Here’s Our Guide on How to Support Virtual Networking for Your Events

Networking is a major reason people attend events. But making it work in a virtual or hybrid setting isn’t always simple. You can’t rely on chance meetings or casual hallway chats. You need the right tools, good planning, and a little creativity.

Whether you’re running a large online conference or a small hybrid workshop, helping people connect is key. It can turn one-time attendees into loyal fans and even future partners.

In this EventsAir guide, you’ll learn simple and effective ways to support virtual networking before, during, and after your event. Plus, we’ll show you how EventsAir offers convenience in one powerful platform.

What is virtual networking?

Virtual networking is the intentional process of helping attendees connect and interact during a virtual or hybrid event. It mirrors the value of in-person relationship-building through digital tools and structured engagement opportunities.

Industry data strongly supports its impact: 76% of virtual event attendees are willing to connect and engage in online activities. Also, virtual events can boost lead generation by 60% and deliver a 2.8× higher ROI compared to physical events.

With platforms like EventsAir, organizers can tap into this potential by setting up virtual lounges, facilitating one-on-one video meetings, and using preference-driven matchmaking to connect attendees, all under one roof.

Common features of virtual networking include:

• Breakout rooms and roundtables
• Direct messaging and video chat
• Group discussion forums
• Gamified networking challenges
• Interest-based matchmaking

Whether you’re hosting a global summit or virtual training, networking is the catalyst that transforms passive viewers into engaged participants and nurtures long-term connections.

How to support virtual networking opportunities at your virtual and hybrid events

1. Encourage networking before the event begins

Networking shouldn’t wait until your event goes live. Give attendees a head start by setting up ways for them to connect in advance. This builds momentum and makes first-time interactions much easier online.

Some simple ways to kick things off are:

• Send a welcome email with a link to build their profile
• Let attendees select interests or topics they care about
• Match people with shared goals or roles
• Open discussion forums or chat channels a few days early

With EventsAir, you can set up pre-event matchmaking surveys and attendee directories that help people connect before the first session starts. These early touchpoints make live networking smoother and more valuable.

2. Enable preference-based networking matches

Leaving networking to chance can result in missed opportunities. With EventsAir, you can facilitate purposeful connections using preference-based matchmaking. This feature allows planners to configure meeting suggestions based on shared interests, industries, or attendee roles.

Attendees can indicate their networking preferences during registration, and EventsAir uses that data to help surface relevant matches and enable pre-scheduled one-on-one or group meetings. Rather than hoping for chance encounters, attendees can explore curated networking suggestions via the mobile app or Meeting Hub, making every interaction more intentional and valuable.

Key matchmaking criteria could include:

• Industry and company size
• Job function and seniority level
• Professional interests and challenges
• Geographic location for hybrid events
• Networking preferences and availability

To make it work:

• Collect attendee data during registration (interests, industry, objectives)
  
• Set clear matchmaking rules (e.g., role-based or topic-based)
  
• Allow attendees to review and accept match suggestions (with EventsAir, we have a dedicated portal where attendees can update and manage their preferences and meeting diary) 

When networking feels more relevant, people are more likely to engage and return for future events.

3. Create a virtual meeting hub and breakout rooms

Virtual meeting hubs replicate the casual conversation spaces that make in-person events so valuable. These always-on networking areas give attendees a place to drop in, chat, and build relationships between sessions.

Design themed hubs around specific topics, industries, or interests. For example, a tech conference might have separate rooms for AI, cybersecurity, and startup discussions. This helps people find their tribe quickly.

For hybrid events, connect your virtual hubs with physical networking areas. Remote attendees can join conversations happening at the venue, while in-person participants can network with global virtual attendees.

Ways to make these spaces work:

• Set up themed lounges (e.g., by topic, industry, or role)
  
• Offer open hours or drop-in times between sessions
  
• Use video or audio chat to make interactions more natural
  
• Assign moderators to keep conversations flowing

These casual environments make networking feel less forced and more human, no matter where attendees are joining from.

4. Enable one-on-one video meetings

Some of the best networking happens in private conversations between two people. Make it easy for attendees to hold one-on-one video meetings and live chat directly within your event platform.

Build scheduling tools that show availability and let people book 15-30 minute slots with each other. Include calendar sync so meetings appear in personal calendars with automated reminders.

For hybrid events, allow in-person attendees to schedule virtual meetings with remote participants. This breaks down location barriers and creates more networking opportunities for everyone.

