According to data published by EventMB, 40% of planners have stated that they were unable to organize a successful virtual event in 2020 – and engagement was the biggest roadblock.
To help you out with this, we’ve come up with a list of proven tips and best practices that you can use to captivate attendees’ attention and keep them engaged throughout your virtual event.
Keep reading to discover them!
Captivate Attention with Diverse Content for an Engaging Virtual Event
In-person events radiate energy, but just because you’re going virtual doesn’t mean your event can’t carry the same excitement. An excellent way to keep your guests engaged is to switch things up and spruce up your presentation formula.
For example, give your audience the chance to have their questions answered live by an industry expert by formatting the presentation as a chat interview.
Or you could book a keynote speaker who uses unexpected visuals to communicate their ideas (like speaker Joe Castillo who uses Sand Art to tell impactful stories and inspire audiences).
The key here is always to keep your guests wondering what’s around the corner.
Add an Element of Surprise
One of the best practices is adding an element of surprise is a proven way to augment your online event and make it stand out from the rest.
The surprise can be anything; consider the specifics of your event, your audience’s interest, and what you are trying to achieve.
For an engaging virtual event, we recommend considering a guest performer, such as:
- TikTok entertainers. Having amassed millions of views online, these famous social media stars and internet celebrities know the recipe for keeping viewers glued to their screen. This is a fresh, current entertainment choice and a great way to differentiate your event from the ‘wall of same.’
- A digital magician. When you book a top magician, who makes audience engagement and interactivity a top priority, your entire event becomes a memorable experience!
Feature the best entertainment to host an engaging virtual event! Start browsing through our extensive selection of premium virtual entertainers and find the perfect one for your upcoming event today!
Best Practices Include Activities that Get Everyone Involved
Live events have a natural social component that makes them more engaging, as guests exchange ideas and participate in different activities together.
Although digital events take place exclusively online, it’s still possible to generate a sociable atmosphere. How? By including activities that make everyone feel included.
For example, interactive team games are a great way to create a fun, relaxed atmosphere while keeping attendees connected without feeling awkward or artificial.
Consider Quizzes
Hosting an engaging virtual event is a challenge when guests don’t have a way to express their opinions live or directly interact with a presenter.
That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re offering more than just a webcast chatbox during your event. So why not try quizzes?
The options here are endless. You can create a quiz based on your company history, the theme of the event, or different topics relevant to your event. To make it even more exciting, be sure to include a prize and encourage some friendly competition.
Several companies, such as Survey Monkey, provide tools that enable you to host quizzes.
Also, consider booking a professional virtual host to introduce and facilitate the quiz. It will make it seem more dynamic, more natural – and ensure that everything will go according to plan.
Are you looking for More Tips? Then, we’ve Got You Covered!
We hope that this article has provided you with some inspiration to boost engagement at your events. But if you’re looking for even more ideas, tips, and best practices be sure to check out this article we’ve written on the topic.
