After you weigh the pros and cons of your various platform options and find the best choice for your needs, you can more thoroughly map out your event engagement opportunities.
Start by revisiting your platform’s built-in networking components and reviewing which of your team’s existing channels or groups can also support this event’s networking and engagement needs. Consider any of these options as a potential area for networking at your event:
- Live chat tools alongside a session (part of the platform), where attendees can ask questions to the presenter or engage with each other
- Dedicated messaging channels on third-party sites/services (Slack, etc.), which can include channels for each conference track
- Private Facebook (or similar social network) group for event registrants (and be sure to have a moderator ready to strike up a conversation)
- Open video conference rooms before or after the event for attendees to hang out
- Hashtags across social media platforms for cohesion and to aggregate conversations
- Moderated networking rooms led by community veterans where attendees can stop in and talk to each other
- Round table/”birds of a feather” video chat rooms
Create a Diverse Mix of Virtual Event Networking Options
A successful event strategy will blend the various networking options described above, meaning your team needs adequate support to promote the networking opportunities, monitor the multiple networking areas, staff rooms and act as a host to connect fellow attendees and provide conversation starters when needed.
Depending on your event type, consider asking customers, partners, and trusted community members if they can support — or even host — these networking rooms. Allow your trusted partners to take ownership of their networking rooms and create unique experiences that can meet attendee needs while also providing a value add to the partner for their help.
For more ideas on making your next digital event the most engaging ever, download “How to Host Virtual Networking Sessions People Will Love,” a new e-Book from the Social hour team.