Hybrid events are in boom and a lot of organizers these days are choosing hybrid events over virtual and in-person events because hybrid events can provide the benefits of both virtual and in-person events.
But when you are hosting a hybrid event one of the most important decisions you have to make is regarding a hybrid event platform. Most of the time a lot of organizers get confused about hybrid platforms. Selecting an event platform is a crucial task and to make it simple we have listed some of the features that a hybrid event platform must have. Learning about these features will help you better understand which platform you should choose.
Feature To Look For In Hybrid Event Platform
1. Easy Event Registration
Registration is the crucial step for any event be it onsite event registration or online. Choosing a platform that offers event registration will be beneficial for you. During a hybrid event, hybrid event registration can be done online and onsite also. So look for a platform that has both options available.
A platform that offers registration should also store all the data that the audience shares during the registration process. Various platforms can also help you create a different landing page for your event registration process. Some platforms can also help you with branding during the registration process.
2. Digital Ticketing Option
Digital ticketing for events is another feature to look for when you are selecting a hybrid event platform. When you are hosting a hybrid event some of your audience will be registering for an online event and they will also register for the event online in that case, you will need a platform that will provide E-tickets.
Some of the platforms offer the features of E-ticket and these platforms can also manage the RSVP of the events. Go for a platform that will provide offers not just registration but also ticketing features because otherwise you will need a separate platform to generate online tickets and it can be a difficult task to manage multiple platforms at the same time.
3. Engagement Tools
Audience engagement is vital for the success of any event be it virtual, in-person, or hybrid. Keeping your online audience engaged during the event can be a task in the case of hybrid events. For an online audience, there are a lot of distractions in their surroundings.
So it becomes crucial that the hybrid events platform you select has digital capabilities that capture the audience’s interest and improve their interaction.
When you are choosing a hybrid platform here are some engagement tools that should be available on the platform
- Chatbox
- Live Polls
- Question & Answer Feature
- Networking Tables
- Gamification
- Voting System
4. Provide Insights
For calculating the aftermath of an event insights into the events will play a vital role. To know how your event performed you will need to analyze the insights of the event. Look for a platform that provides the feature of data collection and analysis.
Analytics is also a useful tool that helps in calculating the ROI of an event by providing a detailed breakdown of the data. The platform that you are choosing should provide you following information related to analytics
- Engagement rate
- Revenue Tracking
- Attendance Rate
- How audience were interacting
- The number of people who left before the event ended
- And other necessary information according to your preferences and goals for the event.
Always choose a platform that offers real-time event analytics.
5. Customizable Interface
Another important question that you should ask is the platform that you are choosing provides you customization options. When you are planning a hybrid event, you want to make the event as customized as possible according to your client needs.
The platform should include capabilities that make it possible to integrate and promote the client’s brand and raise awareness of their goods or service.
Checking whether the event platform provides customizable themes, customizable banners, placeholders, and customizable labels at key locations in their app, website, and software would be a smart idea.
There is no substitute for a live demo while selecting a platform for a hybrid event, as it will give you an idea about the platform’s looks and feels. And you will be able to customize the interface according to the event requirements.
6. Easy To Use
The hybrid platform that you are selecting for your event should be easy to use. You should not go for a platform that is complicated as it is not only difficult for you to understand and access it, it is complicated for your audience and you can lose your audience too.
Even though this should be a very obvious feature to look for, still a lot of organizers and organizations overlook this while selecting a hybrid event platform. But you should always consider a platform that is easy to use.
The platform you can choose should provide easy online event registration, navigation, ticketing, etc. to make the experience of your audience flawless.
7. Security And Privacy
Security and privacy is the crucial issue for any organizer and platform. Because you will share information and all the data of your participants will also be available on the platform it becomes necessary to choose a platform that provides a safe.
The protection of the personal data that participants and other stakeholders give to event organizers is their duty. Furthermore, regulations like the GDPR and CCPA that require stringent compliance apply to this information. Data encryption and strong authentication are therefore crucial, and security and privacy must be built into the platform from the beginning.
The event platform should have tools that make it simple to handle safety and security. For instance, the platform should have tools that let administrators monitor who has access to what parts of the system.
8. Flexible Pricing
Price is the factor that will help you choose the event platform. At present, there are various incredible hybrid event platforms available in the market. Pricing of any platform is crucial, choosing a platform that offers flexibility in its pricing can help you stick to the budget.
Hybrid event platforms are frequently available with different price ranges for your event. Select a hybrid event platform that provides you with pricing freedom through its various options (and features). For the best results, pick the one that offers the most for your money.
Key Takeaway
Choosing a hybrid event platform is crucial since it enables organizers to manage all aspects of their events from a single platform while serving people from various demographics at the same time. Organizers can save time and money while broadening their audience by utilizing a hybrid platform. To make the most of your events, it is essential to consider the characteristics listed in this article before selecting a hybrid event platform.