Hybrid events are a combination of physical and virtual events. While hybrid events are being held in physical venues, audiences can participate virtually through live stream platforms and other online features making a far more streamlined event process. These hybrid events are gaining popularity due to the similarities with physical events and the ability to utilize virtual aspects.
Physical and virtual events are not the only options for organizers whilst holding events, as hybrid events can also be an alternative, even maybe the best solution. Several crucial factors cause hybrid events to become more popular in recent years, this blog post aims to discuss a few of those.
Reach your audiences around the world
To begin with, hybrid events allow organizers to reach a greater number of audiences and enable them to invite speakers from around the globe. According to our events industry report, 85% of event organizers in Asia will transition their events into a hybrid model after the pandemic. It is believed that more hybrid events would be seen in 2021 since they have found that virtual events bring numerous benefits to them. Attendees from all over the world can participate in the events as it is possible that the numbers of attendees in virtual events are more than that of in-person events since attendees can attend virtual events at any location meaning global exposure. This also allows organizers to invite more speakers to their events and may mean a higher engagement rate with your audiences.
Physical Elements like face-to-face interactions are still important
Hybrid events allow the face to face interactions as humans are social beings and physical interaction are still important to networking and building relationships. Based on our events industry report, 47 percent of our surveyees said that their virtual events from last year decreased in attendance compared to their physical events. Although the benefits of virtual events are still fully undetermined, event professionals have still yet to discover how to replace that human touch, with human interactions being such an integral part of networking, its presence within the event industry is going to be controversial. However, we can expect that a form of hybrid events consisting of both the best parts of a physical event and the global advantages of a virtual event will probably become the trend in the event industry in the future.
Why do you need to hold a hybrid event? In the following table, we have listed the advantages and disadvantages of organizing both events in easy to view format. This may help your decision on whether to hold in-person or hybrid events.
Comparison between in-person and hybrid events
| Physical | Hybrid | |
| Finance | Costs include venue, salary, traveling, food, and entertainment | The cost is lower since most of the audiences attend events virtually meaning companies can save on hotels, flights while organizers can save on venue costs. |
| Human resources | Speakers and staffs responsible for ensuring the fluency of the event in the physical venue | You may need staff who are more technically savvy to run the virtual aspect of the event |
| Interactions | Face to face interaction is the only option that allows audiences to communicate among themselves as they meet each other at a specific venue | In addition to the face to face interactions, a hybrid element allows you to speak and interact with audiences around the world |
| Lead Generation | Limitation in reaching audiences from different markets as audiences have to attend the venue in-person | Greater flexibility in approaching audiences from all over the world since they can attend the events at any location |
| Geographics | Limited attendees due to restriction in the size of venues and destinations | No limit and can attract audiences all around the world |
| Data collection | Record the data manually | Collect the data automatically and check event real-time performance |
The global pandemic has changed the world and has brought different experiences in the event industry. Hybrid events will be the future in 2021 since the advantages of hybrid events make for safer event hosting, as well as increased marketing exposure. Click here to learn more about the benefits of hybrid events!
Frequently-asked Questions about Hybrid Events
Q: What should I do if I am new to holding a hybrid event?
A: If you are new to hosting a hybrid event, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, it is important to determine the purpose of your event. Is it a fundraiser for a cause? Promote business growth? These are all important factors when determining what type of event you should host. Once you know the purpose of your event, you can start thinking about how to market and promote it. Hybrid events offer an opportunity to reach a large audience with little effort on your part. There are numerous online platforms and social media platforms that can be used to reach your target audience. Finally, make sure that all aspects of your event run smoothly. From setting up the space to ensuring that everyone has had enough food and drink, there is always something that can go wrong during an event.
Q: What are some steps for holding a hybrid event?
A: When planning a hybrid event, it is important to consider all of the components that make up the event. For example, what type of venue will be used? How many speakers will be featured? What type of food will be served? All of these factors need to be considered in order to create an event that is both successful and enjoyable for attendees.
Here are some suggested steps.
1. Choose a date that works well for both your guests and your event planning.
2. Decide on the type of hybrid car you would like to feature.
3. Contact local car dealerships to inquire about vehicle availability.
4. Develop a promotional schedule and advertisement campaign.
5. Coordinate with local media to spread the word about your event.
Q: What are some foreseeable challenges for a hybrid event?
There are a few challenges that come with running a hybrid event. One of the biggest is balancing the needs of both the attendees and organizers. This can be difficult when it comes to things like layout, timing, and content. Additionally, it can be tricky to keep everyone happy when there are different expectations for each group.
There are also logistical challenges that come with organizing a hybrid event. This includes making sure that everything runs smoothly both during the event itself and in terms of post-event cleanup. It's important to keep things as organized as possible so that everyone is on their same page, no matter what time of day or night it is.
Ultimately, it's important to have a plan for everything in order to make sure that a hybrid event goes off without a hitch.
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