Conferences and meetings have evolved, and gone are the days where they have to happen in person, as we know. Of course, the best events do take place in person because people have the chance to meet others. However, doing a virtual conference is an excellent way to get any organization on the map. For businesses or nonprofits, doing a remote conference is a low-cost way to stake a thought leadership position.
Why a Virtual Conference Makes Sense
There are several reasons why conducting a virtual conference makes sense for many organizations. The following are 5 top reasons, but you can probably figure out other reasons, including expanding your brand identity.
- Thought leadership. One of the most compelling reasons to do a virtual conference is that it’s an opportunity to show your leadership within a particular industry. Having your team included in the line-up allows you to share your ideas.
- Accessibility. Another great reason for a remote conference is because it’s accessible. Virtual meetings eliminate geographical barriers, and they allow almost anyone anywhere on the planet to attend.
- Cost-effectiveness. Remote conferences and workshops cost less. These kinds of meetings can occur for a fraction of the costs of in-person events. So, it’s an opportunity to lower costs and get more people to attend due to the reduced entrance fees.
- Environmental impact. Virtual meetings, workshops, and conferences are excellent ways to minimize carbon emissions. So, it’s a chance to offer your followers an eco-friendly approach to making magic.
- Flexibility. Finally, these types of events offer immense flexibility in scheduling and participation. You’ll increase the chances of getting the speakers you want and having more people attend. (Learn about virtual event management).
By the way, contrary to the myth, a virtual conference can create networking opportunities. Chatrooms, break-out sessions, and remote lounges are all excellent ways to get people to connect with each other in a virtual environment.
Tips for Hosting Successful Virtual Conferences
Now that you know some of the reasons why a virtual conference may make sense for your organization, let’s get into some of the tips to make it something people want to attend.
Do Detailed Planning
The most critical thing you need to do to have people want to attend your virtual conference is to have a fantastic line-up of speakers and topics. To get to that, you like to define clear goals and objectives. Next, you want to work on your agenda and get great speakers. Remember to ensure you have the right amount of time allotted to the technical set-up, and invest in marketing and promotions.
First Impressions Count
You want to put your best foot forward from the start. Therefore, adhering to good design principles on promotional materials is essential. Your landing page, digital assets, and emails all give people an impression. That impression will motivate people to attend just as much as your speaker line-up and program will. So, make sure to look like a million bucks in every way.
Choose the Right Conference Platform
Next, you must choose the virtual conference and meeting platform that makes the most sense for your organization. Of course, you can select from platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams. Whatever you choose, make sure it provides the flexibility you want. Ensure settings are taken care of for all speakers (i.e., turn off animations) so confetti doesn’t appear on a speaker when they make a gesture.
Virtual Conference Content Quality
Remember that high-quality content is essential when planning your virtual conference. You should know your audience. Consider their pain points and what they want to learn. As you recruit speakers, ensure they can deliver relevant, informative, and engaging content. Develop engaging presentations and multimedia with your designers to keep people focused and paying attention.
Promote Your Event
Do we have to say it? Sure. You have to promote your event. Unfortunately, one of the big misses for organizations promoting is not taking a multi-channel approach. Don’t be shy about your virtual conference. Ensure you promote on social media and reach out to influencers to help you broaden your message. Create email campaigns and invest funds in targeted ads to get the word out about the conference.
Engage Your Audience During Your Conference
There are two tips for the conference itself. The first is to engage with your audience at the event. You should aim to make the conference interactive and fun. How can you do it? Well, lucky for you, there are several ways. For instance, you can do polls, live chats, and Q&A sessions. These activities will help your audience stay with you and want to participate. Remember to promote these activities in the lead-up to the event because it encourages them to participate in the conference.
Provide Technical Support
Finally, ensure you have several people on hand to work through technical support for speakers and participants. Remember, you want to have a seamless experience, and to ensure it, you have to have a top tech support team. By doing so, the team will troubleshoot any things that arise, minimizing disruptions and making your virtual conference an enormous success.
Virtual conferences are an excellent way to promote your business or organization. By embracing the potential of these events, you stake a position as a thought leader in the market, and you create an opportunity to create an impactful event that resonates with people far and wide.
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