Running virtual meetups that don't feel like meetings

An online meetup turns into a meeting the moment it's run like one: one person talks while everyone else sits with their camera off, waiting for it to end. The fix isn't a fancier tool. It's a different format.

Keep it small

Our best virtual meetups have fewer than 30 people. Above that, people stop speaking up and start multitasking. If more people sign up, run two sessions rather than one big one.

Keep it short

Under an hour, with a clear start and end. Open with quick introductions, give one short talk of ten minutes at most, and then get people talking.

Give people something to do

Breakout rooms work best with a single question to discuss, such as "What's one thing that helped your community this month?" Bring everyone back for a few minutes of highlights at the end.

Afterwards, post the recording and a short summary in the space, so people who missed it can still join the conversation. Some of our best threads started in the comments under a meetup recap.