According to a recent survey, 81% of attendees' top interest is networking with experts at events.
The term 'networking' is thrown around a lot in the business world. What does it mean?
Networking involves building relationships with people and businesses for professional purposes. This includes:
It's not WHAT you know, it's WHO you know. And in a business setting, WHO you know largely depends on how well you network.
Unfortunately, the digital world has greatly changed the way we network. Businessmen used to meet with a strong handshake and a cigar. Now it's on a laptop with a blurry background filter.
Virtual networking is a real problem. 46% of organizers find networking to be a challenging aspect of organizing hybrid events.
Why is virtual networking so difficult? And how can you create an environment that encourages networking at your next event?
Networking in any environment can be a bit uncomfortable. It takes practice to make new business connections even in the best of circumstances.
Trying to do so in the virtual space adds another level of difficulty. Why?
Virtual interactions often lack nonverbal cues that we rely on when in person, such as body language.
It can also be more difficult to initiate conversations and build trust in a virtual environment.
Dropouts, glitches, or other technical difficulties can disrupt the flow of virtual conversations.
And some platforms may be limited in which features they even offer for networking.
Virtual events allow for a nearly unlimited amount of people to attend.
Too many attendees in one virtual meeting room can make it a challenge to identify and connect with the right people.
Create virtual spaces for networking, such as virtual lounges or breakout rooms. These spaces should be clearly labeled and easily accessible from the main event platform.
Consider creating multiple lounges based on industry, interest, or experience level. For example, a "Startup Lounge" could be created for early-stage companies, while a "C-Suite Lounge" could be created for more senior executives.
Use interactive icebreakers to get people talking and reduce awkward silences.
Take advantage of platforms that offer advanced features for networking such as virtual booths, matchmaking algorithms, and live chat to connect attendees based on common interests or goals.
Most people will naturally choose to be passive observers during a virtual event. But there's a lot you can do to get people involved and talking.
Help your attendees match up with good prospects by encouraging them to showcase their profiles. Profiles could include job titles, companies, social media links, and professional experience.
Monitor networking activity by tracking the number of connections made, the duration of conversations, the use of virtual booths and chat features, attendee engagement, and post-event follow-up activity.
Seek feedback through surveys, post-event questionnaires, and focus groups. Include open-ended questions for qualitative feedback on what attendees liked and disliked about the networking options.
Cultivate a culture of networking for both your team and attendees by emphasizing the importance of building connections. Offer networking workshops or training sessions.
Create a dedicated event hashtag. Share speaker spotlights and attendee profiles to spark interest. Encourage pre-event networking through social media polls and Q&A sessions.
Keep the networking going by offering tools that allow attendees to exchange contact information and continue conversations after the event. Create virtual coffee chats or mentorship programs.
Putting people together in the same virtual meeting doesn't automatically lead to idea-sharing and long-term relationships. It takes some understanding, careful planning, and a little effort on your part to make it happen.
By taking a few practical steps in advance, you can overcome the challenges of virtual networking to ensure your virtual event is both a convenient and an effective way to make new connections.
Our team at Virtual Velocity understands the challenges of virtual events. With over 15 years in the virtual space, we've seen what works for networking and what just doesn't. And we are confident that we have what it takes to help you put on the best event possible.