Various localities have restricted in-person events in an effort to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus. However, many organisations still need to conduct gatherings and other events for different reasons, including training, product launches, and other types of get-togethers.
Virtual event platforms have made it possible for companies to hold events, even if the attendees can’t be in one venue physically.
Other Benefits of Virtual Event Platforms
With this tool, people can show up at a designated time, listen to speakers, engage with their fellow attendees, watch entertainers, and do other things they usually do during in-person events.
However, they have to do this virtually or online, in their homes or wherever they are as long as they have an internet connection.
The right virtual event platform allows organisers to recreate the vibe of any type of in-person event over the internet. It can be a fun, exciting gathering that attendees will learn something from and enjoy.
With the right tool and sufficient planning, organisers will also achieve the goals they set for the virtual event.
A 3D virtual event platform, in particular, can give attendees a more enjoyable and memorable experience. Everyone can create and embody their avatar and control their movements.
All these make for better self-expression and peer-to-peer interaction, which are key elements for a successful event.
Additionally, a virtual 3D environment can boost the attendees’ learning outcomes and memory recall and retention.
Selecting the Right Virtual Event Platform
With the growing popularity of virtual events, several platforms have made their way into the market. Because of this, picking the perfect tool can be challenging.
If you want to be sure you will use the right platform for your first virtual event, follow these tips:
1. Set your event goals.
Goal-setting is a key part of corporate event planning. It is also crucial in organising a virtual one.
Identifying your goals for the event can help you narrow down your options. As such, start your search by listing down what you want to gain from your first virtual event.
If you are launching a product, your primary objective should be to encourage your attendees to buy it. Because of this, a platform that offers 3D product replica demonstrations is an excellent option.
If you are planning a conference or company-wide corporate meeting, a 3D virtual platform can serve you well. With features that allow you to design a venue and all attendees to create an avatar, your event will be unique, engaging, and memorable.
2. Look for an all-in-one platform.
Choosing a unified platform is a smart decision since with only one tool, you can do nearly everything you need to do to plan and manage your event.
An all-in-one virtual event platform allows you to set up your event website, create a registration form, design the venue or stage, and do other things you need in preparation for the gathering.
You will then avoid wasting time and effort on learning individual tools to set up the event.
A unified virtual event tool has features that will allow you to set up and manage certain elements of your event, such as an event website and app, networking and attendee engagement, data analytics and integrations.
3. Look for a platform that you can customise.
Having an all-in-one virtual event system won’t do you a lot of good if you can’t customise all or most of its features.
Being able to integrate your organisation’s branding and messaging throughout the platform can help you create a consistent experience for your attendees. Moreover, it can be a valuable marketing tool, too.
To know if a virtual event solution truly meets your current and future needs, find out what kind of customisation options it offers. You should be able to add your branding elements to the registration forms, event website, and correspondence you will send.
Additionally, check how flexible the customisation features are – they should be easy to change and tailor for different events.
Lastly, look into the features that will also enable the attendees to customise their own experience. These include the ability to choose which events they can attend, personalise schedules, and use different communication tools.
4. Consider its ease of use.
Whether you plan on hosting virtual events monthly or several times throughout the year, having a platform that is easy to use will work to your advantage. It will help you become more efficient and save time as you organise activities.
However, you also have to remember that event attendees will use the platform, too. As such, you must ensure your virtual event system has a user-friendly interface your audience can understand and tinker with easily.
Consider the platform’s user journey and try to follow the path attendees will take. Think about how easy or difficult it is to log in and how the virtual environment looks on different screens.
If you are satisfied with those, it’s probable your attendees will like them, too.
5. Look into attendee engagement opportunities.
To reduce the likelihood that your attendees will suffer from Zoom fatigue, choose a virtual event platform that will allow them to engage not only with each other but also with the interactive parts of the event, such as panels, fireside chats, booths, and other 3D elements.
The right system allows organisers to host live Q&A sessions, live polling, surveys, and games – event must-haves that boost audience engagement and keep them glued for hours.
Find out which of these features come with the platform, so that you can reduce the risk of losing attendees halfway through the event.
6. Look for a platform that supports live and on-demand content delivery.
Finally, your virtual event platform should allow you to stream both pre-recorded and live content. Having access to these features will help you greatly as you host various events.
Keep in mind that some events may require you to host a live broadcast with pre-recorded videos. You should be able to do this easily with your new tool.
With these tips in mind, you will be able to choose the right platform that will allow you to host successful and memorable virtual events of any kind.
