How to Organise a Virtual Event
Virtual
Events offer unique benefits, may provide lasting effects on event marketing
and should not be viewed as a short-term fix.
In
2020, with the Corona virus pandemic, many companies are left with event marketing/training
budgets due to the postponement or cancellation of numerous events. With a
global contribution of $1.07 trillion of direct spending towards the worldwide
economy from business events with more than 1.5 billion participants across 180
countries in 2017 (source: eventscouncil.org),
that’s a huge amount left on the table in 2020. Some companies may choose to
repurpose their event marketing budget into other marketing efforts however
some opt to host online events.
Can Virtual Events replace in-person
events?
With video streaming technology now, it has become an
accessible digital experience without the hassle of figuring out logistics of
an in-person event. Without the added expense of travel, accommodation and
other such logistics, the number of persons able to attend may be much larger
than for an in-person event.
While virtual events may not totally replace in-person
events, it is an extremely engaging and a much easier way to network with peers
of an industry.
A virtual event can help reduce our Carbon Footprint by using technology to limit our consumption of fossil fuels, paper, single-use plastics and reduce water wastage.
If you are planing a Virtual Event, we can help. Let's Schedule a Demo
How to get started
Identify Resources
– Since it will be a virtual event, choose a professional looking setting for the
backdrop. In case of large-scale events, quality cameras, sound, lighting,
internet speed and image quality are paramount to ensure seamless high quality
streams.
Technologies to Use
– With video-streaming tools such as Zoom and others like it; it has become
easy to enable multi-way communication all on one screen. Pre-recorded videos
such as speeches from keynote speakers should be professionally done and can be
streamed during the virtual event.
Access to the Event
– Who will have access to your event? Will it be free-for-all or only for
registered attendees? How will you track attendees? Tracking will also help
with gathering post-event feedback. It’s easier to engage with a smaller
audience however large-scale events can have a wider reach.
Promote Engagement
– If you keep the event one-sided with just a single person
speaking/presenting, the audience is bound to lose interest. Include panel
discussions, polls, surveys and live Q&A to keep the audience engaged.
Final Thoughts –
Virtual Events may see an increase in situations such as pandemics or other
force majeure scenarios and in-person events may not entirely be replaced but
with more companies and government authorities embracing virtual events and
meetings it looks soon to become the norm in most cases due to sheer
practicality, cost-effectives and convenience.
How to Professionally Host Your Next Event Entirely
Online
With the current situational challenges and for the
safety of all concerned, if your event has been cancelled or postponed and you
are unsure of when things will get back to ‘normal’, we would like to help.
We at Eventsador have been hard at work to see how best
we can help event organizers go ahead with creating a successful virtual event,
which would be like face-to-face or even better!
The Eventsador App can help keep all registered event
attendees from the Host, Speakers, Organizers, Sponsors and Exhibitors to
Attendees in contact as and when needed with real-time bulletins, polls,
surveys and networking. This App coupled with a video conference will help
people be connected.
For more info, please visit our webpage or let me know when
you’d like to set up a virtual meeting.
Stay Home Stay Safe!