Ten Ways to Overcome the Challenge of Networking at Virtual Events

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:

• • Exchanging creative ideas
  • Sharing knowledge and resources
  • Connecting with like-minded businesses
  • Building long-term professional relationships

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? In this article, we’ll explain the challenges of networking at Virtual Events and 10 ways you can overcome them.

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?

• Lack of Personal Connection

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.

• Technological Issues

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.

• Overwhelming Amount of Attendees

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.

Does this mean you are doomed to failure? No! It just means you need to implement networking strategies that are specifically tailored to virtual events.

Don’t assume the same strategies you use for networking at in-person events will work for virtual ones. Here are 10 tried and tested networking strategies to implement at your next virtual event.

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.

Try This: Consider creating multiple lounges. This leads to more meaningful connections between those of similar interests.

Lounges could be based on:

• • Industry
  • Interest
  • 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.

By providing a variety of networking spaces, you appeal to attendees of all types and increase the likelihood that they will create meaningful relationships.

Use interactive icebreakers to get people talking and reduce awkward silences.

Try This:

• Use live polls, quizzes, or shared video content to break the ice.
• Give questions in advance or during the event through on-screen prompts or dedicated chat channels.
• Mix things up by using both open-ended and closed-ended questions.

Icebreakers remove the pressure of initiating a conversation and help attendees jump right in to interacting with one another.

You’ll save yourself a lot of work by choosing the right tools. Take advantage of platforms that offer advanced features for networking such as:

• • Virtual booths
  • Matchmaking algorithms
  • Live chat to connect attendees based on common interests or goals

Try This:

• Customize your virtual booths to represent a certain company, organization, or attendee.
• Set up matchmaking algorithms to consider a variety of factors like industry, job title, company size, and preferences.
• Allow for one-on-one or group conversations with the live chat features.

Choosing a platform that offers advanced features means you have more options to encourage networking.

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.

Try This:

• Instead of basic one-sided speeches, keep presentations, panel discussions, and keynote speeches interactive.
• Use gamification elements such as leaderboards or rewards to keep people more engaged.
• Use Q&A sessions moderated by experts or create a more lively discussion by opening them up to the entire audience.

Creating a more dynamic and engaging experience keeps people involved and can lead to increased networking opportunities.

Choosing who to network with can be a shot in the dark without some background information.

Help your attendees match up with good prospects by encouraging them to showcase their profiles.

Try This:

In pre-event emails get permission from attendees to showcase their profiles during the event.

These profiles could include information such as:

• • Job titles
  • Companies
  • Social media links
  • Professional experience

Allow attendees to customize their profiles with additional details, such as personal interests, career goals, or even a video introduction to connect on a more personal level.

Showcasing profiles helps attendees connect with the right people based on similar interests.

Use metrics to gauge networking activity throughout your event.

Try This:

Monitor networking activity at your event by tracking:

• • The number of connections made
  • The duration of conversations
  • The use of virtual booths and chat features
  • Attendee engagement
  • Post-event follow-up activity

This allows you to see how effective your networking initiatives were, identify trends and patterns in attendee behavior, and identify any areas for improvement.

Seeking feedback is a win-win. You learn how to improve and you show attendees you are committed to giving them the best experience possible.

Try This:

• Collect attendee 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 you provided.
• Offer incentives for those who complete surveys to increase response rates.

Based on the feedback you can keep what worked well and make changes where necessary for your next event.

Cultivate a culture of networking for both your team and attendees by emphasizing the importance of building connections.

Try This:

• Put together a dedicated networking team to oversee networking initiatives.
• Offer networking workshops or training sessions to help your team develop the skills needed to successfully build relationships virtually.
• Encourage attendees to share their networking successes and challenges through social media or online forums.

Networking is a huge part of business. By creating a networking culture you help your team reach their full potential.

Social media is a huge part of everyone’s life. Harness the power of social media to encourage networking and promote your event.

Try This:

Pre-Event:

• • 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.
  • Offer exclusive content or early bird discounts for sharing on social media.

During the Event:

• • Utilize live chat and interactive features within the event platform.
  • Host virtual networking breaks with icebreaker activities.
  • Encourage attendees to share their experiences and insights using the event hashtag.
  • Post real-time event updates and behind-the-scenes content on social media.

Social media can build anticipation and encourage networking before, during, and even after the event (as we’ll discuss now).

Keep the networking going by offering tools that allow attendees to exchange contact information and continue conversations after the event.

Try This:

• Compile highlights and share them across your social media platforms.
• Offer exclusive access to event recordings or resources for social media followers.
• Create virtual coffee chats or mentorship programs.
• Offer exclusive content or resources to platform members.

Creating post-event networking opportunities increases the value of attending your event and demonstrates your commitment to helping attendees build long-term relationships.

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.

Would you like to have a conversation? We’d love to get together to hear your thoughts and share our insights. Shoot us a message and start networking the right way today.