with hybrid inclusions may feel like a different type of endeavour, the hybrid event space is not uncharted territory. Organizations like Apple, Johnson & Johnson, Twitch, the University of Southern California, and many others have utilized different platforms for virtual events in which they’ve incorporated both in-person and virtual options to their event strategy.

Below are a few examples of some of the best hybrid events that can inspire and guide event producers towards embracing the effectiveness and success that these events can bring.

The above examples are not limited to the extensive list of digital experiences offered around the world. As times are changing, so too is the world of events. Going virtual has become the new normal, and the need to adapt has become prominent. Even long after the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual and hybrid events are here to stay. A successful hybrid event can help organizations extend their reach and target their audience like they never have before. While physical, in-person events still hold their worth, virtual and hybrid events will continue to show value and opportunities beyond the capacity of in-person events.

6Connex is the leading provider of virtual and hybrid event solutions. Our platform for virtual events is a secure, cloud-based software that expands audience reach and drives in-depth content engagement for marketing, sales, recruitment, training, and HR communities to make for successful online events around the world. Our product portfolio includes virtual environments, learning management tools, and webinars. Demand more from your virtual and hybrid event solution. Request a virtual event demo with 6Connex, or contact our event software experts for more information.

When you hear the word “event” in a corporate setting, what do you see? Many picture a large meeting hall or conference center where attendees sit and listen to a live speaker or set of panelists discuss relevant industry topics, product launches, etc. These types of conferences have been the trademark of corporate life; simple information flows from speaker to the audience, but little to no interaction between attendees, speakers, and networking teams.

Last year, COVID-19 completely revolutionized the events industry and disrupted many business practices across the globe. Organizations quickly halted large in-person gatherings and brought virtual events to the forefront of their planning strategies, leaning into robust hosting platforms, VR technologies, and more to keep attendees engaged and connected from afar. 

In fact, the number of virtual events hosted on our platform increased by 1,000% between March and May of 2020.

After over a year of working from home, many people are ready to gather in-person again. However, many event planners are looking to capitalize on virtual event trends.  Their prospective attendees seem to agree – as 66% of people attest that they will likely attend more conferences if given online options. 

What’s the common ground? A scalable hybrid approach to event planning.

Hybrid events offer the best of both worlds post-pandemic. They enable organizations to reach wider audiences and give attendees a flexible, secure experience that’s even more engaging and interactive than traditional in-person gatherings of years past.

To help you implement a future-focused roadmap and deliver engaging experiences for your attendees, we’re unpacking everything you need to know about hybrid events and how to make them work in your organization. We’ll talk through:

• What ‘hybrid’ means in the event space
• How to create a next-level hybrid event strategy
• Critical metrics for measuring event success
• How to scale event planning with a virtual environment

What is a Hybrid Event? 

As organizations and event managers prepare for upcoming network opportunities, conferences, and more, they’re leveraging the virtual technologies and trends that carried them through 2020 in a new way.

The term “hybrid event” has been around for years. Yet, the pandemic and post-pandemic action plans have brought this idea to the front and center of many event planning strategies. 

So, what does a hybrid event look like in practice? Is it an event with…

• On-site speakers and a mix of virtual and in-person attendees?
• Speakers broadcasting to an entirely virtual audience?
• In-person attendees and virtual speakers?
• A collection of in-person hubs in various locations augmented by a mix of virtual and in-person speakers and audience?

At its core, a hybrid event doesn’t have to fit into just one of the options above. It’s simply the combination of a physical event and a virtual event, which means you can customize your hybrid model in ways that work for your organization and audience.

