Before COVID-19, one could say that in-person meetings appeared to be the only option. Now, after virtual meetings surged in popularity, how do we decide which meeting type is best for you and your business? A great place to start is by knowing your audience and your goals.
Here are some key questions to help guide you to knowing your audience and your goals:
Is your audience local or international?
Is your audience tech-savvy?
What kind of meeting is it? (Tradeshow, Product Launch, Roundtable, etc.)
What time and day are best for your audience to attend the meeting?
Creating an audience persona and knowing your goals can help answer some of these questions we need to choose the right meeting type for you. Now, lets go over what types of meetings are now available to choose from.
In-Person Meetings
In-Person Meetings are where attendees travel to a specific venue and are physically present at the meeting rather than through online communication. This was the main type of meeting that many would participate in until the COVID-19 outbreak occurred. After having to adapt to other options, many craved the in-person experience. Alternatively, meeting and event planners found there are now pros and cons to producing an in-person meeting. In-person meetings will always be an option, but is it the right option for you and your business?
Pros
Build meaningful connections
Helps be more focused on the topic presented
Can be more of an experience
Cons
Additional costs for travel
Must set aside more time to attend
Take the time for extra safety precautions
Virtual Meetings
Virtual Meetings have been around for a while but accelerated in popularity when it became the only option during the COVID-19 outbreak. It was a dramatic change in approach and for some, it was a challenge to adapt. It was almost as meeting planners had turned into television producers with all the audio/video that is involved. Undoubtedly, there was some good that came out of it. Virtual meetings are here to stay even with the return of in-person meetings.
Pros
People can attend from anywhere
More flexible with schedules
On-demand content to watch later
Cons
Crave in-person networking
Easier to get distracted by other things
Wi-Fi connection is unpredictable sometimes
Hybrid Meetings
Hybrid Meetings are when the attendees attend live, in-person while other attendees join remotely from anywhere. You basically get the benefits of both in-person and virtual meetings all tied into one. Knowing this, hybrid meetings are the future of meeting planning. They will continue improving to create impactful events, but it will take time and experience.
Pros
You get the benefits of in-person and virtual
Attendees can choose which experience they want
There are many approaches to producing a hybrid meeting
Cons
More moving parts to make it successful
Engaging attendees both in-person and virtual is challenging
It is a newer concept, so you need more time to learn how to make it successful
There is no right or wrong answer. All meeting types have their pros and cons. Rather, it is important to take the steps to know which meeting type is right for you, your business, and your audience. When you need to deliver a successful meeting, you need a partner who can deliver results. Whether in-person, virtual, or a hybrid, we have the knowledge and expertise to bring your vision to life.