VIRTUAL EVENT TIPS
At Hillstock Consulting, we recognize that virtual events and online meetings have become a necessity for businesses today. We understand the challenges that come with planning, executing, and hosting successful events online. Our mission is to make the process simple and streamlined. Our team of experts will work with you to identify your specific requirements and design a tailored solution to achieve your goals. We offer a range of consulting and training services to help you optimize your virtual events and meetings.
Check out our quick tips (below) for getting started with virtual events, or sign up for one of our upcoming webinars to learn more. If you prefer one-on-one support, book a free consultation today.
Quick Tips
Tip #1
Stick to the Script. Those attending your session have come prepared to focus on the stated purpose of the session. Delivering something different may cause a great deal of frustration and confusion.
We recommend creating an agenda for every event, regardless of size. This helps to ensure that all topics align with the stated purpose and everyone involved is aware of the overall flow.
Tip #2
Preset Your Physical Space. Make sure you are in a quiet location and when possible, use headphones to minimize any background noise. Also, clean your workspace area, dress appropriately for the occasion, test your sound and video prior to start, and consider using a virtual background.
Tip #3
Timing is EVERYTHING. Be sure to start and end on time. To do this, ensure that your facilitators and support team are present and checked-in at least 15-20min prior to the official start of each session. Also, create and stick to your advertised agenda.
We recommend creating a "run of show" that outlines the purpose of the event, an item-by-item sequence of actions that will happen during the event, and the contact information of the individual responsible for each action. This helps to ensure that everyone involved (i.e., production crew, speakers, and others) remains aware of where they are in the present moment and where they should be throughout the event itself.
Tip #4
Do a Little Housekeeping. Greet participants who log in early. This will give you another opportunity to check your sound and to build a little rapport with those participating in the session. Also, at the beginning of each session, remind participants about the chat feature as well as any restrictions you may have placed on their use of audio or video.
Tip #5
Engage with Your Audience. Encourage your participants to get involved through the use of emoji's, chat, polling or even breakout rooms.
For step by step instructions, check out the Polling or the Breakout Rooms resources provided by ZOOM.