Live sessions on Zoom are great for getting everyone together, but keeping them engaged? Now that's the challenge! The more engaged your audience is, the more likely they'll stick around till the end and actually remember what you talked about. In networking skills development sessions, it's all about interaction. When your participants are actively involved, they're more likely to absorb information, make connections, and apply what they learn. It's like throwing a party where everyone has a good time and remembers the details long after they leave.

Put Your Audience on the Map with Magic Maps

Magic Maps is like having a cool tech trick up your sleeve. When you start your networking skills session, casually ask, 'Hey, where’s everyone joining from today?' Your attendees type their location in the Zoom chat, and voilà, their spots light up on a real-time map. It's not just fun; it's an instant visual icebreaker. You could also ask them to share where they'd love to travel for a dream networking event or even where they’ve had the best professional experience. Plus, you can highlight multiple hot spots with different colors, making it easy to see where you're popular—or where you might need to network more.

Dive Deeper with Open-Ended Opinion Polls

Opinion Polls are perfect when you want to gather everyone's unique insights or stories. Ask open-ended questions like, 'What's a networking strategy that’s worked well for you?' or 'Share a professional connection that changed your career path.' As responses come through the chat, they'll appear on your poll screen, keeping the discussion fresh and allowing everyone to learn from each other. It’s fantastic for giving a voice to participants who might have lots of wisdom to share, even if they stay quieter in live chats.

Instant Feedback with Power Polls

Power Polls is your go-to for quick check-ins on how everyone's tracking with the session. Maybe you want to ask, 'How comfortable are you with approaching new people at events?' during your session. Drop a poll question in and watch the responses roll in live. It's perfect for gauging understanding and interest levels, and helps you adjust on the fly if you notice your participants could use more info or practice in a certain area. Plus, seeing real-time results keeps everyone on their toes and engaged.

Break the Ice with the Winner Wheel

The Winner Wheel is like turning your session into a game show. Let's say you're discussing a topic and want everyone to chime in. You could say, 'We've covered a lot about building connections; comment your favorite tip so far!' After a while, pick a random commenter using the Winner Wheel and give them a shoutout or even a little reward, like a free ebook on networking. It's a great way to get those quiet attendees to join the chat, knowing they might get picked and appreciated.

Reflect Group Thoughts with Wonder Words

Wonder Words is ideal when you want a visual representation of group sentiment or ideas. Kick off with a question like, 'What’s one word you associate with successful networking?' As everyone fires off their responses in the chat, you’ll watch the most popular words grow bigger, creating a word cloud that's unique to your group. It’s a fantastic snapshot of collective thought and can serve as a great starting or closing point for discussions. Plus, with options to filter out unwanted words, it's hassle-free to keep your cloud relevant and impactful.

Settle Decisions Fast with Choice Circle

Power Polls is your go-to for quick check-ins on how everyone's tracking with the session. Maybe you want to ask, 'How comfortable are you with approaching new people at events?' during your session. Drop a poll question in and watch the responses roll in live. It's perfect for gauging understanding and interest levels, and helps you adjust on the fly if you notice your participants could use more info or practice in a certain area. Plus, seeing real-time results keeps everyone on their toes and engaged.