Shake It Up

We’ve all seen them. We’ve all participated in them. They are monotonous, boring, dry, talking-head online events. It was probably required viewing for work; some sort of quarterly meeting or mandatory product training. To have a truly successful online event, however, you have to shake things up!

There aren’t any rules to online events. Nobody has outlined required components. Most events have just fallen into a pattern: keynote speakers, breakout sessions, tradeshows, repeat. How can you shake things up? Be creative! Interview someone from your organization who has done something innovative or groundbreaking. Encourage participation by inviting the audience to submit pictures of themselves or their surroundings, engage in the chat, or answer polling questions. Bribe them! (I think incentivize is the better term;). Offer prizes for consistent participation or for the most outrageous answer to a question. It doesn’t even have to cost money to shake things up.

Brainstorm with your team or ask your audience. Have you ever taken a survey of those you serve to see what they want? You might be surprised by the influx of ideas you receive that could spark something amazing. I have found over the years that the audience is very eager to provide feedback when asked.

Whatever you do, don’t forget the basics; sessions for online events have to be shorter than they are in person, watch your framing on the screen, be sure your background is not distracting, and that you or your speakers are lit from the front and not the back.

When you shake things up enough, the audience begins to look forward to your refreshing online events with anticipation. Attendance and retention rates will reflect how well the audience not only enjoyed the content of your online event but how engaged they were. Those are metrics your stakeholders will really enjoy.

Have you tried something to shake things up? Share it here or send me an email.

Share this blog with those you know who plan events and be sure to like it!

Would you like to schedule a consultation with Tracy? Visit her website at tracybaer.com.