Virtual events are taking the world by storm, especially after the remote working environment that has come from the coronavirus pandemic. So if you are looking to dive into the world of online events, here are some tips to help you get started with your first virtual event with a remote audience.
Choose the Right Platform
Several live video platforms that provide various video and event features such as co-hosting and breakout rooms exist and are available to you and your event organisers. You must choose the right platform based on your requirements, your audience’s needs, and all other aspects of the event such as capacity. The platform you choose must facilitate the number of attendees you believe will attend. The most ideal platform for most online events would be a webinar platform that allows pure personalisation.
Identify and Understand Your Audience
When planning any event, developing a strong understanding of your audience’s interests and requirements is critical. Explaining your objective to your audience without turning the event into an obvious sales pitch will provide a real bond with your audience who may feel there is a lack of human connection with the host due to them being at home. Because it is a virtual event, your audience can simply log out at any time, so you must provide reasons for them to stay interested and participate in the event.
Set Goals for the Event
You should first consider why you want to host a virtual event before you start preparing the objectives of your event as well as choosing which platform to hold it on. Set goals and ensure that everyone involved with the event understands what you want to accomplish. Considering who your audience and event attendees are and what they hope to gain from the virtual event should make for a successful event. Setting SMART goals could be a smart move as it will allow you to have a lot of reasoning behind each step you take in the planning process.
Determine Your Event Format
Virtual event planning, like traditional events, can come in a variety of formats that are suited for different purposes. You could format the event as a virtual workshop with a round-robin of activities and variety of speakers – or you could format it as a webinar with just one host speaker – the format options are limitless. You could even incorporate breakout rooms which allow multiple rooms to divide your attendees and have two seminars or speeches running at the same time.
Choose a Time and Date
You want to take into account how many people will be able to attend, whether or not they’re in different time zones. Not only do you need to determine the most appropriate time to start the event, but you also need to consider how long it is going to run for and inform all attendees of an estimated end time for the event. You always need to leave time for a Q&A so that your audience can ask any questions or queries regarding the event.
