By Christophe Rude
Whether you’re looking to boost brand awareness, increase leads and sales, or simply get your message out there, hosting a virtual event is a great way to do it. Done well, a virtual event can be an engaging and powerful marketing tool.
But with so many choices and so much at stake, how do you make sure your virtual event is a success? Below, we’ve put together a list of our top tips for planning and hosting a successful virtual event. Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to having a successful online event that delivers Results That Matter.
Hire a virtual event emcee
Yes, you will need a virtual event emcee. This person is in charge of keeping your event on track, moving things along, and keeping the energy up. They will also be your go-to for attendees’ questions and can help keep the conversation flowing.
Don’t forget that the emcee is also there to represent your brand. So make sure you choose someone who is polished, professional, and personable.
Setting a Clear Purpose and Goal
Before you start planning your virtual event, take a step back and ask yourself some critical questions. What is the goal of your event? What do you want to achieve? Once you have a clear purpose in mind, it will be much easier to plan the rest of your event with a virtual event emcee.
Your goal might be to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website or sell more products. Whatever it is, make sure you are clear about it and that it ties in with the overall goal of your business.
Establishing Engaging Event Speakers
Your event will be nothing without engaging speakers. You need to ensure that you are reaching out to the right people who can draw in a crowd and keep them engaged.
Do your research on potential speakers and their topics of discussion. Nobody wants to attend an event where the speaker is talking about something they’re not interested in. Make sure that the speaker has a reputation for being engaging and interesting.
Reach out to potential speakers and see if they would be interested in participating in your event. Let them know what the event is about and what you’re hoping to get out of it. If they’re on board, work out the details of their participation.
Crafting the Right Promotion Strategy
You want your virtual event to be seen and heard by the right people—all of the hard work you put into it isn’t worth much if only a few attendees show up or take part.
For that, you need a well-crafted promotion strategy. Social media is one great way to spread the word, but don’t overlook strategies like email newsletters and direct mail. Reach out to your audience on all channels that make sense for your event, and don’t forget to include a link to any registration pages or tickets.
Make sure to properly define your target audience before you start crafting content for promotion. Depending on who you’re targeting, you can create tailored messaging for each demographic, ensuring that your message reaches the right people. Customized content has been proven to increase engagement and enables you to build relationships with current customers and tap into new ones.
Utilizing the Most Appropriate Technology Platforms
It’s essential that you select the right technology platform for your virtual event. Depending on the size of your audience and the type of event, you should pick a platform that can accommodate all your needs. Do some research and consider each platform’s features, scalability, security protocols, and cost before making a decision.
For instance, if you’re hosting a hybrid event where attendees can join virtually or in person, you might want to consider platforms that offer features like streaming video and chat rooms for virtual attendees. And if you’re hosting a large-scale conference with multiple sessions, consider platforms that offer ways to manage different tracks and additional break-out rooms.
Getting the right tech setup will go a long way in making your virtual event successful. So be sure to do your due diligence and make an informed choice when selecting the appropriate technology platform for your event!
Following Up After the Virtual Event
After your virtual event is complete, you don’t want to rest on your laurels – and you certainly don’t want to forget about your attendees. It’s essential to stay in touch after the event so your relationship with them doesn’t simply end there.
First, thank attendees for their time and participation. It doesn’t have to be too formal – a simple “thanks for coming!” or “No one could have asked for a better audience!” can go a long way in making people feel appreciated.
You should also consider sharing follow-up materials (like handouts or recordings) after the event so attendees have continued access to the information they gained during the virtual event. This allows them to continue to benefit from what they learned even after the fact.
Finally, following up with feedback forms is always a great idea. This helps you gain valuable insights that allow you to make improvements and plan better events going forward!
Conclusion
Finally, here are a few last tips to help make sure your virtual event is a success:
Create a strong branding and marketing strategy. This will help you to create awareness and excitement for your event.
Make sure your event website is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Create a social media plan and make sure to promote your event on all of your social media channels.
Provide a live video and chat option for participants who want to interact with each other in real-time.
Planning a virtual event can be a lot of work, but with careful planning and a lot of hard work, it can be a huge success!