Planning & Executing Successful Virtual Events

Successful virtual events that delight attendees and make money won’t be achieved by simply moving your in-person event format and agenda online. With the vertiginous risk of attendees leaving your event with just one click, or becoming distracted by other priorities, it is critical to plan well and execute flawlessly.

Join our training to learn or refresh on how to plan and create successful virtual events, how to ensure interactive and engaging sessions and, for those who aren’t tied to one particular technology, which platform is right for you.

3 Minutes with Virtual & Hybrid Events Trainer Claire Poole

Top 5 Takeaways

1. Acknowledge that virtual events aren’t the same as a live events, but you can unlock genuine, in some ways greater value for your attendees and sponsors through content, networking and engagement
2. A strong moderator is CRUCIAL for a virtual event in ways you never had to worry about for a live event, they set the tone for the whole session
3. Yes you can enable strong networking opportunities virtually, by understanding of your audience, planning and preparation
4. Practice makes perfect, and for virtual events practice and preparation is everything. Dry runs with literally everything; the technology, formats, speakers, staff, timing, interactive elements, networking…
5. It’s not just you — everybody’s no1 fear and concern is something going wrong with technology on the day. Knowing what issues you may encounter and planning contingencies reduces stress tenfold

Outline

Segment 1: Planning: How To Create Successful Virtual Events

• Strategy/content (incredibly different for all, but highlighting how content and format fit together, having objectives for the session etc)
• Format – single or multiple presentations, interview-style, moderated panel discussion, interactive with audience, product demonstration or a mixture
• Timing – day/time
• Length/duration – evidence of optimal duration for engagement
• Selecting and supporting speakers and moderators (esp. those who haven’t participated in online events before)
• Dry run with all those involved, to include:
  • Introduction to the technology/tool and features
  • Active equipment check
  • Agenda and format run through
  • Q&A
• Virtual event etiquette – webcam set up, dress code, location/noise
• Ensure content is optimised for mobile
• Review what can go wrong, and create a contingency
• Marketing – invitation process and frequency
• Ensuring success via pre-event attendee communications
• Sales – value propositions and revenue streams for online events

Segment 2: Execute Effective and Engaging Virtual Events

• A guide to moderating effectively
• Having a killer script
• Preparing a solid intro/outro
• Prepping questions for Q&A to avoid silence
• Ensure your slides are on brand and engaging
• Using different media formats optimally – polls, video, white board
• Practice, practice, practice
• Ensure someone has your back
• Accept that things might go wrong
• Post virtual event best practice and tracking results
• A future outlook for virtual events

Segment 3: Which Platform Is Right For Your Virtual Event?*

• How to consider your virtual event objectives as you look at platforms
• Understand what virtual event platforms are available
• Get the inside track on 10 popular virtual event platforms from Hopin to ON24**
• Hear the capabilities and limitations of these platforms
• Understand pricing models and hidden costs
• Inspiring ideas to take your virtual events to the next level

* We do not receive commissions for highlighting any platforms mentioned.

**This is a starting place for you to consider which platform is best for you, your own due diligence is encouraged post-training