Polish Up Your Virtual Events with These Expert Tips
Virtual events have become immensely popular in the past two years. It was all due to our helplessness that we entered into the virtual world, but a few months down the road things took a drastic turn. Now that things have straightened out, organizations can go back to the old-traditional method of hosting virtual events. However, the convenience and versatile nature they come with, organizers across the world are thinking of continuing with the web version in near future as well.
For those who don’t know what virtual events are all about, here is a blog that will explain everything you need to know about them.
One can define virtual events as simply the events that are hosted over the internet using a Virtual Event Platform. They gained popularity when the world got hit by the deadly virus and we were compelled to move indoors. In the times of adversities, virtual events emerged as the beacon of light. With virtual events, communicating and staying in touch with friends, colleagues and acquaintances becomes easier. They allow the attendees to join the event from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need of traveling.
There are several advantages of virtual events that make them one of the most looked after, or preferably the most convenient format of attending the event. It is altogether a different topic though, and we will get into details sometime later. For now, let us have a look at a few of the best expert tips that will definitely help you polish up your virtual event game.
It’s Your Audience’s Event, Not Yours.
First and foremost thing you need to keep in mind is it is your audience’s event, not yours. It means, everything that you are planning should be done keeping the convenience of your attendees. Also, while you are planning your event, make sure you have a clear understanding of what your attendees want from you. Unlike a live event, the attendees can log out of the virtual event any moment they feel the event is not interesting enough. Hence, you need to ensure that the event matches their interest. You can conduct research and understand the kind of events your audience likes to attend these days.
Have Clearly Defined Goals:
You really cannot achieve anything without having well-defined objectives; it goes well with virtual events also. To host a successful event, you need to make sure you know what you want to achieve with the event. There are various reasons behind hosting an event; expanding your audience base, gaining monetary benefits, introducing new products and services might be few of them. While defining the objectives, you should also get more clear with your target audience. There are a few questions that you can ask yourself like:
- What is the concept of your virtual event?
- Why are you hosting the event?
- What are your expectations from the event?
- How are you going to measure the success of your virtual event?
Invest in the Right Platform:
Now this is probably one of the most crucial factors in planning and executing your virtual event successfully. It won’t be wrong to say that the virtual event platform you will choose can affect the success of your virtual event completely. We have a fair reason for that. A physical event’s success depends on several factors collectively; venue is one of them. However, when it comes to virtual events, the event is hosted entirely on the platform you choose. Hence, picking up the right event solution becomes a lot more necessary. Do not compromise with the quality of the platform to save a few bucks, it might cost you your entire event. Conduct research and get your hands on the Best Virtual Show Platform.
Outline Your Event:
Another tip that one needs to take into consideration is to have a proper plan of the event. When the event is approaching, make sure you outline the entire event. Form an itinerary of the event so that you have the complete flow of the event. Also, share it with your attendees along with the guidelines they need to follow. It will make things easier at their end. Outlining your event will surely help you give your entire event a structure and make things seamless for you thereafter. Consider how you are going to deliver your content. Also, include the elements you will use to make your event more interesting and memorable.
Schedule the Event Carefully:
While you schedule your online event, make sure you pick your dates and time carefully. For example, if it is an in-house corporate event, try to schedule your event during the office hours. Similarly, keep the objective of your event in mind while choosing the date and timing. Try to schedule your event on any other significant holiday or event. One important thing to remember is that since virtual events allow people from all over the world to join the event, keep different time zones in mind.
Go through calendars, and pick a few options. You can then consult with several groups and your organizational committee. Confirm the dates when you think you are 100% sure about it.
Leverage Efficient Marketing Techniques
Experts suggest marketing your web event is as necessary as planning it. The reason is simple; no matter how efficiently you have planned your event, everything will eventually come down to the number of people who have attended the event. Therefore, it becomes extremely crucial to leverage every possible technique to ensure the word spreads right. There are various techniques available you can make use of. You can use social media marketing, email marketing, paid media techniques, traditional media, and many other strategies. Also, while promoting your event, do not underestimate the power of the word of mouth marketing technique.
Keep Your Audience Engaged:
One prominent reason people prefer physical events over the web version is they find live events more engaging than the new method. They feel the screens act as a barrier and they don’t feel involved in the event. There is a perfect solution for that; the audience engagement tools. Make use of audience engagement tools such as gamification, networking options, breakout rooms and ice breakers to keep the attendees hooked to the event. It will help you keep your audience engagement rates intact throughout the event.
With the above mentioned tips, there’s no denying that your next hybrid event is going to be a huge success. Incorporate them into your strategies and see the magic unfold.