What are some best practices for hybrid event production?

1 Define your goals and audience

Before you start planning your hybrid event, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and who you want to reach. What are the main objectives and outcomes of your event? Who are your target segments and personas? How do you want to communicate your value proposition and brand identity? These questions will help you shape your event strategy, content, format, and budget.

2 Choose the right platform and tools

One of the most important decisions for hybrid event production is selecting the right platform and tools that can support your event goals and audience needs. You need a platform that can seamlessly integrate your live and online components, such as streaming, chat, Q&A, polls, networking, and analytics. You also need tools that can enhance your production quality, such as cameras, microphones, lighting, and software. Do your research and compare the features, benefits, and costs of different options before you commit.

3 Design for engagement and interaction

A hybrid event is not just a live event with a webcam or an online event with a stage. It is a unique experience that requires a different approach to design and delivery. You need to consider how to engage and interact with both your in-person and online attendees, and how to foster a sense of community and connection among them. You can use various techniques, such as gamification, personalization, feedback, social media, and breakout sessions, to create an immersive and interactive event.

5 Promote and communicate your event

To attract and retain your attendees, you need to promote and communicate your event effectively. You need to create a compelling event website and landing page that showcases your value proposition, agenda, speakers, and registration details. You also need to use various channels, such as email, social media, blogs, and podcasts, to spread the word and generate interest and excitement. Moreover, you need to communicate with your attendees before, during, and after the event, to provide them with relevant information, reminders, feedback, and follow-up.

6 Measure and evaluate your event

The last but not least best practice for hybrid event production is measuring and evaluating your event performance and impact. You need to collect and analyze data from your platform and tools, such as attendance, engagement, satisfaction, retention, and conversion rates. You also need to solicit feedback from your attendees, speakers, sponsors, and partners, to understand their perspectives, opinions, and suggestions. These insights will help you assess your event success and identify areas for improvement.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?