In the digital era, it’s not just in-person events that are popular anymore! We’re also talking about virtual events and sometimes even hybrid events (don’t panic, we’ll explain what they are below).
And when it comes to philanthropy, each event type has pros and cons. To help clarify your options, we’ll share some of our observations.
A hybrid event, what does that even mean?
Hybrid events are rapidly gaining popularity, but it’s essential to consider that they are still a mystery to many. So if you’re organizing one, you’ll want to keep that in mind. This format grew significantly during the pandemic, and with the rise of telecommuting—accompanied by a marked exodus to the suburbs and rural regions, they are here to stay.
A hybrid event includes both face-to-face participants and a remote audience. This means participants can join the on-site audience remotely via video conferencing or any other web application. This allows you to:
- Reach more people
- Ensure better participation
- Minimize last-minute cancellations
As we like to say: adapt, grow, and raise even more money!
Benefits of hybrid events
Hybrid events offer a variety of benefits and are becoming increasingly popular for fundraising activities.
For example, a Followmybid virtual auction can be organized as an extension of a golf tournament or a classic spaghetti dinner.
The face-to-face activity can either kick off the auction, which will continue afterward, or be the culmination of the fundraiser to celebrate its success.
You could also host:
- A prize-giving ceremony
- A ranking of the tightest battles to win an item
- A recognition of the people who have bid the most
- A thank you speech from the organizing committee
- Or anything else you can think of!
Don’t forget to offer Wi-Fi so that attendees can bid in real-time. Some organizations even make tablets available to log in and place bids.
Followmybid’s assistant feature also allows you to designate people to bid for those who can’t do it on their own. In other words, even at technology-focused events, we don’t abandon our friends who don’t have a smartphone or can’t connect to Wi-Fi (yes, we’re that nice)!
Reach a larger audience
One of the main advantages of hybrid events is that it becomes ultra-easy to reach a lot more people.
Without the logistical burden of travel or on-site accommodations, simply send out virtual invitations and bingo! All your tech-savvy people will be connected right on time. On the other hand, local participants who don’t like online activities or who are not fans of technology can attend in person and enjoy a live event.
In so doing, you can reach a much wider audience in Quebec, Canada, or even internationally!
Flexibility is key to your success
Another big advantage of this format is that it is easy to adapt it to the day’s needs. Since the activity has two parts, you can effortlessly prioritize one or the other, depending on conditions, or adapt the link between the two.
Most importantly, in the case of an emergency (health, weather, or other: life is full of surprises!), no postponement is necessary! The event can quickly end up 100% online if needed.
The downside of hybrid events
However, one should always remember the main advantages of in-person events: direct interaction and networking. Promoting both elements is possible, but it’s always a bit more challenging, especially when bridging the gap between on-site audiences and participants connected remotely.
Know how to adapt and overcome
To host hybrid events, you need to understand technology. If you’re the type of person who spends two hours figuring out how to open your email inbox, you’ll probably need a little help!
On the bright side, we’ve got your back. The Followmybid platform is straightforward for organizing online auctions, even for people who were not born with a computer mouse in their hand. You just have to plan the in-person portion of the event (and we know you’re already good at that), and you’re done!
We will take care of:
- Invitations
- Inscriptions
- Bids
- Donations
- Contacts
- Reminders
- Partner visibility
- And much more
You will also need to be prepared for all sorts of unforeseen details: live video, sound problems, unstable Internet connection, etc. Good organization and a range of backup plans will most likely be the key to your success!
It’s more difficult to catch people’s attention from a distance
It is much easier to capture the attention of a packed house than to keep people entertained when they’re alone in their living room with a bag of popcorn on their lap and all kinds of distractions at hand.
It is really important to make the event dynamic and interactive by replacing human contact with a virtual alternative. That’s why Followmybid has set up a panoply of fun automated notifications to keep everyone engaged and encourage more bidding.
Create a link between audiences
Although participants at the venue are far from ignored, it’s important to showcase the presence of remote participants to make the event even more special to them.
Find a creative way to establish communication between people at home and the audience in the room. Show individual faces and the crowd through the camera, or simply opt for indirect interactions to remind audiences that they are part of a bigger group.
The good news is that you can do this with the big-screen feature offered by Followmybid. Simply connect the screen to a computer and open the link to display the latest bids and real-time advancement toward the goal. Everyone will be captivated by the bidding progress, and in addition to drawing attention to each of your items, it’ll show how many people are bidding remotely.
Wanna give it a try?
If you want to organize an interactive auction in hybrid mode, tell us about your next fundraising activity and we’ll get back to you soon with our easy and effective solutions!
