The global pandemic has decimated attendance for live, in-person meetings. As conditions improve, you may be ready to welcome everyone back. Unfortunately, they may not be ready to return. Upgrading your monthly meetings to a hybrid event model provides a way for you to welcome back your missing members.

The benefits go beyond your missing members. A hybrid event model extends your brand to new sources of prospects. It allows them to sample your member experience in a safe environment. It provides a window to your meeting venue. A properly produced hybrid event showcases the meeting and encourages prospects and missing members to return in--person once they feel comfortable.

Hybrid meetings are neither expensive nor complicated. Association leaders and membership experts agree that meetings with only in-person attendees barely break even. In my experience, remote attendees generate a 100% return on investment.

At first glance, producing a hybrid event appears complicated. It’s not. It simple requires a bit more planning, Here’s all it takes:

From You - a laptop, webcam and a Zoom account.

From the Venue - An Internet connection and a large screen tv.

From your Leadership - A goal of connecting those who attend in-person with those who attend remotely with a mission to be seen, heard and engaged.

That is all you need to produce a hybrid meeting.

Chad Meadows, Executive Vice President and COO of VyStar Credit Union recently said that they were expecting a hybrid workforce even after the pandemic. My research indicates hybrid events are here to stay, with a remote audience of between 25% and 35% of your current in-person headcount.

The math is pretty easy. Subtract your current in-person attendance to what it was a year ago. Double the difference to calculate your potential remote audience. Multiply by $10 to arrive at your increase in revenue. Hybrid events are profitable and one of the best ways to find your missing members.