Everything You Need to Host a Successful Virtual Mentor Networking Event

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Mentor networking events are crucial for modern professionals and attract large audiences in the corporate world. Growth-oriented professionals are always on the hunt for productive and convenient events where they can link up with prospective mentors, network, and boost their careers.

There are several ways to organise mentor networking events, depending on your target audience. But with today’s digital world so accessible to many, virtual events are often the preferred method. They’re easier for international attendees to attend and mean you can broaden the scope of potential mentors.

A vFairs survey reported that around 88% of corporate event planners had thrown at least one virtual event for their organisation in 2022. These numbers show how important virtual events are. So if you want to pull off a successful virtual mentor networking event, here’s our guide to ensuring everything goes off without a hitch.

What is a Virtual Mentor Networking Event?

Virtual mentor networking events allow professionals from around the country or globe to connect with one another in a digital space. Not to be confused with a virtual internship program where candidates seek to gain remote work experience, a mentor event sees people collaborate and build a lasting relationship with a more experienced professional.

Put simply, professional networking events like these make it easy for young professionals to match up with industry leaders and be mentored by them, creating opportunities for learning, development, and growth.

You can host a virtual mentor networking event within your organisation or on a larger scale for industry-wide professionals. There is almost no limit to how many attendees can participate, though it does depend on the kind of platform you choose – more on that later.

Whether you utilise conference calls Canada or host your event on a specialised event-hosting platform to reach countries around the world, you can arrange virtual sessions with no hassle.

4 Common Challenges With Virtual Networking Events

As with any event, whether hosted in-person or online, various challenges can arise. Here are a few to consider when planning your virtual networking event.

1. Communication Issues

Talking to people in person is easier than online, especially if you’re meeting them for the first time. To avoid miscommunication and awkward silences, consider creating prompts, cards, or talking points for attendees.

Planning ahead will ensure your event comes across as professional and that communication can easily flow.

2. Technical Issues

Tech is tech, even if we’ve come a long way from rudimentary communication devices. So let’s face it: there’s always a chance that the WiFi fails, your laptop freezes, or an app stops working during an ice-breaker session.

You won’t be able to guarantee zero technical issues, but this can be worked around if you plan for potential problems and mobilise a tech team to help solve issues on-site or remotely.

3. Low Attendance

No one wants to host an event that will have poor attendance. It makes for bad PR and also makes it difficult to invite participants to any subsequent events.

Consider offering incentives to attract the max number of attendees at your event — for example, one-on-ones with industry leaders or keynote speakers.

4. Low Audience Engagement

It can be difficult to engage attendees during virtual events because they’ll likely be faced with various distractions in their real-life environments. Attendees may also lose focus or feel tired from looking at the screen for a long time.

A good way to combat this is to incorporate interactive elements such as polls and Q&As, include ice breakers, and coordinate one-on-one sessions with mentors.

How to Organise a Virtual Mentor Networking Event

Here’s how you can successfully organise a virtual mentor networking event.

1. Set Your Goals

When planning an event, strategy is key. Make a list of the goals you want to achieve with your event. Think of these as KPIs that you can use to determine whether or not the event was successful.

2. Create a Design for Your Virtual Mentor Networking Event

Think about what your attendees will see and experience when they log on to your event. Pick key themes, aesthetics, and format a layout so the event is structured and runs smoothly. You can even hire talent online to nail the event design and layout.

3. Create Your Guest List

No event is complete without attendees. Leave plenty of time to create a formal guest list so you’re not frazzled when sending invites. This will also ensure that you don’t miss out on important attendees. For example, if you are hosting an event based on ways that people can combat environmental issues, then inviting someone with expertise on the matter and an original (more environmentally conscious) way of doing so, may be a good idea.

4. Choose a Platform

There are a lot of platforms you can use to host your next virtual mentor networking event. Pick a platform that allows for smooth video conferencing and can host the required number of attendees. A quick online search will help you find the platform that best fits your event.

You should also consider if your chosen platform offers the features you need to best execute your strategy. For example, you might want to use live videos for marketing, and should therefore consider compatibility and ease of use for this channel into your final decision.

Features of a Great Virtual Event Platform

Here are some characteristics to look for when choosing the best virtual event management platform to suit your needs.

1. Easy to Use

The ideal platform should be easy to use and understand. Platforms that are too complex to navigate or operate will put off mentors and attendees alike.

2. Can Occupy a Sizeable Amount of People

Your event platform must be able to bring a large number of people together. There’s no point in paying for an online platform that can’t accommodate at least 100 attendees.

3. Customizable Settings

You should be able to customise and personalise the platform according to the specific needs of your event. Look for a platform that offers a variety of customization options, allowing you to create the perfect virtual mentor networking event.

4. Cost Friendly

While you want to find the right platform for your needs, you don’t need to invest too much. A good platform should be affordable enough that you don’t blow all your event budget on it.

5. Has Positive Customer and User Reviews

Always look at reviews and testimonials before you invest in a digital platform. Make sure the positive reviews you’re seeing aren’t paid or bot comments before you choose the platform.

Conclusion

A lot of time, energy, and resources go into planning events, and virtual mentor networking events are no different. While there are some challenges, you can easily overcome these by following a few industry best practices.

A successful event should bring junior and senior professionals together, connect them with inspiring mentors, and leave them with a positive experience that they’ll want to share with others. Follow these tips to throw the best virtual mentor networking event that will create an impact.

Author Bio

Grace Lau is the Director of Growth Content at Dialpad, an AI-powered cloud communication platform for better and easier team collaboration using Dialpad's business phone systems in Vancouver. She has over 10 years of experience in content writing and strategy. Currently, she is responsible for leading branded and editorial content strategies, partnering with SEO and Ops teams to build and nurture content.