In the COVID age, virtual events have exploded in popularity, with required social distancing measures making in-person interactions a hassle.
Unfortunately, setting up a virtual event comes with many additional hurdles that often require some degree of technical know-how to get past successfully.
That being said, you can keep in mind a couple of considerations to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Choose Your Platform Wisely
The method by which you plan on streaming your event is going to be extremely important. Many streaming services are available, all with differences that might appear small but can ultimately make a big difference in the end product.
Zoom and YouTube Live are some pretty standard go-to options, although some formats are better than others for specific events. For instance, Demio and Livestorm are generally considered better for webinars, while Vfair is more appropriate for virtual conferences.
You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of each platform when it comes to hosting a specific kind of event; otherwise the results might be sub-par; not necessarily bad, but lacking polish.
Promotion and Marketing
No virtual event is going to have any sort of impact if people don’t show up. Promotion is an absolute must! There are many ways to promote an event, with certain situations best being handled by professionals. However, for most instances, you can probably just have a go at it yourself.
Social media is the best way to reach your intended audience, with Facebook and Twitter being some of the most commonly viewed platforms. If you have access to an email subscriber list, then definitely take advantage of it by sending out promotional emails.
When promoting the event, make sure to highlight what’s most likely to consider attractive to audience members. This can include the topics being discussed, attending or speaking at an event, and whether or not there are interactive segments.
Stay Up to Date With the Most Recent Information
Virtual events are most appealing when presenters are talking about new, cutting-edge information. Going over things that an audience is already aware of is bound to make for a lackluster experience.
Places such as the tundra are great resources for finding popular news articles that might be of interest to people and can reveal updates on current events or new developments occurring in specific fields. Keeping up to date on new information is also essential for avoiding errors that can hamper your authority on a subject in the audience’s eyes.
Mix Together Live and Pre-Recorded Segments
While it may be tempting to let an event unfold completely live, the reality is that it’s going to be a lot of work, and logistics will be a total nightmare. That’s why it’s a good idea to throw in some pre-recorded segments since the number of variables you don’t have control over will be minimized.
However, keep in mind that too much pre-recorded material isn’t something that will look good. If someone were just interested in looking at a bunch of videos, they probably wouldn’t bother viewing a virtual event.
Timing Is Super Important
Just like with an in-person event, when a virtual event is taking place is extremely important. You’ll get a little more leeway if you’re live streaming since people will be able to view it from anywhere, but timing is still vital.
You’ll need to figure out where most of your audience is geographically located and then plan your virtual event accordingly. Time zone differences can get complex, so make sure to double or triple-check when you host your event.
Being Prepared For Your Next Event
Virtual events can be a bit tricky, but if you’re armed with some knowledge and know a few tricks, then you’ll be able to pull it off without a hitch.
Staying up to date on the most recent information, finding the right streaming format, and engaging in the aggressive promotion are essential aspects of hosting a successful virtual event.
