In a virtual event – like in a physical event – similar issues can insure the success of an event – but not them alone ...
1. Like in a physical event, content is king at a virtual event as well. Topnotch and fascinating lectures that provide new ideas to the audience, attractive central speakers, a well-known and enthusiastic event MC, precise media clips that enrich and clarify what is said.
2. An individually customized experience. The digital tool makes it possible to provide an answer to a variety of areas of interest or of professional focus, according to various sections of the audience – by directing participants to "rooms" in which, in a similar fashion to breakout rooms, they can experience various content areas according to interest.
3. Interactivity. The more we create a plethora of varied interactive elements throughout the event, the more we will strengthen the feeling of connection between the participants and the event, and their own involvement in it. Tools such as online chats, trivia questionnaires, puzzles and games already exist today on many of the platforms for virtual meetings, and additional interactive tools will be developed later on.
4. Networking. The possibility to meet with additional participants, to create 1X1 meetings with participants, to meet with staff from the organizing company or the speakers, assist in the creation of effective networking at virtual events also. Yes, it is less effective than a meeting with people in the real world, but it is still possible to create a preliminary connection.
5. A technological platform. There are a number of available platforms in the market, each with its own relative advantages. We must ensure that we have selected the technology that is appropriate to the profile of our event:
Are we interested in seeing all of the participants on the screen and to enable them to participate?
Or perhaps our event is mainly built on short lectures, and we can make do with responses of the participants in chat?
What level of security is needed at the conference?
What are the interactive methods that are built into the platform that we have chosen?
Are we interested in recording the meeting and making it available to the participants or other viewers down the line?
Do we want statistical data from the system regarding the number of participants in every part of the event?
Is the internet infrastructure available to us capable of supporting the transmission of the event in a trustworthy and continuous manner?
6. Timing. The sense of time on screen is different from the sense of time at a physical event.The attention span of the participants is shorter, they are surrounded by stimuli and distractions.
A successful virtual event is built of short, tight chapters, with interactive segments scattered among them that keep the participants alert and connected, along with short breaks that allow the participants to refresh