Firstly, what is a hybrid event? Put simply, a hybrid event is an event that can have attendees both in-person and online. Although they’ve been possible for a long time, they became more common during the pandemic as things started opening up with restrictions on numbers for large events.
So, now restrictions are lifted and you can have as many attendees as you like, why bother hosting a hybrid event?
There are more benefits to this than you might think – keep reading to find out.
Unlimited Attendees
And in turn – unlimited ticket sales! This can have a huge impact on the revenue and profit of your event. Although it will cost you to ‘hybridise’ your event, after that initial cost you can continue selling tickets to online attendees without having to pay for extra venue space or catering.
In short – online attendees are ‘limitless’ AND they cost less!
In addition, online ticket sales can remain open until seconds before the event start time, unlike in-person tickets where you may need to leave a period between ticket sales ending and the event. Depending on your format, with a hybrid event you may even be able to keep selling tickets during the event for last minute revenue.
Going Global
Another huge reason to make your event ‘hybrid’ is removing limits on location. If you’re looking to reach a wider audience, what better way than to have them be able to attend your event anywhere in the world. When you can offer online tickets, you can open up your event to the whole world.
Content is King
Don’t let your event burn bright and fast – with a hybrid event you will have digital assets that you can keep using. This means you can really get the most out of your conference, product launch or activation. In a digital world, businesses need to be constantly producing content to keep up. Clips from your event can be used as marketing content.
Events that Keep Giving
Not only can hybrid, live streamed events become great content, but you can also continue making sales from them. Even long after they’ve happened. If your event becomes a recording, you can repurpose as a webinar or podcast and sell access to that recording for as long after the event as you like. This means you keep making money long after the event is over.
Data for Days
Hybrid events generate audience and attendee data. You can use this for future marketing, research and to improve your future events. Depending on what software you use, you can collect different insights into how your audience interacts with event content.
Planet Earth Friendly
Reduce the carbon footprint of your event by going hybrid. ‘Hybridising’ your event is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. With less people travelling to attend, the carbon emissions produced by your event can be kept to a minimum. This benefits the environment without compromising your revenue.
Inclusivity is Cool
Having a hybrid event can make space for inclusivity. Where you can reduce the cost of online tickets, people who may not otherwise have been able to attend now can. Even if you the cost of the ticket isn’t reduced – sometimes travel expenses are the difference between someone being able to afford to attend or not.
Another way your event will be made more inclusive if to those with disabilities who may not have been able to attend in person. A hybrid event is a more inclusive event.
In conclusion, a hybrid event can offer some fantastic benefits that will improve revenue, improve return on investment and create a more environmentally friendly and inclusive event.
If you’re curious about creating your own hybrid event, get in touch with us and we can talk through your options.