Virtual networking, how are you?

The biggest challenge, or let's say it directly: Difficulty of virtual events Is that networking. Casual and spontaneous conversations are less easy than during physical meetings. So how can we network virtually? At events, we have established specific rituals and forms of getting in touch with each other. A short spontaneous chat at the coffee stand, a discussion that continues on a small scale after the public panel, a brief exchange of ideas with the person sitting next to you. This is not possible with virtual events. In particular, when participants are forced to passively consume a stream or presentation or do not even attend the event at the same time because it is not live, virtual networking becomes impossible. In addition, insufficient server capacities sometimes prevent the upload of video data from all participants. Without the right tools, networking at virtual events will therefore be difficult. We must therefore adapt to new procedures if we want to make new contacts and network virtually at an online event. In addition to appropriate technical equipment, the following points are essential for virtual networks:

Topic & Moderation: The more specific the topic, the more specific the audience is and the greater the common intersections, i.e. also the potential for exchange. A professional moderator breaks up the event and structures the event. The purpose of the event is regularly formulated by moderators and participants are encouraged to interact. With smaller groups of participants, well-prepared moderators also know who they can bring together. For example, they can invite interest groups to come together by linking their LinkedIn or Xing profiles.

Encourage interaction. For online presentations, there should always be a chat function or the opportunity to prepare and reflect on the presentation in breakout sessions. Atmospheric images can be obtained via surveys. The results of the surveys can in turn be presented for discussion. In particular, a chat function gives participants the opportunity to get involved at a low threshold and also become virtually visible and make contacts.

Set rules: Communication rules must also be defined for virtual events. In a video circuit with many participants, the listeners' microphones must be muted. Only when you speak, turn on the microphone. In this way, interfering noises are avoided. Questions and comments can also be placed in the chat function. This is also the new place for an exchange with the “people sitting next to you.” Here, it is now possible not only to get in touch with the immediate neighbors, but also with the entire group of participants. The potential of finding the right contact person is thus multiplied. If there is an in-depth conversation, you can switch to a private chat.

Virtual is therefore more possible than expected; the dissolution of spatial boundaries even creates the potential for many more contacts, and interests and topics play a bigger role than chance. In this sense, virtual networking is more targeted and efficient when organizers ensure that participants are actively supported in their networks.