Editor : Mike Fletcher
Publishing Director : Duncan Siegle
Editorial Director : Martin Fullard
Accounts Directors : Paul King , James Linin
Graphic Designer : Kateryna Smirnova
Production Controller : Sabrina Boucher
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As someone passionate about live , in-person experiences , I feel I developed Zoom fatigue quicker than most people . A year ago , it was endless quizzes and meet-ups , which more often than not resulted in excessive drinking at the kitchen table whilst friends talked over each other online .
I was asked to do a few presentations and the odd bit of moderating but really , I ’ d already concluded that virtual events were no substitute for the shared experience of being together with people in the same room , venue , exhibition hall , auditoria or festival field .
Gradually though , I began to see the emergence of new digital event platforms , which featured innovation that was intriguing , almost exciting . And I began to take more notice of how companies were evolving the event planning process for increased online audience engagement .
I grew impressed with the speed at which corporates and agencies were figuring all this new stuff out and how planners were up-skilling themselves as though their livelihoods depended on it ( which of course they did ).
Then it dawned on me . Digital event management is an emerging marketing discipline at the very start of its evolutionary existence , with the potential to complement live and extend reach . Yes ,
What a difference a year makes
there ’ s been 3D exhibition packages , virtual venue show-rounds and live event streaming services pre-covid but they were largely either false dawns or supporting actors at best .
The pandemic has accelerated the concept of what constitutes a successful digital event from ‘ needs-must ’ to ‘ must have ’ both in terms of production values , platform innovations , speaker talent , audience interactions and sponsor involvement . Being here at the start of something feels … well , momentous .
What was largely forgiven by virtual viewer audiences at the start of 2020 is now no longer tolerated . And I ’ ve witnessed both the great and the toe-curlingly terrible , just in the past few months .
Digital Event News is here to help with creative inspiration , top tips , platforms to check-out and opinions full of online pearls of wisdom . In this issue , we also reveal the 21 champions of the debut Digital Event Awards , which are a shining example of how far this discipline has already travelled .
So take us with you on your digital events journey . Who knows where this may lead .
Mike Fletcher Editor Digital Event News
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Chris Clipston , MD at Circdata believes planners should take inspiration from Netflix |
Showcase MD Ben Collings advocates taking a more straightforward approach |
Collaborate Global ’ s Ollie Biddle urges organisers to always have the virtual audience front-of-mind |
Gavin Newman , CEO of iVent , advises a people-first approach to choosing event technology |