By Sangeetha Shreekar
Innovation has been the need of the hour for the events industry during this pandemic. We all have succumbed to digital learning diligently while figuring out the do’s and don’ts of attending meetings over a zoom call to witnessing live streams of launches of products from the majority of the brands.
We are delighted with restrictions easing up while vaccination drive promises to make life return to normal at a steady pace. Meanwhile, let’s have a look at Hybrid events and why they would be the future going forward post-COVID life.
What is a Hybrid Event?
A hybrid event is any event that combines live, in-person elements with digital, online components. Virtual components include Live streaming keynote sessions, event webcasts with synchronized slides, or integration of social media, just to name a few.
At PLANIT we executed several hybrid events over the last year for our clients from IBEC for their KeepWell Awards, Business Leaders Conference, and Employment Law Conference to a series of automotive Product Launches, Conferences & Training events for Toyota Ireland and Harris Maxus. They require a great amount of planning and assure a safe and engaging event delivering the objectives of the event.
Why do we recommend hybrid events?
1) Increased reach and attendance
Hybrid events allow a much further reach, gaining attendees who may have never been able to attend in person. The new model is much more respectful of a person’s time and other responsibilities, including financial commitment. The ability to engage a much larger population provides input and feedback that may have been missing from the in-person audience. There is also the ability to gain new attendees once live events return by offering a “sample” of what to expect in the future.
2) Data
The virtual component of these events can offer valuable metrics such as when participants joined a session and when they dropped out, how many total participants attended, and how many engaged with interactive elements.
3) Greater flexibility
Offering live stream options and the ability to access the content after the conference has ended creates a digital fallback, allowing a quick and easy solution, if something beyond your control, like winter weather, prevents a large swath of attendees from making the event.
4) Improved ROI
More revenue can be created by allowing access to virtual content for a portion of in-person ticket prices. More attendance can translate to more views for sponsorship partners or charity events.
The hybrid event enables you to control the environment and with the right team planning it for you, it’s a guaranteed success. Hybrid events offer a new status quo, while you could take it up a notch by elevating the hybrid experience with augmented reality, exclusive/bonus content for the online audience, gamification, and more. The new platform offers a myriad of ideas to be explored. At PLANIT we are well equipped to support all your event needs, lets have a chat at info@planit.ie Let’s go Hybrid.