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Best 10 Virtual Event Platforms To Host Your Next Event

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Best 10 Virtual Event Platforms To Host Your Next Event Are you planning a virtual event and not sure which platform to use? From large platforms like Hopin to smaller, more niche platforms, we've got you covered. Check out our list of the 10 best platforms to host your next virtual event. What is a virtual event platform? Key Features to Look For in a Virtual Event Platform Best Virtual Event Platforms You might be wondering, is a virtual event platform the same as a video conferencing platform like Zoom? Technically no. Although both tools will have features that intersect, they are designed for different purposes. A virtual event platform is designed to scale, and offer immersive experiences and interactive elements meant to simulate in-person events. A video conferencing platform, on the other hand, is unlikely to support interactive features beyond chatrooms and breakout rooms, as their main focus is video conferencing. Key Features to Look for in Virtual Event Platform If you’re in the market for a virtual event platform, you’ll want to look for one that’s scalable, customizable, and user-friendly. Here are some key features to look for: Pre-event: Registration system Payment processing Event referral tracking Email marketing integration During the event: Polling and Q&A Live-streaming...

Remote Work Loneliness: How to Protect Your Mental Health When Working Remotely

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Remote Work Loneliness: How to Protect Your Mental Health When Working Remotely Since the start of the pandemic, working from home has become the new normal for many employees and companies. While working outside the office has its benefits — no more long, gas-guzzling commutes, for instance — there is still one downside many employees face: remote work loneliness. Before the pandemic, it was normal to make friends around the office, crack jokes in the break room, or participate in fun, in-person team-building activities. However, those things aren't possible when you're working from home and your coworkers are scattered around the country. So, working from home can feel isolating. Fortunately, there are strategies you can implement to protect your mental health and feel less lonely as you work from home or remotely. 5 Tips to Avoid Loneliness When Working From Home I asked fellow HubSpotters and professionals across different industries for tips on avoiding work-from-home loneliness. Here is what they had to say: 1. Schedules 'get to know you' calls. Jen Bergren, Head of Operations at Remotish, says "get to know you" calls are an important part of her team's onboarding process. "One of the team's favorite tasks in our onboarding is for the new team member to schedule a short call with every other person on the team, individually, in their first two weeks for a 'get to know you' casual call," she said. "We also make sure the new team members have at least one real-time...

Flexible Schedules: The Pros, Cons, & Surprising Outcomes

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Flexible Schedules: The Pros, Cons, & Surprising Outcomes I'm willing to bet we've all felt stifled by the rigid 9-to-5 work schedule — especially on our productivity both in and out of the office. For many workers, a flexible schedule is the answer. This types of schedule allows you to work when you're most productive and gives you the autonomy you need to create an ideal work-life balance, however that looks to you. Here, we'll cover what a flexible work schedule looks like and explore its pros. cons, and surprising outcomes. It's important to remember that flex hours doesn't equate to less hours. In fact, as you'll read later, employees actually clock in more hours working from home. Further, there is still structure to this type of schedule: employees must work a certain number of hours, or come up with an alternative agreement with their employer regarding office hours versus remote time. There’s plenty of science to suggest flexible work schedules are critical for happier, more productive employees and a more successful company overall. For instance, a recent study by Qualtrics found a whopping 93% of employees feel the way they work has "fundamentally and forever" changed since the pandemic, with the most favorable changes being flexible schedules. According to the same study, 43% of employees feel their work-life balance has increased over the past two years, along with their overall happiness and job satisfaction. Of course, there are pros and cons to flexible schedules, just like there are pros...

