5 Tactics for Engaging Attendees in Virtual Conference Events
As conferences shift to a virtual world event planners are heavily focused on finding ways to engage attendees in a manner similar to that of attendance at a live event. Although virtual conference events struggle to deliver the same powerful level of engagement that attendees find in-person, steps can be taken to get attendees more actively engaged and to boost participation efforts. Follow these 5 tactics for engaging attendees in virtual conference events to produce a similar level of activity that would be expected from an in-person, live event.
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#1. Engaging Content & Live Streaming
First and foremost, if you want attendees to engage you need to deliver engaging content via livestream. Live Streaming just any content won’t work here.
You need content that is going to go beyond the typical presentation to bring the attendee into the conference and keep them actively engaged for the duration. The stage is all yours — what will you do to deliver the most engaging content experience for your attendees?
Virtual conference events have the ability to incorporate a multitude of content options into the mix. For example, your entire content library is at your fingertips.
Unlike when presenting live, in-person, when presenting virtually you can incorporate various multimedia assets into the presentation. There’s absolutely no excuse here to be boring or otherwise detached from your audience.
#2. Virtual Networking Events
Networking is one of the greatest downfalls to the virtual conference, but that’s only if events are not planned in advance to warm up those networking opportunities and get attendees engaged.
Virtual networking is a critical element of the virtual conference and it’s your job to get your audience engaged.
Consider the following virtual networking events for an engaging conference:
-Discussion groups & chat forums
-Open panel groups
-Matchmaking attendees based on interest or behavior
-Small group chat
-Team games or other networking events
Including multiple networking opportunities in your virtual conference is key to generate engagement that members will be satisfied with. Keep in mind that many conference attendees come to an in-person event simply for the networking.
Therefore, a virtual conference must provide that same level of networking opportunity in order to be considered a valuable opportunity for all attendees involved.
Many attendees focus heavily on the fact that it’s not what you know, but who you know that matters. Delivering key opportunities for attendees to get to know others is vital to the success of the event.
#3. Educational Events & Learning Opportunities
Engaging attendees at virtual conference events is all about what they know and how they share their education with others. Incorporating plenty of educational events and learning opportunities into the conference will help attendees to engage with like minds.
Consider delivering educational content early in the event and offering up tools to assess progress and celebrate milestones as a group. Virtual evaluations and peer-to-peer feedback is essential to the engagement of the group.
Consider offering badges or certifications to attendees for completion of various parts of the virtual conference event. For example, attendees can get a badge for participating in the Q&A panel or a certification for completing a particular quiz relative to the event.
Let attendees showcase badges and certifications as a way to connect and assess the educational level of others in the group.
#4. Virtual Sponsoring
Virtual conference events, like live events, require a happy, engaged audience in order to be considered a success, but sponsoring or fundraising goals are also important.
Incorporating sponsorship opportunities into the virtual event advertising and content requires careful planning to ensure the sponsorship opps don’t sound overly salesy. Likewise, sponsors represent another way to engage the group attendees and get them involved.
Connect sponsors with audience members that are directly related to what they are sponsoring. For example, if a sponsor is involved in the production of a specific portion of a presentation, make the sponsor available to all members or attendees that participated in that presentation.
Allow sponsors to share their content with that audience to generate maximum engagement and exposure for the brand.
Several opportunities to connect sponsors with attendees for engagement exist including:
-Providing a sponsor exhibitor directory for attendees.
-Offering sponsors banner ads that link attendees to sponsor websites.
-Providing sponsors an open forum chatroom where attendees and sponsors can communicate.
-Delivering sponsored demo videos or webinars to the interested audience.
Sponsor engagement with attendees represents an added layer in which attendees of virtual conference events can appreciate their involvement with the conference. Just be careful with the way that you deliver sponsored content to ensure attendee engagement ends on a positive note.
#5. Integrated Audience Interactions
Virtual conference events that focus on delivering audience interaction opportunities understand that audience engagement is key to the success of the virtual event.
Interaction and participation from attendees is vital to the success of the event and can make a difference in whether the event is shared
with others in a positive or negative way. As you work to engage your audience, consider how you will provide opportunities for them to interact with one another and with your virtual conference speakers, keynote presenters and sponsors.
Digital platforms provide a wide range of audience interaction opportunities including.
Consider the following to get your virtual conference event attendees engaged:
-Quizzes that can be used to deliver key audience preferences, details, and demographic analytics for future use.
-Social feeds and event tracking.
-Q&A attendee sessions for increased engagement and participation.
-Participation awards for most engaged audience members.
-Live polls to generate group feedback and attendee information.
Get Started with Virtual Conference Events
Ready to host a virtual conference of your own? Give Beverly Boy Productions a call. We’ll help you plan and execute a virtual conference event that’s right for your business or niche. Our professional virtual event video production team is ready to help you get started.
