As we move further into the 2020s, it's becoming increasingly clear that virtual webinars are on the rise. More and more businesses are opting to ditch in-person meetings in favour of online gatherings, due to their many benefits. And with good reason - virtual webinars offer a number of advantages over traditional meetings.

For one, they're more cost-effective. Rather than having to fly all your team members out to a central location for an in-person meeting, you can simply gather them all together online. This also eliminates the need for expensive conference rooms or meeting spaces.

Virtual webinars are also more convenient for participants. They can join from anywhere in the world, as long as they have an internet connection. This makes them perfect for remote workers or employees who are travelling.

Finally, virtual webinars are great for building community. By bringing everyone together online, you create a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose that simply isn't possible in an in-person meeting.

Many companies have adopted this new way of working and are now holding virtual breakout sessions as part of their webinars. Software such as Zoom and Skype have made it possible to break out into smaller groups during a webinar, which is perfect for companies that want to encourage networking and collaboration.

If you're thinking of running a virtual breakout session as part of your next webinar, here's everything you need to know.

What is a breakout session?

A breakout session is a small group activity that takes place during a larger event, such as a conference or webinar. The purpose of a breakout session is to allow attendees to network with each other and discuss key topics in more detail.

How do breakout sessions work?

Breakout sessions usually last for 30-60 minutes, and attendees are typically grouped together based on their interests or industry. For example, if you're running a breakout session at a marketing conference, attendees might be grouped together based on their marketing speciality (e.g. SEO, social media, etc.).

During the breakout session, attendees will have the opportunity to network with each other and discuss key topics in more detail. The breakout session will be moderated by a breakout leader, who will ensure that the discussion stays on track.

Affective Breakout session template

So, how do you run a successful virtual breakout session? Here are a few tips:

1. Make sure everyone is on the same page

Before you start your breakout session, it's important to make sure that everyone knows what's going on. So if the breakout session is a part of your webinar, take a few minutes at the start of the webinar to explain how it will work.

Let attendees know how long the breakout session will last, how they will be grouped together, and what topics will be discussed. This will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and knows what to expect.

2. Use breakout groups wisely

One of the benefits of virtual breakout sessions is that you can have breakout groups of any size. So if you have a large webinar, you could have breakout groups of 10-15 people.

However, it's important to use breakout groups wisely. If your breakout groups are too large, it will be difficult for everyone to participate in the discussion. On the other hand, if your breakout groups are too small, attendees might not get the opportunity to network with new people.

As a general rule of thumb, breakout groups should be between 5-10 people. This is the perfect size for networking and collaboration.

3. Assign a breakout leader

Every breakout group needs a breakout leader. The breakout leader's job is to keep the discussion on track and make sure that everyone has a chance to participate.

When you're assigning breakout leaders, it's important to choose people who are good at facilitating discussions. You might also want to consider choosing breakout leaders from different departments or areas of the company, as this will help to ensure that everyone has a chance to participate.

4. Set an agenda

Just like any meeting, it's important to have an agenda for your breakout session. This will help to keep the discussion on track and make sure that everyone knows what topics will be covered.

The agenda should be sent to breakout leaders in advance, so that they can prepare for the breakout session. It's also a good idea to share the agenda with attendees, so that they know what to expect.

5. Keep it focused

One of the challenges of virtual breakout sessions is keeping everyone focused on the discussion. With so many distractions at home, it can be difficult to keep everyone's attention on the breakout session.

There are a few things you can do to keep everyone focused. First, make sure that the breakout groups are small enough so that everyone can participate in the discussion. Second, assign a breakout leader who will keep the discussion on track. And finally, make sure to set an agenda for the breakout session so that everyone knows what topics will be covered.

By following these tips, you can run a successful virtual breakout session that will engage and connect your attendees.

Virtual breakout session ideas and activities

1. Get to know you breakout session

This is a great way for attendees to get to know each other and learn about each other's backgrounds. To do this, breakout groups can answer questions such as:

- What is your name?

- Where are you from?

- What do you do?

- What are your hobbies?

2. Brainstorming breakout session

This breakout session is perfect for groups that are working on a project together. The goal of this breakout session is to come up with new ideas and solutions to problems. To do this, each breakout group can brainstorm ideas for:

- A new product

- A new marketing campaign

- A new way to solve a problem

3. Networking breakout session

This breakout session is perfect for attendees who want to network with each other. The goal of this breakout session is to connect with other people and exchange contact information. To do this, breakout groups can:

- Connect on LinkedIn

- Exchange email addresses

4. Q&A breakout session

This breakout session is perfect for attendees who have questions about a topic. The goal of this breakout session is to get answers to questions from experts. To do this, breakout groups can:

- Ask questions about a topic

- Get answers from experts

- Share insights with the group

5. Group discussion breakout session

This breakout session is perfect for groups who want to discuss a topic in depth. The goal of this breakout session is to have an open discussion about a topic. To do this, breakout groups can:

- Choose a topic to discuss

- Have an open discussion about the topic

- Share insights with the group

Final thoughts

Breakout sessions can be a great way to connect with other people, brainstorm new ideas, and get answers to questions from experts. By following these tips, you can run a successful breakout session that will engage and connect your attendees.

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