How Live Streaming Supports Hybrid Events

Live streaming events have grown in popularity in 2020, mainly because of their ability to connect with an audience from any physical location on top of their potential to reach wider audiences. Since the pandemic, live stream events have grown exponentially and they’re not slowing down any time soon.

What is live streaming?

Live streaming the practice of broadcasting event video live, as it is taking place providing virtual attendees access to the experience in real-time. Live streaming event formats typically offer exclusive access to content as it is released to the general public. Streaming is great for building excitement for well anticipated events like a live concert, product launch reveals or sporting events. And, live streaming is ideal for audiences who don’t have the option to travel to the location or when the venue capacity is full.

As cities and countries around the world are easing up on gathering restrictions, event organizers are beginning to offer in-person events with limited attendance alongside the option to attend them in virtual environments. For many of these events, live streaming has become the preferred alternative to in-person and has actually helped to improve hybrid events in many ways.

In this article, we will discuss the top 6 ways live streaming supports hybrid events.

1. Interact with your virtual audience

People attend events to interact with others in their industry or areas of expertise. This is why by supplementing virtual attendee interaction with various opportunities to provide feedback throughout the viewing experience enhances the experience and creates demand for future events. Unify the virtual audience into the in-person experience through structured interactions.

Here are a few additional ways to create simple interactions for the folks at home:

• Ask trivia questions throughout the event
• Test knowledge after each session with a pop quiz
• Poll attendees between sessions

2. Create FOMO (fear of missing out)

Anticipation builds leading up to any live event. Live streaming an event is great for the surprise factor. So, if you are launching a product or revealing new technology streaming is a great way to make an announcement to everyone all at once. Attendees no longer need to be there in-person to experience every moment. With live streaming, virtual attendees are there, front and center.

While the live event may have unique experiences such as a confetti drop, pyrotechnics or surprise celebrity guest. You can create an excitement formula for the live-streaming attendees by interacting with them live as if they were in-person participants.

Tips to engage remote attendees in a live-streaming event:

• Select a handful of virtual attendees to join live on screen
• Allow attendees to communicate through a live chat to share their ideas and enthusiasm for the event
• Create a countdown to the launch of the event – tease or provide clues around the surprise moment

3. Build a personal connection

For many organizers, creating engaging virtual events continues to be a challenge. Instead, use live video to your advantage. Create a more personal connection between the presenter and audience by addressing them directly into the camera, as if you were talking directly to them. And, allow viewers to answer back on screen through a conversation-style experience.

Keep the virtual audience engaged by providing this sense of community. This will improve repeat attendance and help create advocates that are likely to recommend the event to their networks.

Here a few additional tips:

• Analyze and discuss the poll results
• Give feedback and answer questions asked virtually
• Set up a camera for on-stage closeups

4. Get real time feedback

Request feedback from the virtual audience. Then allow the virtual audience to have a collective voice at the event by posting the feedback immediately. Use this feedback to create a sense of community around the event. You will also build trust through this transparency and authenticity. Adjust the conversation in real time based on the audience feedback. Use this valuable input to make improvements on future events.

Consider the following tips:

• Organize surveys or polls, sprinkle them throughout the event
• Offer feedback on the results and encourage attendees to participate
• Create a feeling of connection between you and the attendees

5. Grow your audience potential

Not everyone can meet at the same place at the same time, especially during a health crisis. Live streaming your event enables organizations to reach a broader audience that might not be able to make the trip to the physical event. Streaming the event ensures everyone can attend even as restrictions on travel or gathering limitations change leading up to the event.

Concerned that live streaming will reduce physical attendance? Live streaming an event has been known to create raving fans as well as demand for the in-person event. The NFL is a good example of that. Another example of event growth comes from the highly anticipated music and art festival, Coachella. This massive multi-weekend event typically sells out within a matter of days. But in 2012, after streaming the previous year’s event online, the festival sold out in just three hours! It continues to see high-demand years later.

The bottom line is, live-streaming offers attendees the option to view the event without having to be there physically. Yet for organizers, live streaming can help build awareness and grow demand for the in-person event in the future.

Further tips for growing the audience:

• Add details on the event such as the agenda, topics, and speakers
• Create a structure of gamification and award the winners during the event
• Capture behind-the-scenes footage, testimonials or Q&A sneak-peaks to promote future events

6. Separate your organization from your competitors

Streaming a live event is a bold move for bold organizations. Leverage it as a marketing tactic to grow market share or just make a statement. Be the first in your industry to live stream your event. Consider a white label video streaming solution that you can customize and host on your own website. Either way, leverage hybrid events to grow your audience and engage virtual attendees through live-streaming.

Bonus Tip: Monetize content after the live event. Engaging with your audience doesn’t have to end with your live event. Connect year-round with your community by selling on-demand access to individual sessions through a digital library of your event content.

Final thoughts

In today’s world, where nearly half of the population uses online tools, live-streaming has the potential of growing virtual attendance as well as in-person tickets. Global adoption of virtual events is effectively helping organizations extend their reach and accelerate growth.