The Benefits of Hybrid Events

Hybrid events are more than a necessary alternative during the pandemic. They offer a range of benefits for your speakers, attendees, and staff that go beyond short-term safety measures and convenience. They revolutionize the way people connect to deliver:

• Safety – Offer attendees and speakers peace of mind with a socially distanced event.
• Innovation – Host corporate events in a brand new way with powerful features like immersive VR environments, real-time feedback, and more.
• Engagement – Share high-value information to a global audience and deliver lasting value with on-demand content.
• Flexibility – Maintain consistency in chaos with hybrid events that adjust to new business needs without compromising the event experience.
• Accessibility – Gain a wider audience and deliver inspiring events and sessions with a virtual environment attendees can access anywhere, anytime.
• Connectivity – Reach new prospects and keep attendees connected to your brand and one another with interactive breakouts, hybrid networking sessions, and more.
• Sustainability – Reduce your carbon footprint and make the most of your event budget with a sustainable alternative to in-person conferences and trade shows.

How to Drive Success Before, During, and After a Hybrid Event

As you adjust and refine your planning strategy, maintain focus on your business goals and KPIs for hybrid events. Consider metrics related to:

• Event registration
• Live event attendance
• On-demand attendance
• Attendee engagement levels
• Highest-performing content
• Attendee retention
• Sales conversions

Don’t forget to identify how you’ll measure each activity in and out of your event platform. Ideally, you’ll be able to track key metrics directly in your platform and create custom reports to share with stakeholders and event organizers.

Beyond complex data, you can learn a lot about your event’s success by gathering qualitative insights from attendees and contributors. Send out polls and surveys:

• Before an event to find out what participants are most excited to see at your event
• During an event to measure how content resonates with your audience in real-time
• After an event to see how attendees respond to content and overall platform experience

The data points and user responses around your audience, platform performance, and content trends are critical factors for future planning. These insights help you measure ROI per event and adjust your strategies to deliver a next-level attendee experience as you grow and expand your strategy.

Capitalizing on Virtual Trends with a Hybrid Event Environment

As we adjust to life post-pandemic, now is the perfect time to turn the lessons of 2020 into a hybrid event roadmap that will shape strategies in 2021 and beyond.

6Connex can help you build custom hybrid events powered by our robust virtual environments and enablement features designed for in-person and remote attendees alike.

How To Create a Scalable Hybrid Event Strategy

One successful hybrid event delivers value. However, the secret to long-term growth is an events strategy that leverages the same model on a continuous basis.  

Why settle for an exceptional one-off event that your teams will spend months struggling to recreate? Build ongoing value for your business and attendees through an evergreen virtual environment, with year-round event access and hosting features that support multiple events in a single solution. A cloud-based conference environment can be reused and slightly modified to fit each event’s content, audience, and goals.

Powered by a flexible platform, hybrid events make it easy and painless to increase or decrease the number of virtual or in-person attendees as needed. You’ll be able to adapt settings and content to fit audience preferences, physical limitations, and global events.

Access our on-demand webinar All Things Hybrid to hear from industry experts on the state of hybrid events post-covid and our predictions on what the future holds for event planners across the globe.

As more organizations adjust to the ‘new normal,’ they’re likely to experience some growing pains. The virtual event strategies that worked in 2020 may need to be readjusted as hybrid events gain traction and attendees look for events that go beyond their basic expectations. We’ve built the steps to ensure you create successful hybrid events in 2021.

When planning a hybrid event, consider the following to-do list.

#1 Start with the Right Environment

Hybrid events are designed to strike the perfect balance between virtual and in-person elements, which often varies from business to business. Before you can host a hybrid event, you need a reliable platform that delivers the virtual features you need, plus the ability to merge into an in-person setting seamlessly.

Choose an experienced virtual event provider with measured technical expertise and reliable support services to successfully launch your events. Your partner should offer robust technology features, plus consulting and planning advice every step of the way. For example, they should equip you with action plans for unexpected changes to your event setting, such as a last-minute switch to all-virtual.

In the same vein, look for a provider that can support advanced requests with ease and help planners host more events, more frequently. Scalability sets good providers apart from great ones and helps ensure a better ROI for your business as you settle into the world of hybrid events.

