Discover strategies for successful online networking events. From pre-event research to post-event follow-ups, learn how to create lasting business relationships in the virtual space with ivent’s platform.
Online networking events offer plenty of benefits for organisers, sponsors, and attendees alike.
However, one question remains: how can we build the same meaningful relationships at online events as we do at in-person ones?
Being online can make it harder to form those natural connections. Think about it — you’re grabbing a coffee in the canteen and bump into a keynote speaker. It’s relaxed, spontaneous, and the conversation flows without feeling forced.
At iVent, we completely understand how this can be a challenge when switching to virtual events, where everything tends to be more structured. Fortunately, there are many ways to create meaningful connections online — helping you open up new business opportunities and grow your network.
Let’s break it down into what you can do before, during, and after the event to make it a success for everyone involved.
As we’ve touched on, whether you’re an exhibitor, sponsor, or delegate, there are plenty of ways to make the most of virtual networking opportunities. Just because you’re connecting remotely doesn’t mean you can’t build meaningful relationships.
Let’s begin with what you can do before the event — because preparation is key.
Getting ready for the event is vital to its success. The same goes for in-person events — you should never just turn up and hope for the best.
By planning ahead and doing your research, you’ll feel more confident throughout. It’s a simple but powerful recipe for success — and means you won’t be flapping around at the last minute.
You should always know who else is attending the event so you can start reaching out to key people. The virtual event platform will show you who’s attending, which company they’re from, and their job role.
Check this a few days before the event and bookmark your dream list — the people you want to connect with — so you can research them in more detail. If you spot a promising business opportunity, you can schedule a meeting in advance and start preparing your questions.
You don’t want to go into a meeting blind. If it’s a valuable lead, doing your research beforehand is essential. Show them you’re genuinely interested — and that you’ve taken the time to understand who they are and what they do.
Before hosting any event, it’s crucial to choose the right virtual event platform. You don’t want a networking experience that feels impersonal or dull — it won’t encourage people to stick around, especially when leaving a virtual event is just a click away. Unlike in-person events, there’s less friction in exiting, so give attendees a reason to stay.
Modern platforms like iVent offer immersive online experiences that deliver real value to attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors alike. With features like ‘Meeting Manager,’ you can schedule meetings with up to 25 participants and share your screen to keep everyone focused. Delegates can also book their own meetings and connect instantly with others on the platform.
Practice makes perfect! Whatever you do, don’t go into a pitch full of ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’—it comes across as unprofessional and unprepared.
Practising your pitch before the virtual event will help you feel more confident and at ease. It allows you to refine your message and focus on what you want to say. As a result, you’ll be better able to engage in networking because you won’t be distracted by your own introduction.
This helps you form stronger, longer-lasting connections after the event. People appreciate being heard, and it’s easy to tell when someone’s mind is elsewhere. By being prepared, you can give others your full attention.
With iVent’s ‘Meeting Manager’, organising your meetings has never been easier. Before your virtual event begins, simply log in and check your day using ‘Today’s View’, which displays any meetings you’re hosting or attending.
You can filter meetings by location or search for ones that interest you. More details are available via ‘Go to Meeting Details’, where you’ll see how many participants are attending and when the meeting is scheduled—helping you decide which ones to join.
As an attendee, you can also view information about the meeting host, including who they are and links to their social media. This saves you time searching across different platforms, as everything you need is in one place. If you want to reach out directly, you can also message the host for a one-to-one chat.
This functionality gives you full control over your schedule and helps you choose the networking opportunities that suit you best. Not every session will be right for you, so this allows you to be selective and use your time wisely.
Now we’re into the heart of it! You’ve logged on and you’re part of the virtual event. So, how do you make the most of the unique opportunities that virtual networking has to offer?
Let’s dive in.
How can you truly understand someone’s business if you don’t ask questions? Most people enjoy talking about what they do — and by asking, you’re showing genuine interest. Just because you’re not in the same room doesn’t mean you can’t start a meaningful conversation.
Virtual event platforms should support a variety of formats to help delegates and exhibitors connect. Features like live chat and video chat make it easy to come together and discuss shared interests. At iVent, we understand that keyboard fatigue is real — and sometimes, it’s just better to put a face to a name. That’s where video chat really shines, adding a personal touch that text can’t match.
Delegates can also arrange one-to-one meetings to dive deeper into specific discussions. Meanwhile, admins and exhibitors can host group calls for more targeted networking, with the ability to control who joins each session. This ensures conversations remain relevant and productive.
A virtual lounge is a great way for like-minded individuals to come together and share ideas in a more relaxed, informal setting. Maybe a presentation has just wrapped up and attendees have burning questions or fresh insights they’re eager to discuss with others in the industry.
That’s where the virtual lounge comes in — offering delegates and exhibitors the chance to network between sessions without it feeling forced. So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and enjoy some healthy conversation. Best of all? You don’t even have to leave your seat.
One of the biggest challenges when shifting from in-person to virtual events is recreating the spontaneous networking moments — those chance encounters in hallways, coffee queues, or post-event socials. A virtual lounge helps replicate that casual atmosphere where real connections happen.
You can jump into group discussions, take part in live polls, comment on hot topics, or ask if anyone has experience in a particular area. These conversations can naturally lead to one-to-one meetings where you can explore ideas in more detail.
With iVent, you can set up multiple lounges or topic-based chat rooms. This makes it easy to find and join discussions that match your interests — and connect with others who share your goals.
Gamification involves introducing games into other areas of an activity to increase participation. Essentially, by adding games to your virtual event, you give people a reason to contribute in exchange for ‘winning’ points or a prize. And let’s be honest — who doesn’t like a bit of healthy competition?!
