Five Things About Virtual Events That Are Slowly Killing You
A virtual event is vastly different from an in-person event. It can be fraught with pitfalls for planners who are inexperienced with the format. All the logistics—and potential glitches—of pulling off a virtual event can stop even the most experienced planners in their tracks; especially as attendees’ expectations for elevated experiences and content production continue to grow. We understand how stressful it can be to navigate the realm of virtual events as that bar is set higher and higher. These are the five biggest issues standing between you and success.
1) Virtual Event Platforms (and Their Customer Service)
There’s never been such a diverse range of services and platforms out there to host your virtual event. Keep in mind that the ideal software application will be able to support you from start to finish. Most come with innovative features that allow you to monitor where people are and what they’re doing so you can ensure that you’re offering the best, most tailored experience possible. These features may be vital to your virtual event’s success, but it’s important to remember that robust platforms are big financial and time investments and their customer service is not a reliable option.
We’ve seen many make the mistake of assuming full event platforms come completely built out with a customer service team ready to assist. The truth is you will either need to factor in training time for team members if they are not well-versed in the technological expertise required to build out these platforms or hire a professional agency for support. If you’re looking for a simple solution in place of a robust, and difficult-to-operate platform, check out our post on microsites for a simple, custom solution.
2) Technical Glitches
Virtual events are completely dependent on technology. From selling tickets online through event ticketing platforms to airing the event through webcasting software, from interacting with virtual attendees on the day of the event to collecting feedback once it is over, everything happens through one software or the other. You also have to consider the technical equipment that goes into the production of a virtual event, like cameras, microphones, lighting equipment, tripods, and internet routers—just to name a few.
Things like a confusing interface, a malfunctioning camera, or a weak internet connection can ruin a virtual event experience. Amateurish production will also show, and attendees—who’ve seen professionally produced YouTube videos and TV shows—will feel the difference and find your virtual event lacking. Issues like these could even lead to attendees giving up on your event midway. This is why it’s important to invest in the right team, good technology, and more than a few test runs before the actual event. We have all been attendees at events that have failed due to technical issues. Don’t add yours to the list.
3) Unprepared Speakers
Presenting for a virtual event is slightly different from being on a stage in front of a group; even the most experienced keynote speakers have been struggling to adjust to the new format. However, good event planners are going the extra mile to give speakers the support they need to succeed. This can be as simple as having an experienced technician walk them through their home setup to identify recording nuances and minimize common technical glitches that can be so frustrating. You could also take it a step further by having a professional content production team send a remote recording kit to your presenters with the correct equipment they need to create a professional presentation; everything from lighting and cameras to microphones and laptops. This not only minimizes glitches but adds consistency and polish across all presentations.
4) The Battle For Your Budget
The elephant in the room when it comes to virtual events is, of course, budget. Technology and equipment for virtual, hybrid, or live-streamed events come with a price tag. You get what you pay for and that could mean the difference between an iPhone production and a professional one. If you’re having difficulties garnering support, approval, and buy-in, Kennedy Events recommends reading our guide on how to arm yourself to successfully make the case for a bigger budget.
5) Stale Content
When it comes to the virtual realm, it’s hard not to feel like every idea falls into the “been-there-done-that” category. Successful event planners are learning to avoid making the mistake of overlooking content production. Taking the extra step to invest in professional content production using AV experts will elevate your presentations from an everyday Zoom call to a polished presentation that will keep your audience engaged. Both attendees and event organizers are increasingly holding content production to higher quality standards as virtual events become more commonplace. A flat slide presentation and few prompts for engagement won’t cut it these days. Your attendees’ eyes will glaze over and they will tune out if you are not offering fresh, engaging content that invites them to interact with the event. At the end of the day, we need to remember that attendees are coming to your event to hear and see the information you have to offer them, so you need to make it engaging by delivering an experience that is polished and professional.
Need Help Creating a Virtual Event That Wows?
The team at Kennedy Events knows their way around the virtual realm. We’ll work with you to develop content that grabs your audience’s attention and doesn't let go. Schedule some time with us to learn how we can bring our expertise to your next virtual—or live, in-person—event while keeping your attendees engaged and entertained.
PAIGE BUCK
Paige Buck is the co-owner of Kennedy Events, a large-scale event management company based in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City. Our team creates stress-free conferences and events with a positive impact, which allows our clients to resonate with their audience. Kennedy Events specializes in producing flawless product launches, award ceremonies, fundraisers, and multi-day conferences while keeping our eye on retention and engagement goals.
About Kennedy Events
Kennedy Events began with one goal in mind—to produce high-level corporate events with just as much strategy as style. Maggie founded the company in 2000, found her match in Paige, and in 2011 the two became official partners. Since then, these two resourceful and brilliant creatives have pooled their strengths to build one one of the most the most sought after corporate event companies in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles.
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