Will Marketers Return to Offices in 2021? What Companies Need to Know [Data + Expert Tips]

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Will Marketers Return to Offices in 2021? What Companies Need to Know Back in 2018, I chose to work at HubSpot because I loved HubSpot's content, and its culture. Oh — and the smoothie bar, waffle Wednesdays, and ping pong tables didn't hurt, either. Office space has undeniably seen a change in recent years. Open-floor plans have become increasingly popular, as have standing desks, beer on-tap, game rooms, and even greenhouse spaces. As this decade came to a close, many of my closest friends chose jobs based, at least in part, on office vibe. And yet, it's long been said that remote work is the future. In fact, HubSpot has been touting the benefits of remote work since 2012 in its Culture Code, which states: "Work isn't a place we go, it's a thing we do." In 2020, that premonition became a reality as the pandemic forced an entire global workforce to shift to remote work practically overnight. And now, as the dust settles and employees find new, innovative ways to work productively from home, many businesses are wondering: Do we even need an office, anymore? Let's explore how marketers across the U.S. feel about remote work in 2021, and whether remote work is just a current necessity — or the new long-term reality. Will employees return to the office? To explore whether or not employees will return to the office in 2021 (if they're permitted to do so), I started by surveying 496 marketers and asked the question: If...

The 8 Best Books on Working from Home for Remote Work Employees

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The 8 Best Books on Working from Home for Remote Work Employees Remote work is incredible. Goodbye soul-draining commute, uncomfortable "business professional" outfits, and expensive takeout salads. Hello leisurely mornings, hoodies and slippers, and delicious home-cooked meals. But remote work is also tough. You're hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away from your colleagues; your home workspace probably lacks some of the bells and whistles of a traditional office; and your work-life boundaries can quickly become nonexistent. To learn how to conquer these challenges — plus many you haven't discovered yet — take a look at these books on remote work. 1. Working Remotely: Secrets to Success for Employees on Distributed Teams By Teresa Douglas, Holly Gordon, and Mike Webber Unlike many remote work books aimed at leaders and solopreneurs, Douglas, Gordon, and Webber focus on the front-line remote worker. This book is divided into seven chapters, each dedicated to a pillar of WFH success. You'll learn how to battle isolation and loneliness, work well with your peers, and manage your inbox. Along with concrete tips, the authors include examples and anecdotes to bring their points home (no pun intended). 2. Work-From-Home Hacks: 500+ Easy Ways to Get Organized, Stay Productive, and Maintain a Work-Life Balance While Working from Home! By Aja Frost On March 20th, I left HubSpot's Boston office with my monitor and keyboard. I thought I'd use them for a few weeks, a month at the most — then we'd all be back in the office....

7 Tips for Hosting a Virtual Brainstorm, According to HubSpot Marketing Managers

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7 Tips for Hosting a Virtual Brainstorm, According to HubSpot Marketing Managers At HubSpot, we love brainstorms Getting your team together in one room to come up with ideas not only allows you to identify creative content or strategies that you might not have thought of, but it also can improve feelings of psychological safety as people who might not be high-level managers are invited and encouraged to offer their input. Brainstorming is one of the most productive team-building activities we use at HubSpot. But, recently, when we had to leave our physical offices and embrace remote work, many managers wondered how they’d recreate the same in-person communication, productivity, and sense of psychological safety virtually. Luckily, many of our managers were able to adapt quickly, leading a number of successful virtual brainstorms in 2020. To help managers build solid idea-generation techniques -- even from home -- here are a few steps HubSpot employees on the blog, acquisition team, and DI&B team take when coordinating remote brainstorms. How to Run a Virtual Brainstorm 1. Give your team a headstart. If your teammates already know the goal of the brainstorm, the prompts they'll be given, and their idea generation instructions, they'll come ready and eager to immediately make suggestions. Before the brainstorm, consider sending a detailed email or a creative brief about what you'd like to achieve during the session. "I’ve found that giving members of your brainstorm a chance to prepare in advance results in higher quality ideas presented...

11 Tips for Virtually Pitching Marketing Campaigns

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11 Tips for Virtually Pitching Marketing Campaigns It's no secret that agencies are accustomed to wooing clients during in-person pitches. In fact, the term "pitch theater" is regularly used in the agency world to describe over-the-top presentations that go to great lengths to win accounts. But, with the recent shift to remote work, agencies can no longer rely on a firm handshake, in-person meetings, and casual small talk to help land them a client. If you're one of the many marketers or agency members who thrive during in-person pitches, you might still be learning how to create a presentation that brings your memorable charm and flair to a small computer screen. Luckily, as you pivot some aspects of your presentation style to a new video-friendly format, you can leverage your inner creativity, meeting software, and other digital tools to give you a leg up against other agencies vying for the same clients. With a creative mindset, it actually isn't too hard to give a concise virtual presentation that answers most of a prospect's burning questions. In this post, I'll highlight 11 tips for planning, practicing, and presenting virtual pitches. 11 Tips for Giving Virtually Pitching Marketing Campaigns Preparing Your Pitch 1. Map out a plan for a smooth virtual presentation. With the growth of video call technology, most or all elements of a pitch can be virtual. For example, you can simply share your screen to show your peers a presentation, or send a video pitch to your...

