We’ve completed more than half of the year 2021. By now, you’re probably considering throwing a hybrid event. However, one of your coworkers is sceptical (preposterous, we know). “Why?” they enquire. What makes you want to do a hybrid event? This is where you demonstrate them and explain the advantages of hybrid events, as well as the potential they provide for your company. Before we go into detail about the advantages of hybrid events, it’s important to understand how they differ from virtual events.

Hybrid vs. Virtual Events

Virtual Gatherings

Virtual events take place entirely online. They assist you in reaching a worldwide audience while also providing the entering audience with a new and immersive experience. Everything that is achievable in a real context may be simply replicated in a virtual environment. Consider the following scenario:

Webinars, seminars, and break-out sessions are all available. All activities including networking and talks between participants and exhibitors

Displays of products

They do, however, provide more than just an in-person event. Because the event is online, guests have access to a wealth of information, films, and other content. This item is available for a longer period of time and can be downloaded and kept.

Hybrid Events

On the other hand, hybrid events combine the best of both worlds. Some portions of the event are aired to a virtual audience while others are held in a physical place. The internet environment, on the other hand, allows you to:

host more exhibitors and guests than the physical area allow gamify your events with digital scavenger hunts, leaderboards, trivia, and more give the audience more flexibility and invite top-tier speakers to speak remotely

In addition, because hybrid events are flexible, in-person and virtual events can take place at the same time or even in succession. As the organiser and host, you have the last say. In addition to how the information will be made available, there is even more flexibility in terms of how you want the audience to interact, how you want exhibitors to engage, and how your guests may network with one another. Hybrid events come in a variety of shapes and sizes, all of which can help you find the ideal fit for your company.

What are Hybrid Events and How Do They Work?

The main purpose of a hybrid conference, or any other event, is to give attendees a consistent experience regardless of how they want to participate. Remote attendees can engage in live in-person events by watching them streamed live online. When attendees can directly interact with presenters and other attendees, this is a wonderful example of a hybrid event. They may not be in the same location as the in-person attendees, but that shouldn’t be an issue if you have the correct technology on your side.

Hybrid events are successful because all attendees have access to the same event content as well as equivalent opportunity to interact with presenters and other attendees. In-person and remote attendees, for example, can expand their networks by communicating via instant message or live video. The possibilities are virtually endless. Other hybrid event formats include those that include in-person activity hubs around the world and can accommodate virtual attendees. To put it another way, hybrid events can be used at any scale and in every context. According to Event Manager Blog’s research on the future of events, more than 70%-80% of event planners will use some type of hybrid event when the time comes.

What are the Benefits of Hybrid Events?

1. Best of Both Worlds 

Hybrid events offer the best of both in-person and virtual events. With both these worlds combined, audiences can experience social interaction while also accessing the virtual platform where you can host even more content, conduct games and activities in addition to creating cross-networking opportunities.

2. An increase in the number of people who know about the event and how many people show up.

The most common misunderstanding about hybrid events is that attendees must participate either digitally or in person, but not both. In truth, using a hybrid strategy allows your events to reach a larger audience. Even though an attendee would prefer to join in person, travel constraints may prevent them from doing so. However, if they can participate remotely, that is the next best thing.

Furthermore, whereas in-person locations can only accommodate a certain number of virtual attendees, there is virtually no limit to the number of virtual attendees you can have.

3. Sponsors will have more exposure as a result of the increased exposure.

Sponsors will profit from the additional reach that a hybrid event promises. They gain more brand exposure on not one, but two platforms, one of which is more long-lasting. Who can figure out which platform we’re referring to? Of course, it’s all virtual.

There is an opportunity to provide awareness both electronically and in-person with various tiered sponsorship packages. Sponsors can boost their potential reach and value by combining cross-media brand awareness with the chance to communicate with virtual and in-person attendees.

4. Lower Travel Expenses

If your organisation or exhibitors are footing the bill for attendees to travel to your hybrid event, this is a relatively cost-effective alternative for them. The in-person event will still be limited in terms of capacity and the number of people it can accommodate, which will help exhibitors and hosts save money on travel expenses.

5. Increased Audience Participation

Virtual guests can interact with presenters and other attendees, in the same manner, they would in person thanks to hybrid event technology. Virtual attendees can participate in video conferences, share and comment on content, and send live questions to presenters via the internet. Attendee at a hybrid event in her home office interacting with other onsite attendees

6. Exhibitors/Speakers’ Flexibility

We’re sure you already know that hybrid events are known for their flexibility. Speakers can readily participate in the event from wherever they are located, just as listeners can attend from anywhere in the world. They are not required to fly in or physically be present. This saves them both time and money while still allowing them to attend your event.

Exhibitors, too, can set up a virtual booth in the virtual exhibit hall if they are unable to present in person. They will not have to miss out on the experience because they are physically unable to go.

7. An increase in return on investment

Hybrid events’ broader reach and scalability attract more participants and sponsors, resulting in a significant increase in turnover. Because it’s easier to scale down in-person events while growing up your digital presence to reach a larger number of remote participants, the enhanced flexibility decreases financial risk.

8. Event Flexibility Increased

Many organisers are still on the fence about returning to in-person events, owing to the unprecedented disruption of recent times. If they have to be cancelled owing to an unforeseen catastrophe, such as a new pandemic wave, a volcano explosion, or anything else, the expenses will be huge.

Having a hybrid event platform to fall back on ensures you’re prepared for such unforeseen events. Putting all your eggs in one basket by relying solely on traditional live events, on the other hand, is a wonderful example of putting all your eggs in one basket.

9. Networking that is seamless

Virtual guests have access to live audio, video, and text chat options. They can utilise these to network with exhibitors and other attendees. You can also create chat rooms where in-person event attendees can communicate with online attendees. All of your participants can use the virtual platform to Within the event, look for attendees and exhibitors.

Depending on their interests, the review suggested users interact with

Ask questions and engage in conversation with you, your exhibitors, and other attendees,

Create or join a group chat room dedicated to a particular topic.

Organize and request meetings

10. Your Marketing Pipeline Will Be Boosted

If you’re in the event marketing business, a hybrid strategy makes perfect sense on all levels. Streaming your events ensures that all content is recorded for subsequent use, even if the majority of people attend in person. This implies that in-person guests will be able to see presentations and other content long after the event has ended.