Asynchronous Hybrid Events: The Next Big Trend in Events

Over the past year or so, hybrid event platforms have really transformed the experience for hosts and visitors alike. You no longer have to compromise between the benefits of physical and virtual events. The hybrid format makes things easier for everyone. 

Asynchronous hybrid events add a whole new dimension to this ease. They are the future of the event industry, especially on a global scale. 

What is An Asynchronous Hybrid Event?

An asynchronous hybrid event is one where the in-person and virtual aspects take place at different times. You can upload and broadcast the happenings at the event a little after they take place in real-time, or you can hold live sessions again for your remote attendees. The prime benefit of this format is that you can give complete attention to both your in-person attendees and virtual attendees. That means more engaging discussions and Q&A sessions, and less troubleshooting at events too.   

Asynchronous hybrid events are a form of hybrid events where the in-person and virtual events take place at different times.

Sometimes, asynchronous hybrid events mean hosting the same event twice. But it’s worth it. Let’s see how. 

Why Should You Host One?

There are many advantages of hosting asynchronous hybrid events. They are an excellent development in the event industry and have a lot to offer for everyone involved. 

1. Overcome Coordination Challenges

One of the biggest challenges of traditional hybrid events is making sure things are running simultaneously. This can be quite inefficient and various technical glitches may occur. In addition, viewers may not have the internet speeds to keep up with the live event, so they may miss out. 

With an asynchronous event, you can rest easy with these headaches. You don’t have to constantly confirm if the event is streaming in sync. In addition, there is less technical expertise involved. 

2. Make Material Available On-Demand

With non-synchronized hybrid events, you make material available on demand. Your seminars and discussion materials can be pre-recorded and uploaded to the event. Then, your visitors can access them at their own convenience. 

This also reduces the hassle of organizing live videos and discussions. Instead of dealing with technical issues, you can create the best possible content for your audience to watch later. Furthermore, you can update the content or topics if there are any changes. This will help you keep your visitors up to date.  

3. Have Deeper Discussions

An asynchronous hybrid event gives visitors more time to absorb information. They can take their time to go through pre-recorded and uploaded content. Then, they can make notes and figure out what they want out of any discussion. 

This preparation lets people have deeper and more productive discussions. In addition, they let you highlight the information you want to convey in a more clear and more comprehensive way. 

4. Carry On Audience Interest Post-Event

When you host an asynchronous hybrid event, you can keep the audience interested throughout. You can use the uploaded content to generate conversations around your organization even well after the event. 

This is because you can leave the event up for a while without having to go live and bringing speakers on. Then, you can even take the event conversations to social media and other platforms. 

5. Maximize Your ROI

When you have an asynchronous event, you can broadcast your in-person presentations later, and also make them available on-demand. This way, you can give your audience the option to offer feedback whenever they see the content. 

In addition, you can add a CTA link that directs viewers to solutions related to their frequently asked questions. So, you can maximize your ROI by getting feedback, leads, and other benefits in the short and long run.  

How Can You Host An Asynchronous Hybrid Event?

Once you know the benefits of asynchronous hybrid events, you obviously want to know how you can host one of your own. These events are not as complex to arrange as you may think. With the right set of tools and planning, you can create an event your participants will appreciate for ages. Just follow a few simple steps. 

1. Decide Your Budget

First, figure out the budget you can allocate. Then, create a proper spending plan, to split the expenses into arrangement costs, technology costs, marketing costs, and so on. 

2. Make an Event Plan

Now, you need to create an event plan, complete with the agenda. This plan should include event goals, days, timings, and all sessions involved. At this point, you should also decide what aspects you’ll host virtually and what will happen in person, along with their timings. This plan should heavily focus on audience needs. So, segment your target audience by interest and availability. Then, decide how you can tailor your content to each segment. This is also where you decide what aspects you’ll host virtually and what will happen in person. 

3. Choose Your Platform

Next, choose the event hosting platform which is capable of all these solutions. Make sure it has the features you need and is able to let you host a successful event. In addition, you need to ensure the customer service is impeccable. 

4. Invite Speakers

Once you’ve made the initial arrangements, invite your speakers and guests. See who can attend physically and who’ll be participating online. Make sure your final agenda posted online reflects these various sessions. In addition, if speakers can’t make it on the actual event days, you can pre-record their sessions, and then broadcast them at a time of your choice. This lets you expand and improve your speaker list. 

5. Invite Attendees

Now, you can actually invite the attendees. Send out invites with all the necessary event details and registration information. Also send reminders to people a few days before the event, so that they know when to log in. In addition, you can also have them download your mobile event app at this point so that they can simply enter immediately on the day of the event. 

6. Market Your Event

You need to get the word out about your event. For that purpose, your marketing should cover multiple platforms. From social media to email inboxes, reach out to your target audience with personalized messaging and timely reminders. Make your event as exciting and engaging as possible to get the best results. For marketing tips, read the hybrid event marketing guide.

7. Gather Insights

Use your event as an opportunity to collect intelligent data insights. You can collect these at registration, during the event, and even after the event. These can help you plan your next event and can even help your ROI in the long run with improved sales and marketing strategies. 

Conclusion

To sum up, asynchronous events are quite beneficial in a variety of ways. They are more convenient and less expensive than conventional hybrid events. They’re also more engaging and let the visitors retain more information at their own convenience. Therefore, you should host your own asynchronous hybrid event soon.