You're not alone if you've ever hosted a virtual event to find your audience completely distracted in the middle of it.
According to a recent survey, the single most challenging aspect of virtual events is keeping the audience engaged. Why?
Limited interaction means virtual event attendees are much more likely to be distracted than if they attend in person (for example by phone calls, Instagram, children, or anything else that calls for their attention).
That being said, you're not doomed to a distracted audience.
There are some key things you can do before, during, and after the event to keep your attendees not only engaged but actually enjoying it.
You build anticipation and generate curiosity by creating a connection with your audience before they even arrive.
Time is money and nobody likes wasting money. If invitees think your event will be a waste of their time, there's no way they're showing up.
Show them why they need to come by tailoring invitations to each invitee. People are much more likely to join if you highlight why the event is valuable to them on their invitation.
Ensure your event doesn't go unnoticed in a sea of digital distractions by making event promotion a priority.
Event Preview - Provide insights into the event's agenda, highlights, and what attendees can learn or achieve by participating.
Countdowns - Set a countdown timer on your event website or social media platforms to create that sense of urgency.
Ask invitees to share any questions they'd like to see answered at the event when sending out email reminders or even on the invitation.
Don't let your event become a soothing background noise for a siesta. Get them involved! It's impossible to zone out if you're actively participating.
These encourage active participation and lead to lively discussions with interactive elements.
Presenters are the meat and potatoes of your event. One low-quality speaker can quickly turn a lively event into a snooze fest.
Start by choosing professional event presenters. Encourage speakers to use engaging visuals, storytelling, and interactive elements to maintain attendees' attention.
Introduce gamified elements whenever possible to encourage participation and make the event more fun.
Make use of: Trivia games, scavenger hunts, bingo, and other challenges for prizes.
You want them to do something about whatever message you're sharing.
Keep the content fresh in their minds by sharing an event recap on the event page, via email, or through social media.
People love to share their opinions. Use this to your advantage by soliciting feedback from attendees. Understand the event experience from the perspective of the attendee, not the host.
Generate a buzz about your event. When attendees discuss your event after it's over, they're much more likely to remember key takeaways and take action.
Create a group on Slack, LinkedIn, social media, or a channel of your choice for continued discussion.
Keeping your virtual event audience engaged is a challenge, but it's not impossible. Here at Virtual Velocity, we love helping people put on amazing virtual events, it's kind of our thing.
Sit down with us today and we'll help you make it happen.