How can you facilitate online networking events like a pro?

One important consideration is ease of use and familiarity. Most individuals from corporate setting are well versed with Teams and the rampant use of Zoom post pandemic has made almost everyone familiar with it. Zoom is easy to use with added features like polls, breakout rooms etc. and also a convenient way to view all participants. Teams is slightly lagging in the interface parameter. Google Meet / Hopin / Remo - I am not sure how many are familiar with its smooth usage. But as tools, they should definitely be explored. The free version limitations versus paid version features can also be a deciding factor.

This is the make or break decision. For networking events, you don't need a collaborative meeting technology but a platform that can simulate the entire physical experience, online such as creating booths, having plenary or breakout discussions, networking lounges, business cards, virtual goodie bags etc. There are specialized platforms that organize that such as Hopin & Vfairs. I do not think Zoom or Google Meet are options for virtual conferences

Finding the right platform ??? is like finding the right physical room/venue ??? Connect Reading works across sectors, so landing on a platform that works for everyone proved challenging! Non-profits often favour Zoom(because we've found the nonprofit vsn of Teams to be slow & glitchy). Businesses & public sector services usually use Teams. Start-ups & some non-profits often use Google Meet. #TopTip ... use whatever helps you feel comfortable & in control. You need to monitor the space, admit people easily, create breakout rooms & use polls/surveys smoothly. So pick a platform where you feel like a pro! ?? PS personal pet peeve: 'dead air' when arriving in mtgs. Welcome ppl! Or use background ?? & invite ppl to introduce themselves!

The purpose is what drives the event and without a clear articulation of the purpose, it will very soon becomes a sales-marketplace where everyone is trying to 'sell' something (product, service, themselves, job seeking etc) with no one interested in 'buying' anything. Once purpose is defined, a clear time-bound agenda for the meeting helps everyone understand the start-end times and expectations. Many networking events have a clear start time and also an end time when the agenda ends but the networking doesn't. The meeting continues beyond that point with individuals having un-supervised open ended extended conversations with each other.

There is nothing like having a shadow run of the event before the event. Having a shadow-run of how you want it to run would let you see any shortcoming or other stuff that you have unintentionally left out. This can then be quickly addressed. It can also let youth know what minute/hour to allocate to each items or agenda so that it is evenly distributed to accomplish what you want it to achieve.

Building engagement is key to a great on-line session, where you unlock insights from your participants--that's what creates the magic and makes the virtual feel intimate, and expands the conversation. Being a great host, putting people at ease, welcoming them as they are (hair up, make up on or not, fresh from a run, or dressed for a meeting) can set the tone. We always ask "why here today, what drove your interest", and start making those connections immediately. Welcome latecomers into via the chat so they don't feel awkward. You want your audience to feel yet another hour on zoom is energizing, not exhausting!

1. Keep it short 2. Get all your tech in order during dry runs so you don't waste time when you start 3. Start with a bang. Introductions can come later. The maximum drop outs are in the first few minutes. Those that stay long probably forgot to exit :-) 4. Think of all the ways you can make it interactive and engaging. That's the key to any online event. If it is non-interactive, it might as well have been a video on some channel, or a podcast. 5. Define your objective, let your audience know that this is what you are targeting and then stick to it.