How to Transition from In-Office to Remote Work

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How to Transition from In-Office to Remote Work Going into the office every day, I was comfortable. I was in a smooth routine. I would show up every morning at 8:30 a.m., have a smoothie, eat breakfast, and make my way to my desk. Happily, I greeted coworkers as they filed into our section. At lunchtime, I would enjoy a meal at my desk or in the lobby and work from a different area in the office until it was time to leave. Then, suddenly, I had to begin working remotely full-time. I was comfortable with the idea. I'd worked from home a couple of times before, and I'm an introvert. In many ways, this sounded like a dream come true: I could experience a full work day from the comfort of my home every day. Let's talk about some things to remember when you're transitioning from working in the office to working remotely. 1. Gather all of the materials you need to complete your work. When you begin to transition to remote work, your work setup will change. For instance, you might not have double monitors. You may or may not have a desk, and it might not rise like your desk at the office. In order to make the transition more smooth, think about the hardware and software you absolutely will need in order to successfully complete your job duties. Check with your company to see if they have support for necessary hardware. If you're used...

17 Fun (Not Cheesy) Ice Breaker Games Your Employees Will Enjoy

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17 Fun (Not Cheesy) Ice Breaker Games Your Employees Will Enjoy Asking "How is everyone?" at the beginning of every meeting isn't always the best way to encourage connection and team bonding. Sometimes, you need to take it a step further with an ice breaker. The best ice breakers have the power to strengthen coworker bonds, stimulate better brainstorming sessions, and create an atmosphere of inclusivity. But it's easier said than done, and the wrong ice breaker questions can lead to awkwardness or even increased tension. To get the most value out of your team bonding moments, we've compiled a list of the best ice breaker games for the workplace. Next time you get together with your team, use one of these games instead of asking "How is everyone", and you're sure to hear some better, more insightful responses than "I'm good." Ice Breakers for Meetings 1. One Word Game The One Word ice breaker allows you to provide initial context into a meeting's topic, and get everyone in the right mindset for discussion. To play, you'll want to divide meeting participants into smaller groups. Then, tell them to think for a minute or two, and then share with their group one word that describes X. For instance, let's say you're leading a meeting on culture. Tell the groups to describe work culture, or your office culture in particular, in one word. Once they've shared with their groups, you can invite them to share their word with the entire...

HubSpot’s Management & Leadership Development Expert Shares Tips for Staying Productive When You Work From Home

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HubSpot's Management & Leadership Development Expert Shares Tips for Staying Productive When You Work From Home One of the best training sessions I've attended for my career was the PeopleFuel®️ program by The Energy Project at HubSpot. Here, I learned that to be most productive at work, I needed to manage my energy, not my time. The training was led by Nick Congelosi, HubSpot's Management and Leadership Development Head. His team is responsible for overseeing global leadership development across HubSpot with workshops, certifications, and trainings like PeopleFuel®️. When I left that workshop, I felt confident that I could revitalize my work day. That's why I decided to grab a virtual coffee with Congelosi and learn all about his best tips for staying productive when you work from home. Below, let's review Congelosi's remote work productivity tips, how to stay productive during remote meetings, and best practices for running a productive remote training session. 1. Place a side table next to your desk. Have you ever worked on a cluttered desk? I know I have, and that's how I know how distracting it can be. To help you stay focused during your day, Congelosi recommends placing a side table next to your desk about an arm's length away. You can place your notebook and to-do list on this table, so whatever you're working on is the only thing on your desk. If it's your computer, only have one tab open (or however many you actually need to get that...