Gamification examples include badges, trophies, points, ranking systems, and leaderboard templates. These games are highly effective because, by nature, games are addictive and engaging. Everyone wants to win, and they love the thrill of beating their colleagues and teammates.
This is a great way to facilitate successful networking, as gamification is a fantastic icebreaker.
All too often, people can feel awkward about reaching out to one another or starting a conversation. However, this technique injects some fun into your online networking and can be a great way to connect with other businesses in a more light-hearted format.
Virtual event booths are the equivalent of physical exhibition stands you see at trade shows or festivals — only better! With a fully branded, customised booth, it’s easy for exhibitors and sponsors to connect with delegates. Plus, there’s so much more you can offer than at an in-person booth…
From integrating your social media links to uploading unlimited resources for your delegates, you can really impress your visitors. A virtual event booth isn’t drab or generic — it’s not built from a one-size-fits-all template. It includes all the functionality you could need, along with a range of interactive features designed to help expand your network.
If you know a promising prospect is attending your virtual event, reach out and invite them to your booth. Or, send them an invite for a video chat to kickstart the conversation. The choice is yours.
Are you ready to get started?
Online networking can also be leveraged during a presentation, allowing you to engage and collaborate with other attendees while the session is taking place.
This enables you to explore a topic in the moment, while the information is still fresh in your mind. As a host, you can take advantage of tools like screen-sharing, whiteboards, polls, quizzes, and live chat to engage attendees in a variety of ways.
You also have the option of a multi-presenter view if you’re hosting a panel discussion. This allows multiple presenters from across the globe to appear on screen at the same time, creating the feeling of everyone being in the same room. Attendees can use the live chat to ask questions throughout — or you can even bring them on screen to boost engagement further.
iVent’s ‘Meeting Manager’ isn’t just useful before your virtual event — it’s a powerful tool throughout the event (and even after, as we’ll explore in the next section).
With the ‘Instant Meetings’ feature, online networking is transformed. Delegates can see who’s online and invite them to a one-to-one video chat — no setup required. The clue is in the name: the meeting is instant. Simply use the ‘Who’s Here’ functionality to find someone you’d like to connect with, click a button, and start chatting right away.
You can also schedule meetings in advance with ease, thanks to a system designed both intuitively and flexibly. Meeting configuration lets you choose how much control to delegate to the system or keep for yourself — putting you firmly in the driving seat.
From your ‘Meeting Details’ screen, you can view key information like the meeting time, agenda, and location. This allows attendees to understand the context before joining, so they get maximum value from the session.
Need to make a change? No problem. You can edit or cancel meetings at any time using the ‘Options’ tab, which automatically updates all attendees — helping to keep your event running smoothly.
The beauty of virtual events is that they’re never truly over. While the live event may come to an end and everyone logs off, your networking efforts shouldn’t stop there. To get the most out of your virtual event, it’s important to continue nurturing leads afterward.
With the iVent platform, this couldn’t be easier.
You can quickly find people you want to connect with and add them to your network. Even if you didn’t get the chance to chat during the event, you can build a list of key contacts to follow up with later. Time can easily slip away during a busy virtual event, so having the flexibility to revisit and reconnect at your convenience is a major advantage.
Now, let’s explore some best practices for continuing your networking after the event ends.
Social media should be your go-to when it comes to online networking. This is a very valuable tool and is an excellent way of keeping in touch with attendees long after the virtual event. Make sure you follow up with leads – even if this is just a simple message on LinkedIn.
Most virtual events have their own hashtags which will be advertised in welcome packs and on their website. Make sure you join in the conversation and use these hashtags whenever you’re talking about the event, whether that’s sharing your feedback about a presentation or discussing a product demonstration.
Data and analytics are invaluable when it comes to hosting a virtual event. Not only do they help you measure success, but they also allow you to craft even better events in the future based on real insights.
When it comes to networking, exhibitors and hosts can access attendee data long after the event has ended. So if you ran out of time and missed a networking opportunity — don’t worry! You can simply log back into the platform and pick things up where you left off. As mentioned earlier, the iVent platform lets you add ‘connections’ you can follow up with at your convenience — perhaps at a time that works better for both parties.
Event admins also have visibility into where attendees joined from, helping you identify and explore new geographic markets you might not have considered. This expands your networking reach and opens the door to global opportunities.
As a host, once your meeting has ended, you’ll have access to a range of useful statistics — including meeting duration.
You can also access meeting recordings, which are incredibly helpful when planning future virtual events and refining your content. Watching the meeting back allows you to spot which topics really resonated with your audience. Perhaps a specific part of your pitch sparked a lot of questions — this insight can help you improve and build on your networking strategy moving forward.
Recordings are also handy when demonstrating a product to different prospects. Instead of repeating yourself each time, you can simply reuse the content. Plus, there’s always someone who can’t make it on the day — so having a recording means they can still access the information they need.
Online networking events offer exhibitors, sponsors, and delegates countless opportunities to meet new people and grow their network. Still, it’s completely normal to feel sceptical about whether virtual events can build the same meaningful relationships as in-person ones.
But by using the tips above as a checklist, you can confidently engage with new businesses — even if you’re not in the same room. A computer screen shouldn’t be a barrier to forging valuable, lasting connections.
At iVent, we’re experts in virtual events.
From online networking events and virtual careers fairs to product launches and global conferences, our platform is built to do it all. We take pride in working closely with every client to create outstanding online experiences that exceed expectations.
We know that successful virtual events aren’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why we tailor every platform to suit your goals and engage your audience.
We’ve already helped many clients transform their online networking experience — could you be next?
Get in touch with our team to find out more.
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