Looking to make meaningful connections in the business world, but tired of the same old networking events? A new era of events is here! Whether you’re an introvert who dreads the thought of making small talk with strangers, or an extrovert who can’t wait to work the room, online and hybrid events are the perfect solution for your company’s lead generation and networking.
We learned from COVID-19 that in-person events aren’t the only way to stay in touch with people. Hybrid and online events are also great ways to stay in touch, even if we can’t all be there at the same time. These events give you a unique chance to meet potential customers, partners, and industry professionals from the comfort of your own home, office, coffee shop, or wherever you happen to be at the time. Just log in, and get ready to make some good connections.
Hybrid Events and Online Events in a Nutshell
Hybrid events combine in-person and virtual elements, allowing attendees to participate either in person or remotely. Online events, on the other hand, are fully virtual and take place entirely online. Both types of events have become increasingly popular due to their ability to reach a wider audience and offer greater flexibility.
However, hybrid events require more planning and coordination to ensure that both in-person and virtual attendees have a similar experience, while online events require a reliable internet connection and a user-friendly platform to ensure that attendees can fully engage with the content.
5 Power Tips for more Engaging and Successful Events:
1. Make sure your event website is engaging and interactive.
Because your event website is the first thing potential attendees will see, it’s critical to make a solid first impression. According to Momice.com, an event website should use unique images, sophisticated colors, smart fonts and up to date info to give visitors a taste of what your event will be like. Making sure the website is easy to navigate so people can find the information they’re looking for. And oh, don’t forget to make it mobile-friendly.
If your event sign-up page isn’t interesting, it will be hard to get people to sign up.
2. Use social media to generate interest and create a buzz before, during and after the event.
Social media is a great way to reach people who might want to come to your event and get people talking about it. Use hashtags to promote your event and make it easy for people to find information about it. Use hashtags, stories and countdowns to stir curiosity and excitement among your audience.
Hootsuite explains that being in touch with your audience before, during, and after an event is the key to a successful social media plan.
3. Keep your content fresh and relevant.
No one wants to attend an event that feels like a repeat of something they’ve already seen or heard. Keep your content fresh and relevant to the current trends. And make sure it’s something that will appeal to your target audience.
Here are a few tips from 20bedfordway.com that you might consider when using content to promote your event online:
- Content must be visually appealing in order for your event to stand out.
- Content must be shareable, so it can help get the word out about your event.
- Your content must provide value to your main message.
- Create blogs, vlogs, quizzes, social media updates and remarketing ads
In order to keep your customers coming back for more, it is important to have a content plan for your events.
Why You Should Include Events in Your Lead Generation and Community Building Strategy
- Events are more than just a one-time thing
Events offer a great opportunity for businesses to reach out to their target audiences and build relationships. Events can take many forms and are customizable for each business’ needs. Online and hybrid events, for example, can be used to spread awareness of products, services, or causes, among other goals.
In order to maximize the impact of an event, it’s important for businesses to understand that it is more than just a one-time thing. Rather, it is part of an overall strategy to engage people and create a lasting impression. Planning ahead and setting clear objectives ensure that your event will be meaningful, productive, and successful.
- They’re an opportunity to show off your business’s personality
Events allow businesses to showcase their personalities in ways that other mediums such as direct mail, print marketing, or even digital campaigns cannot. Prospects should walk away with a positive impression and connect with the business’s core values.
Events are also an opportunity to provide useful and interesting content that can attract and engage attendees. Content should be informative, entertaining, and tailored to the intended audience. Additionally, it should be clear and concise so as not to overwhelm attendees with too much information.
- Use online and hybrid events to build a community
One of the benefits of using online and hybrid events is the ability to reach a wider audience than an in-person event. This makes it a great way to engage customers, prospects, partners, and the public to establish a sense of community. Creating a community is especially important for businesses that rely on user engagement.
Events offer companies the opportunity to foster relationships and build trust among members. The better the relationships, the more likely customers are to remain loyal and take part in the business’s activities.
- Keep your attendees engaged post-event
Keeping your attendees engaged post-event is important to ensure they have a great experience and remain engaged with your business.
Below are a few methods to keep them engaged:
• Follow-up by email to thank them for attending and encourage them to ask questions.
• Invite them to complete surveys or polls to provide feedback.
• Invite them to join mailing lists or your social media pages to stay up-to-date with your company.
• Send them post-event promotions or special offers to thank them for participating.
• Engage in conversations on social media to keep them updated on current events.
By taking these steps, you can keep your attendees informed and engaged throughout the entire event cycle, from pre-event registration to post-event follow-up. This will help you build strong relationships and create a positive impact on your business.
- Use events to cultivate brand ambassadors
Events are a great opportunity to cultivate brand ambassadors. Brand ambassadors are loyal customers and advocates of your brand. By inviting social media influencers to attend your events, you can increase awareness and create a positive buzz. You can also use events to reward loyal customers or offer special perks such as early access or discounts to incentivize referrals.
Overall, online and hybrid events can be powerful tools for lead generation and networking, providing businesses with the opportunity to connect with potential customers and partners, build brand awareness, and establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry.
