Whether it’s a conference, meeting, exhibition, tradeshow or workshop, online events have recently been forced to take preference over in-person events. As such, event planners have had to step out of their comfort zones in order to cater for an online audience that still has the same requirements as they did before the COVID era. For companies organizing their own virtual events, we’ve put together some guidelines on how to successfully plan and host your next online event.
Plan, plan and plan again
Just like in-person events, every aspect of the conference/event must be carefully planned and mapped out to avoid any complications. Some questions that should be answered before the start of the event include:
- How many people are expected to attend the event?
- Will there be a fee to attend the event?
- What time should the proceedings start?
- Will you require private meeting rooms for virtual networking?
- Will the event be live?
- Will you need sponsors and speakers?
- What is your budget?
- Will you require language interpreters?
Choose a reliable and state-of-the-art hosting platform
Although it may seem easier to network when attending in-person events, new platforms provide a range of opportunities for attendees to engage with one another. Some platforms, such as 6connex and Brella, facilitate chat rooms where attendees can meet virtually.
Prepare for technological errors
There’s no doubt about it- technology always seems to let us down at the worst possible time! To avoid this from happening during your next virtual event, make sure you’re prepared for any glitches such as file errors or Internet issues. Also keep in mind that not all users will be proficient in using the chosen platform, which is why we suggest setting up an FAQ document in anticipation of troubles that people might encounter.
Ensure you are able to cater for all necessary languages
For virtual events that will be attended by international delegates, it is important to be able to deliver messages in each language. As experts in the field, we have a large database of highly qualified interpreters who are able to seamlessly interpret languages from around the world.
Harness the power of social media
Gain traction for your event by promoting it across a wide variety of platforms. When posting updates on each platform, be sure to engage in two-way communication with your audience by connecting, following and replying to people who make mention of your event. An easy way to track mentions is to assign a hashtag to your event and encourage audiences to make use of it when posting. It is also important to continue the conversation after the event. Thank participants for joining and provide useful insights that were obtained from event discussions.
As leaders in the conference industry, we’re driven to ensure that the industry stays alive during these unprecedented times. Contact us to find out more about our world-class social-distancing inspired conferencing solutions.