Online Events - This is what matters

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The topic of "online events" is more topical today than ever before. Although access to sufficiently fast internet has been available for some time, virtual events have only been in focus for around two years. Not least because of the coronavirus pandemic, virtual meetings have become increasingly popular.

But it's not just social distancing and the increased use of home offices that are responsible for today's popularity. The world is changing and digitalization is progressing more and more. People's needs in terms of work, meetings and social events have changed dramatically.

An online event is no longer just perceived as a substitute, but as a fully-fledged event. You can make very good use of this development when planning your virtual events.

What exactly is an online event?

An online event is basically the opposite of an in-person event. Instead of inviting participants to a fixed venue, all you need is a room to broadcast your event. The participants are not present on site, but take part in the event virtually via end devices such as a PC, tablet or smartphone.

To make such an event interesting, you need creative ideas for your event. An online event can be organized by streaminga live broadcast, or through recorded video material . However, due to the better direct communication, live broadcasts are more recommended than a pre-produced video.

What different types of digital events are there?

There are no limits to creativity when it comes to online events. Theoretically, you can transfer all conceivable types of live meetings to an online format. Popular examples of events that are frequently used by companies are

- Conferences: Organizing an on-site conference can be very difficult. The participants are often in different departments or even branches of a company and would have to be brought to the same location for a conference. This is not necessary with an online event.

Here, every participant has the opportunity to contribute from their own desk. In addition, everyone has access to their own PC. There is no need to bring any documents with you.

- Product roadshows: You are probably only familiar with this type of event from trade fairs or on-site presentations. However, roadshows can also be easily transferred to the virtual world. The product should be optimally staged by an experienced marketing department. A live event is not absolutely necessary in this case. It is important that you use comment and contact functions to collect feedback from your customers.

- Online training and courses: Online training and courses can be a good solution, especially if you want to train a large number of employees in a department. In contrast to face-to-face training, you can have your employees take part in virtual events at different times. This saves time and money, but is just as effective.

- Webinars: A webinar is the virtual version of a seminar. Lecturers, supervisors or experts lead it, while the other participants listen live and can contribute themselves. There are special virtual rooms for this, for which the participants usually need an access code. Webinar software can help to automate manual tasks.

What are the advantages of virtual events?

Virtual events offer a number of advantages. One of the reasons why online events are becoming increasingly popular is the significantly lower cost. A large room or even a hall in which all participants can gather is no longer required. Only the technical equipment needs to be purchased.

However, these are one-off costs and you can use the required technical equipment again and again. Another advantage of online events is the planning security. Neither pandemics nor unforeseen weather events pose a threat to online events. There is also no need to worry about childcare when employees take part in a webinar or training course from home.

What do you need for an online event?

Professional virtual events require the right equipment. Otherwise, you run the risk of the event you are organizing appearing unprofessional or even off-putting to customers. Image and sound quality are the be-all and end-all of a good web event. To guarantee both, you need both a professional camera and a high-quality microphone.

The absolute minimum requirement nowadays is an image resolution of 720p. A lower resolution is no longer up to date and would annoy people attending the event. You should also use the right software for your event. Solutions such as Zoom are suitable for small meetings and webinars.

For large events such as trade fairs or conferences, providers such as STREAMBOXY or Wonder are more suitable.

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How to make your online event unforgettable

To make your digital event a complete success, you need to pay attention to a few things. The most important points that distinguish an unforgettable event from an average one are:

- Interaction and networking: A virtual event should not resemble frontal teaching at school. Let the passive participants of an event become active and have their say. Professional connections can be established and deepened through networking.

- GamificationEnsure that your participants remain attentive. Playful tasks that fit in with the topics discussed will increase the audience's engagement.

- Chat and surveys: At an event with a large number of participants, not everyone can have their say. An open chat offers the opportunity for participants to ask questions in between. Surveys allow you to find out what your audience takes away from the event.

- Professional moderation: Ideally, a virtual event should be led by a competent moderator, just like a real event.

- Breaks for participants: Breaks are essential to keep attention spans permanently high. These can be accompanied by meditation or mindfulness exercises, for example. At a one-day event, ordering food together at the same time can maintain motivation throughout the day.

The costs - how to plan everything for the event

The event costs of a virtual event mainly consist of the costs for the internet connection and the costs for the event software. When choosing a virtual event platform, you should make sure that as many services as possible are already included in the price. Otherwise, you will have to expect additional expenses for participant management software, recording or an extra fee for the technical service provider. If you do not yet have the necessary hardware, you will of course also incur these costs.

Conclusion: Are virtual events worthwhile?

With virtual events, you have your finger on the pulse of the times. In the future, nothing will work without online conferences, webinars and virtual product presentations. The world is becoming increasingly digital and at the same time, unforeseen things often happen.

Events that are held online offer greater planning security for your company and allow employees and customers to take part without having to travel. In times when working from home is becoming increasingly popular, online events are the perfect complement to everyday working life.

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More ideas for online events:

Sustainable events - what is important?

Event Trends 2022: The future of hybrid events

How professional livestreaming works

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