Hybrid Event Etiquette: 5 Tips you Should Follow
It’s 2022 and hybrid events are more popular than ever! Virtual events were all that could happen with restrictions. But now with the hope of vaccines, hybrid events are a possibility. What is a hybrid event you may ask? A blend of a physical and virtual event in one. So your physical and virtual audiences can communicate at the same event. There are many benefits to hybrid events such as:
- Increased reach
- More sponsorship opportunities
- Greater Flexibility
But planning and participating in a hybrid event can be difficult for newcomers. There are some hybrid event etiquette guidelines we should all follow. This might sound daunting, but don’t worry- we’ve got you! Keep reading for our top 5 Tips on Hybrid Event Etiquette.
Our Hybrid Event Etiquette Tips:
Make a Plan
As the saying goes, fail to prepare, prepare to fail. This applies to your hybrid event etiquette which needs goals to work. You and your team need to meet before the event to make objectives that you want to achieve. Some things you need to plan:
- Budget: Decide how much you want to spend on your physical and virtual events and go from there. Remember hybrid events have some different expenses such as a virtual events platform.
- Location: Even though your event is happening online you also need a location for your physical audience.
- Timing: How long will your sessions be? Will you have many talks at the same time or one main speaker?
- Equipment: You will need streaming equipment for your physical event.
- Team: Will you need new workers for your hybrid event? If hybrid events are new for your team it is good etiquette to take on new hires with experience.
Once you can answer some of these questions you will be ready to start your event.
Engage Your Audience
It is good hybrid event etiquette to involve both your physical and virtual audience. We’ve all experienced ‘zoom fatigue’ at one stage or another so make sure you keep your audience awake. Some good hybrid event etiquette for engagement include:
- Polling
- Q and A sessions
- Gamification
Make sure you pick charismatic speakers who will invoice your audience in the discussion. The more engaging your event the more likely people will return in the future.
Manage your team well
You need to almost divide your team in two for the event. You need a physical team and a virtual team too. It is good hybrid event etiquette to elect someone to communicate between the two teams so everyone’s on the same page. You might need some extra training for your team members if hybrid events are new. The good thing is that this is an investment into your companies future. Many people enjoy the flexibility of hybrid events, so your team will be ready for the future!
Prepare your audience
Your event will not only be new to your team but to your audience too. Not all your members will be familiar with technology and could need guidance. Some good hybrid event etiquette ideas for your audience include:
- Send a link to your virtual events platform so they can take a look at it before the event.
- Provide a list of FAQs for the event.
- Provide links, emails, and numbers for technical support during the event.
- Give tips for WiFi/ technical issues.
Your guests will feel more valued if you provide quality support for them. There will also be better audience engagement if your guests don’t have technical issues.
Say thank you
It is good hybrid event etiqute to thank your guests after the event. You should follow up with an email to thank them for their participation and let them know about further events. It is also a good idea to follow up with a post-event survey. Your guests can provide you with feedback after the event to see how it went. Your team can use the feedback for future events.
What Next?
Now that you’ve read our hybrid event etiquette advice, you’re ready! Start planning your next hybrid event. Your audience and your team members will appreciate the tips you’ve learned. The first step when planning your hybrid event is an event platform. Remo has a great platform you can use for your event. With the customizable floor plans and interactive features, you will have everything you need.
Check out our 14-day free trial to take a look at the product for yourself. We also have a list of FAQs if you’d like to learn about the event platform.
