July 2021 Top Tips 47
3 ) Broader choice of speakers
David : “ Hybrid is a great opportunity to increase your pool of interesting and experienced keynote presenters by either remote pre-recording to play out at the show or via a live remote broadcast directly into the show and back out to the online platform . There ’ s a cost saving with no travel expenses or accommodation and with a mix of virtual and in-person presentations , it will reduce the carbon footprint of the overall event .”
4 ) Content on-demand
David : “ By delivering content that can be revisited and replayed on-demand , not only will those sessions achieve greater reach and engagement ( ideal for sponsor value ), it will also make your events more accessible to people with restricted mobility or who were simply too busy to attend .”
Adam : “ As many hybrid events are recorded , both audiences will have the opportunity to view the presentations and discussions again on-demand , so they can make the most of them and take their time to reflect upon them . Recording enables event organisers to give all registered participants the chance to extend the life of the event and engage with content at a time that suits them .”
5 ) Increased brand awareness
David : “ Consider the virtual experience , not as an add-on but as a simultaneous event running alongside the live show . It can increase viewer traffic and provide additional opportunities for advertisements , sponsorships and brand exposure across social and digital channels with direct links to sponsor ’ s web pages or online virtual stands .”
6 ) Deeper audience understanding
Adam : “ Using a hybrid platform enables an event organiser to capture data about a larger audience and analyse it . This can not only increase the size of databases , it can also provide useful understanding to improve future events . Even before the pandemic , delegates were using their smartphones to engage with an event . Now , adoption levels are much higher and so the resulting insights can prove valuable to your business and for PR and social media content .”
7 ) Promote future activity
David : “ People may choose to experience the online version of an event before deciding
whether or not to buy a ticket and incur the expense of attending in subsequent years . So why not treat the online event as a giant advert for the live show by featuring highlights of the conference , awards or exhibition .”
8 ) Future-proofed
David : “ We must never find ourselves in this position again . If , for any future reason the live show is cancelled or reduced due to future pandemics , restricted travel or other unforeseen circumstances that force people to stay at home , then the show can still go on with just a few tweaks , albeit online , as the infrastructure , planning and strategy will already be in place .”
Adam : “ Live and virtual events each have their own strengths . A hybrid event can offer the best of both worlds to organisers . Nothing can replace the atmosphere and camaraderie that is generated when people are face-to-face in a room . But online event technology has future-proofed events , enabling people who can ’ t be there in-person , because of for instance , the current travel restrictions , to engage with the speakers and discussions .”
“ IF , FOR ANY FUTURE REASON THE LIVE SHOW IS CANCELLED OR REDUCED , THEN THE SHOW CAN STILL GO ON , AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE , PLANNING AND STRATEGY WILL ALREADY BE IN PLACE .”