We’ve all had to adapt to new ways of doing things this year. And for many of us, that includes how we run events! Today, more events are taking place virtually than ever before. That’s why we knew it was time to share our virtual event best practices with you today!
5 Virtual Event Best Practices You Can’t Miss
It’s going to take a long time (if ever!) for events to go back to how they used to be.
So it’s a good idea to get on board with these virtual event best practices now and make the most of them! Let’s get started.
1. Make it as human as possible
Even without that “in-person” element, you can give your virtual events a personalized touch that speaks to your attendees!
There are several different ways to do this depending on the format of your event.
A great way to get started is keeping your panels small. If there are too many cooks in the kitchen, so to speak, each panel member will have a tough time giving in-depth, conversational answers.
Whenever possible, stick to panels of just a few guests at a time to offer attendees a more personalized, human experience.
Another quick tip? Use attendee avatars for a better virtual event! Here’s how.
2. Engage attendees
It used to be a lot easier to keep attendees engaged during an event. During virtual events, it might take a little more creativity. (And not only is creativity one of the virtual event best practices, but it applies to any type of event!)
One of our favorite ways to keep attendees engaged during your virtual event actually starts BEFORE your event.
Reach out and communicate with them before the event. When you answer any questions they have and speak with them more directly about the event, it helps promote excitement leading up to the event.
Then, this excitement can translate into engagement during the event!
3. Make it interactive
Now, what if we told you there was a way to engage attendees while also humanizing your virtual event?
Keep reading, because this is one of the virtual event practices you REALLY don’t want to miss:
Make your virtual event interactive!
Give your attendees the ability to interact not only with presenters or panel members but with one another!
When they have the opportunity to speak up, ask questions, and get to know one another, you’ll see engagement rates skyrocket. Not to mention, attendees will come away feeling more connected than if they just passively sat through a virtual event.
4. Use the right technology
Technology can truly make or break a virtual event. All of the virtual event best practices can go to waste if you don’t have the right technology behind them!
Do your research into the best virtual event software ahead of time, and make sure you do several trial runs of the technology before your event begins.
And it’s not just software you’ll want to consider. Other technical elements like lighting, sound, and design play an incredibly important role.
5. Hire the right speaker
If you want attendees to come away from your virtual event feeling connected, inspired, and engaged, hiring the right speaker for your event will help you do just that!
And finding the perfect speaker for your event is easier than you might think. We’ve got an incredible selection of presenters with virtual content and certified virtual presenters to choose from!
So not only will your speaker deliver a great presentation, but they’ll also be familiar with the virtual event best practices particular to this format.
Or, if you’re the speaker in question, here are our virtual event best practices specifically for speakers.
Put these virtual event best practices to work for you
If current conditions make it difficult or impossible to host an in-person event, take the safer, more practical route and opt for a virtual event. Don’t cancel, pivot!
eSpeakers Marketplace has many presenters on a wide range of topics and fees who are qualified to present live, on-screen for your virtual audience using a tool like Zoom or WebEx.
Click here to access our Virtual Presentations filter to find speakers and experts who can present virtually.
Did you learn a lot from these 5 virtual event best practices?
Here are three other posts you won’t want to miss:
7 Ways to Improve Virtual Attendance at Your Next Event
Using Attendee Avatars for a Better Virtual Event
6 Steps For Putting On A Virtual Event That Works
