The world is at the verge of rolling out a number of effective vaccines against the Coronavirus. Optimistically, we can assume that Covid-19 will be largely behind us in the coming months. One of most impactful results of the isolation that was brought on by the Coronavirus was the suspension of all in-person events. In that respect, the event industry was perhaps most adversely affected by this pandemic.
The desire to attend in-person events is rather a human need. As social animals, we cannot remain isolated for long periods without consequences on our human psyche. Yet, one of the outcomes of the pandemic was the blossoming of virtual events—from technical meetings to fundraising auctions. A subset industry—digital experiences—quickly grew to serve the needs of event planners albeit with different criteria for success.
The emergence of this subset industry notwithstanding, it is fair to assume that virtual events are here to stay. There are many benefits to both organizations and participants in attending virtual events even when in-person gatherings can safely resume. Among the many benefits are significant cost savings and ability to bring together talent from close and afar.
As the new trend took hold, we at Your Great Event had to hone in our digital skillsets and capabilities. From managing the physical logistics of an event, we had to sharpen our skills in live streaming the proceedings of a meeting or managing multiple contributors from the four corners of the globe. While the power of face-to-face meetings is undeniable, we had to convince our clients that we can bring the impact of the live experience to a virtual space.
Turning a face-to-face event to a virtual experience at first seemed daunting to many of our clients, but our technical knowhow gained our clients’ confidence; and the events in the digital space became more accepted and increasingly popular. As expert virtual event produces, we guide our clients through our design concepts that begin with setting strategic objectives, agreeing on content curation, culminating in a finely-choreographed and impactful broadcast.
Whether live or hybrid, a successful virtual event can be an effective replacement to an in-person gathering if it follows a series of critical steps, including:
Goal setting and defining critical success factors
Technology platform evaluation and management
Budget management
Content management and choreography
Incorporation of entertainment, if any
Presenters/MC/entertainers training, onboarding and coaching
Sponsor and auction management, if applicable
Streaming processes and technologies
Video editing and post-production processes
Archiving
Events create and strengthen connections, help in raising badly-needed funds for a non-profit, and reinforce brand recognition among attendees. In a virtual world, that’s more vital than ever. Your Great Event can be your go-to resource to help you unite your stakeholders in a shared, interactive journey. So, as we transition from an all-virtual mode to face-to-face events, don’t discard virtual events completely. They can remain effective instruments in your organization’s toolbox to maintain cost-effective and creative connection with your attendees and supporters on an on-going basis.
To explore the merits of virtual events in a digital space, let one of our professionals guide you through the steps and the values to be derived.