How To Host Virtual Events

There’s no denying the fact that companies of all sectors and sizes have benefited from the right event strategy. There are several benefits for organizations who choose to host and throw events: they can help brands get exposure, help companies reach their target customer, offer networking opportunities, create positive and memorable customer experiences, and generate revenue.

While face-to-face interaction will always have its place, the pandemic has shown us that there are also concrete advantages to hosting virtual events. Many businesses pivoted to virtual events as part of their strategy, but what are the best practices for hosting and throwing virtual events? Let’s examine what you can do to ensure your virtual event is successful.

Have A Clear Schedule/Agenda

There are many different kinds of virtual events that you can throw, but you first will have to understand your agenda regarding the agenda. For example, offering an invite-only webinar to existing customers makes sense if you want to build customer loyalty. 

However, this strategy is irrelevant if you want to reach new potential customers. In this case, throwing a virtual conference with keynote speakers may be the best move. A hybrid event might be the best option if you’re trying to throw a virtual event to encourage team-building among employees worldwide.

You must understand your objectives before you consider throwing a virtual event. Whether you’re trying to drive sales, build brand awareness, or showcase new features, keep these goals in mind as you plan your virtual event. Decide on the kind of virtual event you will host, who will be involved, and how you plan on spreading the word about it. 

Promote It Properly

Once you have a clear schedule and understand exactly what you want to accomplish, you want to ensure that your target customer KNOWS about your virtual event. Companies often accomplish this by promoting the virtual event on all social media channels or even hiring influencers to help promote the event, explain why it matters to their target consumer, and how it will help them with their specific pain points.

It may also be worth considering SEO when planning and promoting your virtual event since the right keywords can help your event gain exposure. If you have a large email list, then leveraging it for a virtual event email marketing strategy can also be effective. Another strategy might be asking sponsors, partners, or speakers to promote the event to attract as many people as possible.

Anticipate Potential Issues/Challenges

We all know that events don’t always go as planned. If you are serious about having a successful virtual event, you should have people on hand to ensure the event goes off without a hitch. This might require hiring technical experts to solve any video or audio issues during the event. 

Hiring moderators is another way to avoid your virtual event getting derailed or becoming stale. These moderators can help guide the conversation, ensure it’s as engaging and relevant as possible, and keep attendees focused. If your virtual event doesn’t have enough bandwidth or has poor sound quality, keep in mind that it can affect your company’s reputation. 

Have A Strategy After The Virtual Event

Okay, so you’ve thrown a great virtual event! Believe it or not, your work has just begun. Once the event is over, you’ll want to examine what went right and wrong so that you can improve virtual event systems and processes in the future. You’ll also want to know how attendees learned about the event, which can help refine your virtual event marketing strategy.

Following up with attendees can also prove to be insightful and potentially profitable. Analytics can also help you determine what part of the virtual event was more engaging and can help decide whether or not you should adjust the content or speakers accordingly.

Entre regularly hosts virtual events to help our members connect, network, and learn from each other. Interested in some of our upcoming panels, lectures, and webinars? You can also create your own virtual events, and check our calendar to find out about upcoming virtual events.