Encourage Networking At Your Virtual Event

Your event will no doubt be an exciting day, and one which you want to make most of. Yet while every attendee will be busy networking, what will happen to networking at your event when the event ends? The reality is that in the busy world of the modern business and social networking scene, people rarely stay put for long. You’re likely to see most of your attendees rushing from point A to point B, leaving behind a trail of abandoned phones, messages, and the like.

Reach your goal! That’s the beauty of networks. They serve as a platform for everyone to develop meaningful relationships and form meaningful connections. But, just because you are a member of a network doesn’t mean you are part of the network. These days, more and more companies are turning to social media and online social networks to leverage their networks and to promote their brand. And, it’s not just the executives that are involved; it’s the average employees as well. Take a look at your own network. What does it look like? Are you connected to all the people you want to be?

In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world we are often faced with the challenge of networking with individuals we don’t know. Whether it’s at a local coffee shop or virtual conference, it can be difficult to strike up a conversation with someone you don’t already know.

An event planner can benefit from virtual events in a variety of ways. They can reach a broader audience, allow for more diverse material, improve sponsorship options, safeguard guests from the risk of coronavirus, and deliver a significantly higher return on investment. However, the digital switchover benefits more than simply organizers and planners. The advantages are also visible to virtual attendees!

People go to conferences and trade exhibitions to learn and expand their abilities, but they also go to network with other industry professionals. Face-to-face contacts will not be feasible during virtual events, but that does not mean you cannot promote and encourage networking.

Steps to Encouraging Virtual Event Attendees to Network

You will need to assist folks in getting into the networking spirit because you will not be present in person to enjoy the tone in the room and people will no longer have body language indicators to work with.

Here are some suggestions for fostering meaningful encounters and connections:

Opportunities should be advertised

Some members of your target audience will not recognize the networking opportunities provided by your virtual event right away. Include networking possibilities in your marketing efforts to keep these people from passing you up.

Promote the event by offering specific networking sessions, Q&A, breakout sessions, virtual cocktails, private social media groups, gamification and whatever else you have planned to bring people together.

This information can be shared on social media and in email marketing campaigns, but it should be extensive enough on your event website. This information will demonstrate to potential participants that you understand the importance of networking at a physical event and have taken the necessary steps to give equivalent chances in a virtual setting.

Show them how to do it

It’s possible that simply stating that you offer networking possibilities will not be enough to interest your audience. Show them how to take advantage of these opportunities for networking.

Prepare a networking guide to send to each registrant prior to the event. Show them how to use the virtual event platform as well as when and where they can access each networking session.

Demonstrate how to create an avatar, fill out their profile, and utilize the text and video chat capabilities. Explain how people can simply share their contact information with other guests at the event. Is it possible to create virtual business cards on your platform? Inform attendees on how to distribute and receive business cards.

Between sessions at a live event, people frequently congregate in the common areas. People won’t be allowed to say things like “meet outside the showroom” at a virtual gathering. Demonstrate how users can send messages to other participants and communicate with them directly. Show them where and how to find a meeting space if they want to create a breakout session or an impromptu virtual gathering. Send this information to people who have registered ahead of time so that they can digest and prepare. If you have the resources, creating a video tutorial in addition to written instructions can have a big impact, leading to higher participant satisfaction and a better overall experience.

Pre-event sessions should be held.

Consider inviting each virtual attendee to a pre-event meeting or networking session, just like you would with a guide. This virtual event can assist guests become more comfortable with the technology they’ll be using and act as an icebreaker, resulting in a more relaxed social environment for the event’s start.

Another alternative is to do a social media live session. Facebook and Instagram are terrific places to start, depending on your event and its target audience. Begin a live feed with a video that discusses the potential for your event, then ask specific questions of the audience and urge them to respond in the comments. You can then read some of the questions and comment to any issues you have in real time. Viewers may begin to communicate with one another in this manner, but at the very least, it allows you to relax and begin to demonstrate your networking abilities in the world.

The more excitement you can create about the networking opportunities at your event, the more people will take advantage of them when they arrive. Remember that most individuals are unfamiliar with virtual and online events and virtual networking. While this is really simple, and most people have been doing it in some form or another on social media for decades, the ease does not always translate.

Related

A virtual event is a great way to bring your company together to strengthen and expand your business. In a virtual event, you are able to provide your employees with an opportunity to expand their professional networks by being on a conference call, meeting in person, or even getting together through video conferencing.. Read more about virtual business events and let us know what you think.

Promoting a networking event is not as easy as it sounds. It can be difficult to get people interested in your event, and even more difficult to get them to attend. There are many different ways that you can promote an event, but the most important thing is to make sure that your event has something for everyone.”}}]}

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you encourage networking virtually?

There are many ways to encourage networking. For instance, you can host a game night with friends and invite them over to play games together. You can also use social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter to share your gaming experiences with others.

How do you network a virtual event?

You need to create a virtual event and invite people.

How do you promote a networking event?

Promoting a networking event is not as easy as it sounds. It can be difficult to get people interested in your event, and even more difficult to get them to attend. There are many different ways that you can promote an event, but the most important thing is to make sure that your event has something for everyone.

Related Tags

This article broadly covered the following related topics:

• virtual event networking ideas
• tips for attending virtual networking events
• virtual professional networking ideas
• how to network at a virtual conference
• virtual business events