How to Host a Successful and Engaging Virtual Event in 2023

The virtual events industry is booming, with brands falling over each other to host bigger and better virtual events that deliver results. However, there are still far too many uninspiring andboring virtual events taking place. The below blog will tell you how to host a successful and, most importantly, engaging virtual event that guarantees to impress.

1. Focus on the Basics

Think carefully about who you want to attend your event and what will inspire them to register. You might know what field you want to target, but focusing as precisely as possible will get you better success. The beauty of a virtual event is that you are not restricted by a physical location,so you can reach a larger audience. However, you still need to make sure that your message is focused and that you keep your audience engaged.

Another important basic is who you will choose to host your virtual event. This could make or break your event. Many businesses opt to hire a professional speaker, but having a known authority figure in the field would work well if they can be engaging.

2. Choose the right platform

If you are new to hosting a virtual event, you need to make sure you pick the right platform, as this can have a huge impact on your event’s success. If you are unsure which will be the best for you, you should talk to a professional virtual event company who can help you with all the details.

There are many different platforms available for you to choose from. Consider what interactive features are available during the event as well as any pre-event features like payment processing or referral tracking. Some of the most popular virtual event platforms are:

vFairs

vFairs is one of the most popular and well-reviewed event platforms around at the moment. It focuses on ‘fair’ types of events, such as career fairs or student fairs, so they are excellent for an interactive feel and large audiences, but may not be the best option for smaller events. They also host in-person or hybrid events so they’re a good option if you are trying to include everyone.

Hopin

Hopin is a leading platform in the field. It might be more suitable for your event than vFairs as it works for large and small events equally. It’s also scalable so if you end up with a larger success than you anticipated, it won’t matter. The free plan only goes up to 2 hours so it is likely that you will need to pay.

InEvent

InEvent appeals to many – it is highly customizable for a wide variety of events (including in-person or hybrid) and has features like registration management, promotion and live streaming. Other recommended customizable platforms are Hubilo and BigMarker if this is what you need for your event.

Airmeet

Airmeet is a very user-friendly platform – which will be particularly useful if virtual events are new for you. It can work for businesses of all sizes and has a range of features that you would expect from a decent platform.

3. Take advantage of digital technology

Your audience is engaging with you via digital technology, so you should push to use additional online tools to make their experience memorable.

Try pre-recorded video content to break up the event and avoid attendees losing interest in your speaker. This shouldn’t just be a person talking to camera. Consider video tours, drone footage, and interviews. You could even use animation to explain difficult concepts.

Aside from the visual, there is a wide range of interactive technologies that you can use to keep your audience interested during your event, such as:

• Polling or voting – remember to keep the questions simple and add a ‘not applicable’ option. Most platforms will have their own methods for including a poll; just make sure it will work in the way you want it.
• Surveys – many people use a survey to get post-event feedback, but consider others options. Your attendees might like up-to-date information, so a quick survey with the results given at the end of the event might appeal.
• Gamification – the types of games you can bring in will depend on the number of people attending. If your event has a small audience, then you could consider ice-breaking games, if larger, then you could try forms of treasure hunts. You could focus on your main event purpose or bring in your sponsors for ideas. Consider splitting your audience into teams to encourage people to talk to each other. It all depends on the atmosphere that you want to create.
• Quizzes – these might be related to the information you are providing at the event, or you might want to go off the wall and just have some fun. If you intendit to be a social bonding experience for the audience, then create teams to work together. If you want people to engage with the information, then try quick-fire true or false questions.

All of the above can be seamlessly integrated into your virtual event so that attendees can feel even more involved and engaged with both your brand and your event. Again a professional company will be able to advise you on what will work best for your audience and style of event.