In March of 2020, when COVID-19 struck, we all thought at the time that we would be back to normal in a few weeks, maybe a month. We never predicted we would be entering 2023 and still seeing the remnants of a global pandemic. It forced a halting stop to most business industries, face to face meetings, and large groups in public places. People were staying home and not going out anymore. Many organizations had to rethink their strategies and switch to digital methods. Platforms such as Zoom and Skype became more popular, with meetings and communications taking place in the comfort of our own homes.
Company morale was lower than ever, and the connection and teamwork between companies was struggling to keep up. So, what is the future of corporate events now?
Hybrid Events
The future of corporate events is widely changing to hybrid events – both in person and virtual. This offers many benefits, such as the ability to host more events throughout the year. Virtual events offer their own set of benefits such as more attendees, because it’s easier to be a part of the event when you don’t have to leave your own home. Whichever you decide is the right one for your company, they both offer their own set of benefits. Live streaming your in-person event can double the amount of attendees you have. A corporate event planner can help you organize both types of events. Here are some additional tips for organizing your hybrid event:
Don’t Just Stream The In-Person Event
Live streaming the event happening in person is great, but you need to have more elements for your virtual viewers then just live-streaming the content. You need to have something to engage your virtual audience, and make them feel just as much a part of the event as the in person attendees. Your budget should reflect your virtual event to be its own standalone event in order for it to be successful.
Convey Your Goals To Your Team
Your goals for each event should be clearly outlined and communicated for you and your team. Your goals may be different for each event. For example, The goal of your in-person event may be to increase brand awareness, while your virtual event may be tailored to increasing sales. Advertisements that you can show during your virtual event may not have the same effect on the in person audience. Both events do not have to have the same goals, and clearly outlining those goals will give you a clearer idea on how successful each event was.
Create From Your Attendee’s Point Of View
When creating a hybrid corporate event, you should try to imagine yourself in your attendee’s shoes. What will keep them entertained? What is a wow factor that will be a staple in their memory? What would I like to see if I was attending this type of event? All of these questions can help put you in the mindset of your attendees and help you create an event they will enjoy and talk about for years to come.