#2 Plan Virtual-First Content

Many B2B event marketers see audience engagement as the most significant challenge during virtual events. As you create agendas, activities, and content, consider your virtual attendees first. Create hybrid content optimized for remote viewing, with affordance for the average screen size, audio quality, and potential time delays between in-person speaking and virtual streaming features.

Virtual-first content often drives more engagement in-person as well, with built-in interactive features like polls, live chat, or breakouts. These encourage attendees to participate instead of merely spectating – an easy practice to adopt during a 45-minute speech.

#3 Create Seamless In-Person and Virtual Experiences

A cohesive experience is vital for a successful virtual event. It drives engagement and connectivity between both audiences and ultimately delivers better results for event hosts and attendees alike. 

As you shop for platform features, look for ways to bring both audiences together. QR codes are one of the easiest ways to share identical content, engagement opportunities, and insights with your attendees. Users anywhere in the world can hold their phone up to a laptop screen or projector to access the same content, poll prompt, or download link as the rest of the attendees in real-time.

#4 Include Online Extension Tools

Engagement requires human connection — which can be challenging in a virtual setting. Tools like personalized agendas and participant matchmaking allow event organizers to expand reach and impact across all audiences. Plus, they give remote attendees opportunities to build meaningful connections instead of passively listening to content.  

Customizable extensions empower attendees of all types. For example, calendar tools can build post-event interest by suggesting relevant events in the future. They also make it easy to schedule meetings with sales representatives, speakers, other attendees, and more. 

These types of extensions make online networking convenient, intuitive, and stress-free. Finally, attendees can create lasting connections and find relevant resources without skimming through online participant lists or queueing up at the coffee stand in hopes of bumping into the perfect sales representative or product specialist.

You can even include adaptable networking apps that enable real-time networking between physical and virtual attendees, plus ongoing communications before, during, and after the actual conference with advanced matchmaking and other connectivity features.

#5 Switch Up Event Formats

As a virtual attendee, it’s easy to feel disconnected with a long string of live sessions that span the entire day or an equally long list of pre-recorded events to click through.  In-person attendees can also grow tired of repetitive content, which makes it easier to mentally ‘check out’ or simply lose interest in the topic at hand.

Successful hybrid events in 2021 can solve for both sides with a curated combination of pre-recorded and live sessions sprinkled throughout each day’s schedule. This approach blends the shared experience and gives attendees control of their agenda.

In-person and virtual attendees can connect in real-time for live sessions, then switch to pre-recorded sessions or take a quick lunch break and save the recording for on-demand viewing. This level of flexibility allows attendees to prioritize the content they’re most interested in and cuts down on the general fatigue of back-to-back sessions.

#6 Offer Content On-Demand

Every event marketer feels a universal pressure to deliver impactful content over a tight two- or three-day event schedule. And many marketers long for the opportunity to turn short-term events into long-term value for their attendees and organization.

Instead of delivering one-time experiences, create an always-online virtual space where audiences can attend and re-attend your event any time. You’ll give attendees the chance to access event content on their schedule, with on-demand recordings and sessions that echo their live counterparts and provide ongoing value long after the last keynote speech or Q&A session.

On-demand event and content access also opens new revenue streams and shares your brand with a diverse audience, not just a pre-registered list of attendees or the prospects who happened to be available on the day of a live event.

The Bottom Line: Focus on Your Participants

As you curate content, customize your platform, set your agenda, and more, keep your attendees top of mind. Event formats, sessions, and features that highlight the value of your business are important. However, don’t forget to integrate factors that provide the most significant value, high levels of engagement, and sheer excitement for your audience.

Sincere focus on engagement, connectivity, and attendee experience is key to a successful hybrid event. You’ll see your investments reflected in increased event ROI, better retention, and steady long-term business growth. Download our Ultimate Guide to Hybrid Events to get more tips on how you can create an impactful, engaging, and memorable hybrid event experience.