Module 5 : Choosing the right platform
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR :
NAME : MIGUEL NEVES COMPANY : WWW . MIGUELSEVEN . COM JOB TITLE : CHIEF SOCIAL STRATEGIST
Miguel Neves has worked in the events industry for more than 12 years , spending half of this time helping to organise the IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX America exhibitions . For the last three years , Neves has worked as an independent consultant across marketing , community management , social media and everything in between . His clients are mainly events and conference industry people and for the past few months , like everyone , he ’ s been focused on the transference to digital and online events , and demystifying them for clients .
Are virtual events going to feature heavily as part of the event mix going forward ? What evidence have you seen ?
There ’ s a lot of apprehension around virtual and online events . Companies have been trying to tackle the challenge of translating live into online from some strange angles so I ’ ve been helping them to navigate the landscape and grow a bit of confidence around the planning and staging of virtual events . Event professionals are still great event professionals whether they ’ re planning events online or in-person so I ’ m just trying to help them to realise and understand that .
One thing for sure though is that the potential of online events is being taken a lot more seriously now so planners , together with their clients , will definitely continue down this road .
For example , there ’ s more of an understanding that the potential is around content and the opportunities of broadcasting content online to a broader audience .
Despite the limitations of forming social , face-to-face connections over virtual events , moving forward , I believe companies will be able to make the best of both worlds .
We ’ ll be able to deliver great communication , great content online and then chose those VIP experiences and what ’ s important for an in-person live experience . Maybe , when we meet in-person we ’ ll focus more on the social element and leave the education , learning and development for the computer screen . That way , we can really make the most of being around other people to network and brainstorm new ideas and strategy . I for one , would rather watch a TED talk
“ EVENT PROFESSIONALS ARE STILL GREAT EVENT PROFESSIONALS WHETHER THEY ’ RE PLANNING EVENTS ONLINE OR IN-PERSON .”
than sit in an auditorium with 5,000 other people . So how do we get those two things to marry and produce events that have the best of both worlds ? We ’ re all on a steep learning curve right now .
Provide a top line overview of the module and what it covers .
My module is all about finding the right tools for creating online events and experiences . It takes a holistic approach . I try to stop people thinking directly about the tools and their potential and I ask students to take a step back and consider the objectives . I get them to think about what they want to do with their event , and consider their audiences really carefully to determine whether or not they ’ re tech savvy and how you set-up your event to ensure they all have the experience you originally intended for them .
It ’ s important to start from the beginning by getting that concept right . Then understand how to pull people in . I see
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