Introduction to Hopin
Hopin is a comprehensive and innovative virtual event platform designed to replicate the experience of in-person events in an online environment. Founded in 2019, Hopin has quickly become a preferred choice for event organizers due to its robust features, ease of use, and ability to cater to a wide range of event sizes and types.
Key Features and Functionality
Event Structure and Areas
Hopin organizes events into several key areas, each designed to mimic different aspects of in-person events:
- Reception Area: Serves as a virtual lobby where attendees can get an overview of the event, including speaker bios, event schedules, and sponsor logos.
- Stage Area: This is where keynotes, fireside chats, and panel discussions are held. It supports up to 100,000 concurrent viewers and features Hopin’s built-in live streaming studio called Backstage.
- Sessions Area: These are virtual roundtable sessions that support up to 20 people on camera and up to 500 people who can watch off-camera and interact via session chat. Ideal for Q&A sessions and smaller group discussions.
- Networking Area: Allows attendees to connect via FaceTime-like video calls. Participants can be matched randomly for a limited time, facilitating spontaneous networking opportunities.
- Expo Area: Functions as a virtual exhibitor hall where vendors can showcase their products or services through embedded videos and call-to-action buttons.
Customization and Branding
Hopin offers extensive customization options to ensure the event aligns with the organizer’s brand:
- Advanced Branding Options: Customize the entire Hopin interface with logos, custom color combinations, fonts, and more.
- Custom Emails: Personalize automatic emails sent at key points during the event.
- Custom Event Text: Rename event area labels and add custom registration form fields to gather more information about attendees.
Integration and Automation
- Integrations: Connect with key platforms such as Salesforce, Marketo, and Mailchimp to streamline event management and follow-up activities.
- Automated Emails: Set up automated emails for various stages of the event.
- Magic Links: Invite attendees via Magic Links that automatically register and direct them to the event.
Analytics and Reporting
Hopin provides a robust analytics dashboard to help organizers measure event success:
- Analytics Dashboard: Get a visual summary of key event data, including ticket sales, attendance, and engagement metrics.
- Live Analytics: Monitor event attendance and movement across different areas in real-time.
- Downloadable Reports: Analyze detailed reports on session participation, chat activity, booth attendance, and feedback.
Security and Support
- Security: Events can be made private, password-protected, or invite-only to ensure security and exclusivity.
- Customer Success Experts: Access personalized onboarding, technical reviews, speaker dry-runs, and day-of assistance to ensure a flawless event experience.
- Dedicated Support: Receive prioritized email and chat support with guaranteed service and uptime levels.
Additional Features
- Multi-Stages: Run multiple stages simultaneously to support different audiences or languages.
- Single Sign-On (SSO): Use your own Identity Providers for secure sign-in on Hopin.
- Chat Channels: Utilize global event chat, stage chat, and direct messages for various types of communication among attendees.
Conclusion
Hopin is a powerful and flexible virtual event platform that offers a wide range of features to create engaging, interactive, and personalized online events. Its ability to mimic in-person events, extensive customization options, and robust analytics make it an ideal choice for event organizers of all scales. Whether you are hosting a small meetup or a large-scale conference, Hopin provides the tools and support necessary to deliver a successful and memorable virtual or hybrid event.