- With a larger number of organizations hosting hybrid (virtual + in-person) events, maximizing audience engagement has become quite a challenge for an ordinary virtual events agency. But why is audience engagement so critical? There is a strong connection between highly-engaged audience members and the retention rates of event attendees. The amount of attention you get from your attendees, partners, sponsors, and other stakeholders will determine the success of your current and future events.
In this article, we will learn how hybrid event organizer companies are engaging their audiences and helping increase their participation via online event management software.
How Hybrid Event Platforms Help Increase Audience Participation at Events
The key to delivering a smooth event experience with maximum audience participation is using tools that increase audience engagement. Most virtual events agencies understand the importance of engaging audiences and strategically implement various integrated engagement tools at hybrid events. They take time to consider the characteristics of the event audiences when selecting engagement tools. Since each hybrid event is different, studying the event audience is crucial to increase audience engagement strategically.
Here’s how hybrid event platforms like Seven Events are helping increase audience participation at events:
1. Via Polls
Polls are a simple method of engaging with an audience. You can run them throughout your hybrid. There are various poll types to choose from, such as multiple-choice, star rating, and open text questions. Polls are a great way to keep your audience guessing. Via polls, you can effectively collect audience feedback at any time from a multitude of devices during or after your event.
Polls are a great way to encourage your audience to interact with your content. You can use them to tease your audience about new products, guest speakers, chief guests, and so on. Hosting a poll before an event creates a lot of anticipation, which encourages more people to attend.
Hybrid event platforms make polls appealing by tying them to the event’s content. If you want to use polls, try starting with fun or entertaining ones to catch your audience’s attention and encourage further participation. According to a recent survey, 81.8% of virtual event organiser companies use polls to drive engagement and improve interaction.
2. Through Q&A Sessions
A Q&A session with the audience is a proven way of fostering participation. A hybrid event is an excellent opportunity to run a Q&A. During or at the end of your hybrid event, you can ask your audiences to participate in a Q&A session in-person or via an integrated chatbox. You can hire a moderator to set talking points and steer the conversation.
Before a Q&A session, structure and plan the questions to complement the event’s content. Remember that a Q&A session should not run longer than 20 minutes; otherwise, your audience will get bored. Always schedule it for the end of your event. It is a great way to break up a session. The Harvard Business Review suggests assigning a dedicated time after the Q&A to wrap up the session with one final thought.
3. With the Help of Post-Event Surveys
Hybrid event platforms are laying a lot of emphasis on post-event surveys. You should conduct them within the first 24 hours after the end of an event. A well-structured but simple three-minute post-event survey assesses performance and helps organisations further understand their audiences and their expectations. Survey responses help measure audience willingness to attend future events. A post-event survey also helps develop effective marketing strategies by identifying current market trends.
Hybrid event platforms include sponsors, partners, and team members in the post-event survey so they can quickly identify all key areas that require improvement. To get audiences to fill out the survey, these platforms send survey push notifications and integrate the survey into the event’s live video stream.
4. Through the Live Chat
The live chat option on the online event management software is a great way to bring an audience into a space meant for discussion. Use your hybrid platform’s chat channel to connect your audience with speakers, presenters, guests of honour, exhibitors, sponsors, and other stakeholders.
The live chat option encourages audiences to share whatever’s on their minds. It allows them to connect with other event attendees and even ask questions. Continue the conversation on live chat throughout your hybrid event, especially after a speaker’s session.
A great thing about the live chat function is that you can easily customize it according to your event. You can even keep the chat history live after the event for those who want to catch up on the session. Live chat can outdo valuable face-to-face meetings that usually take place at in-person networking events. It can also provide immediate help to event attendees if you assign a team member responsible for answering questions during the event.
5. Via Knowledge Quizzes
Another way hybrid event platforms increase audience participation is by conducting knowledge quizzes. Most people enjoy a good quiz. This is because humans are naturally competitive and love winning prizes. You can use a quiz to gauge whether your attendees have really been listening to what’s being said. At the beginning of the event, let them know that there will be a quiz toward the end. This will put them on the edge of their seats.
Ensure that your quizzes are fun, light-hearted. It would be best if you avoided being overly technical. Quizzes are supposed to be fun and engaging. You want your audience members to get thinking. Choose topics that your audience can easily resonate with. This will encourage knowledge retention and foster discussion. Reward the top scorers by handing out prizes at the end of your quiz. You can also give rewards to everyone in the audience for their participation. A reward can be something that has intrinsic value or monetary value.
Plan Your Hybrid Event Today!
Are you excited to host your next hybrid event? Remember that most audiences enjoy a valuable, rich, and fun online event experience. Once you hire a virtual events agency, virtual events agency, employ different engagement tools discussed above to increase audience participation and boost your retention rate. Happy planning!
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