Virtual events continue to increase as an effective way to connect and communicate. This is because the need to meet and share information is ever present and an essential part of how organizations interact with the audiences that are important to them.
Consequently, there is an influx in the number of virtual events that individuals can attend, and adopting the right strategies to capture your target audience is a wise idea. While some organizations are still exploring how they will craft their virtual events, others are pioneering novel experiences in this area. That is where differentiation comes in.
Differentiating your virtual event will not only help you target the right audience, but it will also ensure that you achieve set objectives. That goes beyond such prerequisites like flexible dates, social media ads, virtual swag bags, among other things. Here are some of the ways you can make your virtual event stand out.
1. Create An Immersive Environment
The implementation of virtual networking tools and expo booths is a common strategy for most virtual events. That is good enough, but you can take things a notch higher if you want to set a particular virtual meeting or event apart from the rest. You can achieve that by creating an immersive environment to enhance the experience of attendees. Designing virtual space like a physical conference center can help you realize this goal.
For instance, you can name the home screen from where attendees can access different parts of the virtual event “Lobby,” featuring a background of a convention center lobby. Also, the Networking Lounge feature, in this case, should resemble an actual lounge with chat windows that foster interaction among attendees.
That kind of environment may not be Virtual Reality (VR), but it allows attendees to enjoy familiar aspects of event spaces. That is possible by adopting a virtual format rather than clicking through screens and videos that look alike. Giving an event a unique look and feel using design elements will set it apart, and it serves to distinguish various spaces within an online gathering.
2. Consider Including In-Session Real-Time Illustrations
Inviting artists to create real-time illustrations is a great way to differentiate an event, and the concept is also known as digital live scribing. Using real-time graphics is an effective way of engaging the audience with a unique type of content. Talented illustrators create artwork live as panel discussions proceed, and that offers a graphical representation of speakers and takeaways that are both entertaining and informative.
Over and above that, such artists ensure that the content they provide is widely shareable. Gleaning key insights from sessions in a way that is fun to look at and incredibly shareable is also possible through digital live scribing.
3. Incorporate Health and Wellbeing Activities
Currently, online dance and workout videos are some of the options available for those looking to exercise. Incorporating such activities into a virtual event by opting for an activity like yoga will introduce the kind of diversity that delivers incredible value to attendees.
The reason is that virtual yoga will engage attendees and allow them to interact in a way that makes them feel cared for, and it allows them to be part of something too. Such an approach is an effective way of capturing the attention of attendees and getting them ready to engage during the online session.
You can include a short workout or meditation break in between sessions, depending on the format of a virtual meeting. Alternatively, you can have a separate stream for health and wellness activities that attendees can tune into during the event for a change of pace.
Conclusion
The venture into online meetings is only the start of the age of virtual events. In the future, you can expect more innovation. Together we can shape the future of events and guide participants into better and more engaging experiences.
At Encompass, we have unique backgrounds that situate us perfectly to produce high end and complex offerings. We’ve worked in broadcast television, touring entertainment, live sporting events, and countless convention facilities across the country.
We have technical design experience and a disciplined process in place that allows us to easily scale events and shift from in-person to virtual without angst. There isn’t much that’s beyond our scope and we love the intensity of putting on events!
If you’re a planner working to create an event, seeking help with virtual event technology, or simply want to learn more … we can help! Sign up below to receive our updates (we promise to keep your contact information secure and won’t “overshare”).