--- title: "How to Keep Your Hybrid Audience Coming Back for More" id: "61517" type: "post" slug: "how-to-keep-your-hybrid-audience-coming-back-for-more" published_at: "2021-11-10T18:41:41+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-11T18:10:00+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2021/11/10/how-to-keep-your-hybrid-audience-coming-back-for-more/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2021/11/10/how-to-keep-your-hybrid-audience-coming-back-for-more.md" excerpt: "Hybrid meetings have allowed associations to reach new audiences, attracting people who might never have attended without a virtual option. Smart organizations will take steps to bring them back to the next event, maybe even in person." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Associations Now" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » How to Keep Your Hybrid Audience Coming Back for More Part of the Deep Dive[Comeback](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/the-return-to-in-person-meetings/) With some people still unable or unwilling to travel as the pandemic persists, hybrid meetings have allowed associations to attract more attendees than ever before. But how do you hold on to these new attendees and keep them coming back for more? The answer, say experts, is a mix of two key strategies: extending the event experience by creating community around it, and using the data you gather to give attendees what they want and how they want it. A primary reason people attend meetings—in person or virtually—is to connect with others, and you can help that process along even before day one, says Betsy Bondurant, president of Bondurant Consulting. “Taking time to personally engage with these folks before the meeting even starts can help,” she said. “I’ve seen some organizations who do virtual happy hours or get-togethers once a week or once a month a few months in advance of the meeting. People can get the opportunity to meet each other more casually, so they have some connections when they actually see a few names they recognize in the online feed for the attendees who are there.” These preconference meet-ups should include both virtual and in-person attendees, she noted. You can keep building community after the event is over, too. “There’s this idea of lengthening the term of engagement,” Bondurant said. “Really curating some of these post-event get togethers. What did you learn? What was your favorite takeaway from the meeting? Those types of things can be very valuable.” [Rasheeda Childress](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Rasheeda Childress is a former senior editor at Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Tags: [#Associations Now](https://associationsnow.com/tag/associations-now/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## More in this Deep Dive - [An Action Plan for Reconvening in Person](https://associationsnow.com/2021/11/10/an-action-plan-for-reconvening-in-person/) - [Build an Onsite Health and Safety Strategy](https://associationsnow.com/2021/11/10/build-an-onsite-health-and-safety-strategy/) - [Four Tactics for Improving the Expo Experience for Exhibitors and Attendees](https://associationsnow.com/2021/11/10/four-tactics-for-improving-the-expo-experience-for-exhibitors-and-attendees/) - [The New Meetings Mindset: Put the Participant First](https://associationsnow.com/2021/11/10/the-new-meetings-mindset-put-the-participant-first/) - [4 Lessons Learned From the Return of In-Person Conferences](https://associationsnow.com/2021/11/10/in-person-conference-return-lessons/) - [Find Your Sweet Spot With Virtual and In-Person Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/2021/11/10/find-your-sweet-spot-with-virtual-and-in-person-meetings/) [View the full Deep Dive →](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/the-return-to-in-person-meetings/) ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) - [VideoASAE TV Daily Recap: Final Day at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/24/asae-tv-daily-recap-final-day-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2021%2F11%2F10%2Fhow-to-keep-your-hybrid-audience-coming-back-for-more%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !