Virtual platforms
seen impressive delegate registration
numbers reported. A 500 in-person
conference could easily swell to a
2,000-person virtual conference.
Content is now delivered globally,
delivering previously hard to reach
speakers online, giving extra insight.
Also, using gamification can create
delightful unexpected experiences for
your delegates and can significantly
boost audience engagement.
2. Create irresistible sponsorship
opportunities
Lead generation is the same whether
it’s online or offline. This is where
platforms that offer sales funnel or
lead capture and tracking will be
invaluable. In fact, we could argue
that digital lead capture is a lot easier
than in-person lead capture! This
feature unlocks huge sponsorship
potential with the creation of more
digital assets, driving more sponsor
exposure, which of course boosts
sponsorship and exhibition revenues.
What’s not to love?
3. Choose the right virtual event
platform that suits your needs –
both in terms of content and in
terms of concept and delivery ROI
Virtual Event Platforms
With the whole world on Zoom, there
is a huge lack of awareness of just
what else is out there.
I remember more than 10 years ago
dabbling with online event software
and loathing it, but it’s been a life
saver for a lot of us. Video
conferencing has been with us for
decades but much more nifty and
clever technology has also arrived.
What platform you choose really
depends on four main factors:
1. Event format and style of content
2. Desired aims and objectives for the
event
3. Size of budget
4. Size of delegate audience
Standard video conference
platforms such as Google Hangouts,
Zoom, Cisco Webex, Lifesize,
Microsoft Teams, Skype and Jitsi fit
the bill for a straightforward Town
Hall, one to many (000s) style
presentation. Lifesize in particular
offers HD quality video. These
platforms are also fine for breakouts
of 25-50 people with Q&A, depending
on the platform. All have freemium to
paid options with additional features.
Virtual event platforms such as
Workcast, Glisser, Blue Jeans, All in
the Loop and Hopin offer the ideal
solution for content-led and
sponsorship-led concepts. Being able
to deliver breakouts, streams and
peer-to-peer networking brings us
closer to the live experience with a
huge sigh of relief.
Audience engagement features such
as polls, surveys; real time feedback
and Q&A invite interaction from
attendees. Glisser is particularly
geared up for audience engagement
with leader boards, most engaged
attendees and lottery pickers to boost
audience interaction with
gamification. You can really drive
value to sponsors and exhibitors with
the virtual exhibitions using private
Above:
The Journey to
One Windows on
Glisser
Below: Michelle
Fanus
video chat, content download features
and branded lobbies and podiums. As
mentioned above, these platforms
really come into their own with the
powerful reporting and analytics
functions. Testing content by seeing
the most popular or engaged speaker
or sponsor can transform audience
insight and the value delivered to
sponsor partners.
A step further into the virtual
experience with platforms such as
vFairs and INEXPO offers audience
avatars and personas bringing the
personal touch to your exhibition
networking. Multi-lingual content,
immersive video and other cool
features are also available.
To enhance your next virtual event
experience consider also items like
dedicated studio space for broadcast
quality presentations, digital
backdrops and the creation of
holograms to name just a few.
Festivals have been using holograms
for some time now.
If you want to learn more about the
platforms, contact Michelle Fanus at:
[email protected] and visit:
www.theconferencedirector.com
ISSUE 108 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 15