Essential meeting features include:

• Integrated video calling with a reliable connection
• Screen sharing for presentations or demos
• Meeting recording options for important discussions
• Note-taking tools or follow-up contact sharing

EventsAir’s video meeting integration eliminates the need for external tools like Zoom or Teams, keeping everything within your event ecosystem for a seamless user experience.

To help maintain these new connections beyond the event, you can send automated follow-up emails after meetings with contact details and conversation summaries.

5. Gamify the networking experience

Event gamification transforms networking from an awkward obligation into an engaging activity that attendees actually want to participate in. Points, badges, and leaderboards motivate people to make connections and stay active.

Create networking challenges that reward specific behaviors. For example, you can award points for completing profile information, making new connections, joining a virtual meeting hub, or attending networking moments. For hybrid events, include both virtual and in-person activities to engage all attendees equally.

Popular gamification elements include:

• Connection challenges (meet 5 new people, earn a badge)
• Session participation rewards (ask questions, join discussions)
• Profile completion bonuses for detailed attendee information
• Social sharing incentives for posting about the event
• Scavenger hunts that encourage booth visits or content engagement

EventsAir’s gamification features automatically track networking activities and award points, making it easy to run complex challenges without manual oversight.

You can display real-time leaderboards showing top networkers. This creates friendly competition and showcases active participants, encouraging others to step up their engagement throughout the event.

6. Leverage interactive tools during sessions

Sessions shouldn’t be one-way broadcasts. Interactive tools during event presentations create natural networking opportunities and help attendees connect around shared interests or questions.

Use live polls to gauge audience opinions and start conversations. When someone responds to a poll, others with similar answers can connect afterward to discuss their perspectives further.

For hybrid events, ensure virtual and in-person attendees can participate equally in all interactive elements. You can display poll and Q&A responses on screens at physical venues while streaming them to online participants.

Key interactive networking tools include:

• Live Q&A platforms where attendees can engage with speakers and each other
• Group chat features for session-specific discussions
• Breakout activities that split audiences into smaller networking groups
• Real-time reaction tools (thumbs up, applause, questions)
• Discussion boards for ongoing conversations after sessions end

Encourage speakers to pause for interaction breaks every 10-15 minutes. This keeps virtual attendees engaged and creates natural conversation starters between participants who shared similar questions or reactions.

7. Offer dedicated networking sessions

Sometimes, networking needs its own spotlight. Setting aside time just for networking helps attendees connect without being distracted by sessions or presentations.

Some ideas for dedicated networking sessions are:

• Speed networking rounds with timed one-on-one chats
  
• Role or industry-based roundtable discussions
  
• Icebreaker games or group activities
  
• “Ask Me Anything” sessions with speakers or sponsors
  

In hybrid events, ensure both virtual and in-person attendees can join through video links or shared spaces.

Setting aside time for networking shows your audience that you value more than just content, it’s about connection, too.

8. Keep the conversation going post-event

Networking shouldn’t stop when the event ends. Give attendees ways to stay in touch, continue discussions, and build on the connections they started.

Ways to support post-event networking:

• Share a contact directory (with permission)
  
• Keep discussion boards open for a few days
  
• Send follow-up emails with suggested connections
  
• Host a casual post-event meetup or webinar
  

With EventsAir, you can easily share on-demand content, reopen chat channels, and track continued engagement through built-in analytics. Everything stays connected, no extra tools are needed.

9. Track networking engagement with analytics

It’s important to understand what worked and what didn’t. Tracking engagement gives you real insight into how well your attendees connected.

Some key metrics to monitor:

• Number of one-on-one meetings scheduled
• Most active users in live chats or hubs.
• Popular discussion topics or breakout rooms
• Engagement during networking games or sessions

This kind of insight helps you see which formats and features your audience responded to and where to improve next time.

With EventsAir, all networking moments are tracked and included in your post-event analysis, alongside session attendance, content views, and engagement metrics. Everything lives in one dashboard, making it easy to measure what worked and improve future events.

When you know what’s working, you can create stronger networking opportunities that deliver real value.

Build enriching virtual networking experiences with EventsAir

Virtual and hybrid events come with unique challenges but networking doesn’t have to be one of them. When you create space for real conversations, offer the right tools, and guide attendees every step of the way, networking becomes a seamless part of the experience, not an afterthought.

From pre-event matchmaking to in-session engagement and post-event follow-up, each strategy you use helps attendees connect with more purpose and less friction.

With EventsAir, supporting virtual networking is built into every stage of your event. You get the structure, flexibility, and insight you need to help attendees meet the right people, no matter where they’re joining from.

Ready to make every moment count? Book a Demo today.