Online meetings are fairly new for a lot of us. Association professionals and event organizers have been shoved into a world where the in-person meetings we know so well have been turned upside-down and we’re all being forced to adapt and learn brand new tools and methods for bringing people together.
I’ve seen even the most engaging and creative associations struggle with hosting the meaningful networking activities we have come to expect during meetings.
After attending several virtual conferences this year, I have found that virtual networking often leaves something to be desired. We’re all learning, and doing our best to try new things, but I think this is one area in our industry where there is much room for improvement.
Before I begin, let’s agree that you’re at least using a video streaming service like Zoom or other tool to broadcast your content. In most of these tools, there’s already a chat component built in where attendees can introduce themselves and participate in the discussion guided by presenters. This is a great place to start, but still fails to create the meaningful connections your attendees expect from your event.
As an active networker and virtual event attendee, I’ve put together two simple tips you can incorporate in your next online meeting to help your attendees connect in meaningful ways.
We’ve been using event hashtags for years. In the absence of the hallway conversation and unplanned paths crossing, these hashtags are now more valuable than ever for people to connect where they are.
While people can connect in the chat during sessions or through social media, there’s still a pressing need for face-to-face engagement. I’ve seen a few organizations use breaks in the schedule for “networking time,” and even though it was well promoted, it was poorly attended.
Online meetings will continue to be a challenge for many event organizers who are still trying so many things for the very first time. I encourage you to embrace a spirit of experimentation, focus on your intentions, and embrace these new ideas that will help surprise and delight your attendees.
Join us with Map Dynamics' Alexis Simoneau, CAE and special guest Bruce Rosenthal of Bruce Rosenthal Associates to dive deeper...
Join us Tuesday, December 8th from 11:30am - 12:15pm ET as we host Scott Oser to discuss how to raise...
The Map Dynamics team invited our friend Teri Carden to talk about how to Pump Up the Crowd & Bring...
We've built tools for event managers to share statistics with their exhibitors and sponsors, add web-hooks to the registration process...
It's been years in the making and Map Dynamics is closing in on a beta launch of our new floorplan...
Do you believe you can recreate the energy and excitement of in-person events in an online environment? Would you believe...
The Map Dynamics team is proud to announce an official partnership with the Tennessee Society of Association Executives....
The global pandemic has forced industries across the globe to pivot and evolve to adapt to the “next normal”. However...
Our event analytics have been beefed up to provide more insight into attendee behavior following the launch of new attendee...