{"id":1667,"date":"2020-03-16T21:49:53","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T01:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/?p=1667"},"modified":"2023-08-30T14:29:52","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T18:29:52","slug":"how-to-host-an-online-event-on-meetup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-host-an-online-event-on-meetup\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Host an Online Event on Meetup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Meetup was created for in-person events that bring people together offline. However, the unique challenges that came with the COVID-19 pandemic helped us understand the power that online events have to keep communities both safe and connected. Organizers have hosted nearly 5 million online events since they were introduced to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Meetup\u2019s platform<\/a> in 2020. Join the movement and learn how to host your own:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-choose-an-online-event-service\">How to choose an online event service<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We recommend using video conferencing services like <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/hangouts\/answer\/2944865?hl=en&amp;ref_topic=6386410\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Hangouts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/support.zoom.us\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/201362033-Getting-Started-on-Windows-and-Mac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoom<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/meet.jit.si\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jitsi<\/a>. Learn more about a few popular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/661906\/the-6-best-free-video-conferencing-apps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">video conferencing services<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-creating-an-online-event-on-meetup\">Creating an online event on Meetup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Meetup Online Event Tool Demo\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FwKOXWpgcpU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Desktop and mobile web instructions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/help.meetup.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/360040609112\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Help Center<\/a> for the full written instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/help.meetup.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/360002881251-Creating-an-event\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Create a new event<\/a> draft.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Designate that your event is \u201c<strong>Online<\/strong>\u201d at the beginning of the event title.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the event description, invite members to join your event online by following the link listed in the event location.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click &#8220;<strong>Make this an online event<\/strong>.&#8221; Your event location will display your video conferencing link.<br><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1420\" height=\"258\" class=\"wp-image-1754\" style=\"width: 500px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-18-at-2.59.21-PM.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-18-at-2.59.21-PM.png 1420w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-18-at-2.59.21-PM-560x102.png 560w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-18-at-2.59.21-PM-1120x203.png 1120w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-18-at-2.59.21-PM-768x140.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1420px) 100vw, 1420px\" \/><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add a link to your online event in the field below. Your link must be related to a video conferencing service. Don\u2019t include any additional text aside from the link.<br><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1356\" height=\"240\" class=\"wp-image-1755\" style=\"width: 500px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-18-at-3.00.06-PM.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-18-at-3.00.06-PM.png 1356w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-18-at-3.00.06-PM-560x99.png 560w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-18-at-3.00.06-PM-1120x198.png 1120w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-18-at-3.00.06-PM-768x136.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1356px) 100vw, 1356px\" \/><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complete any optional settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Publish your event.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>When <a href=\"https:\/\/help.meetup.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/360002881491-Creating-a-repeating-event\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">creating a repeating online event<\/a>, make sure your link can be used repeatedly so that members don\u2019t try to join a meeting with an inactive link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-practices-for-online-events\">Best practices for online events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Watch Meetup organizer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/webinar-recording-bringing-events-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sunil Bhaskaran\u2019s webinar<\/a> where he covers best practices for keeping your group engaged, healthy, and growing by hosting online events. Also, watch <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/meetup-live-recording-mastering-online-events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this recording <\/a>for a walkthrough on how to set up online events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Safety first! To avoid uninvited guests or disruptions, follow our <a href=\"https:\/\/help.meetup.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/6498930287501-Protecting-an-online-event\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">security guidelines for online events<\/a>. Be sure to require a passcode for the event and restrict participant screen sharing. You can also edit security options while in a meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Set the stage for a great gathering. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/event-chat-meetups-latest-communication-innovation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Start a conversation in the event chat<\/a> to get your members talking. You drop an ice-breaker like &#8220;Share one thing you&#8217;re looking forward to during this event.&#8221; and build anticipation for your event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, follow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/supporting-a-community-if-real-life-events-arent-possible\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Meetup CEO David Siegel\u2019s advice<\/a> for keeping members engaged during online events:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Check-in with every participant and encourage them to share their thoughts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turn on your video cameras. Seeing each other\u2019s faces helps us to connect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage people to meet in a quiet place where everyone can be heard.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remember to mute your microphone when not speaking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Communities thrive on Meetup, both in-person and online. Whether you host hybrid or online-only events, knowing how to set up and host a fantastic virtual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/five-tips-for-a-great-meet-and-greet-event\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">meet and greet event<\/a> will set your group up for success.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"post-excerpt\"><p>A step-by-step guide for hosting online events.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":1681,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Host an Online Event on Meetup - Meetup Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-host-an-online-event-on-meetup\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Host an Online Event on Meetup - 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