Virtual corporate events can be more engaging than in-person meetings. The most common reason for this is that people feel more comfortable online and can express themselves better because they don’t have to deal with social norms.
Furthermore, virtual corporate events are also relatively more flexible. You can put together a team from different locations or even different countries, and everyone will get to work together seamlessly. The advantages are many, from saving time to saving money by keeping travel costs down.
But, as an organization, how do you get to a point where your virtual conferences are just as productive or better than in-person ones? Productivity requires engagement, which, at face value, might seem difficult. However, how do you ensure that your attendees are engaged throughout the program?
The following are tips on how you could make your virtual corporate events more interactive:
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Create Engaging Content
When planning your virtual event, it’s important to remember that not all content is created equal. You’ll want to make sure that you’re creating engaging content that will hold your audience’s attention.
To create engaging content means mixing up your content types, keeping things visually appealing, and using interesting storytelling techniques. Videos, infographics, and interactive tools can be great ways to achieve this.
Not surprisingly, games are also a great way to inject life into your virtual conference. Go for unexpected but fun games to give your new twist to corporate virtual happy hour and help keep all your attendees alert and engaged throughout your program.
In addition, you can also get creative with your presentation formats. Virtual meeting platforms offer a variety of ways to share information with your attendees. By mixing up your content and keeping things interesting, you’ll ensure that your virtual event is as engaging as a live one.
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Make A Connection With Your Audience
One of the best ways to make your virtual corporate events more interactive is to make a connection with your audience. You can do this in several ways, but one of the most effective is to get personal.
Share stories about your company, your products, and your team. When you make a personal connection with your audience, they feel like they’re a part of your company, and they’re more likely to be engaged with what you have to say.
Another way to make a connection is to use video. Video allows you to put a face to the name and create an even more personal connection with your audience. And finally, don’t forget the importance of interaction. Make sure you have plenty of opportunities for your audience to ask questions and share their thoughts.
On the other hand, you can also use polls and quizzes to get participants engaged and excited about the event. Live chat is another tool to encourage interaction, and it’s a great way for participants to ask questions and get answers. By using these interactive features, you’ll be able to create a more engaging and productive virtual event.
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Use The Right Software
When choosing virtual meeting software, it’s important to think about your specific needs. Some of the most popular features of virtual meeting software include:
- Breakout rooms
- Whiteboards and screen sharing
- The ability to customize backgrounds and avatars for attendees.
Make sure that the software you choose can handle the number of attendees you expect. You may also want to check if it’s user-friendly and easy to set up before your scheduled event.
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Think Creatively About Breakout Rooms
Breakout rooms are a great way to create small groups of attendees. The best way to utilize breakout rooms is by getting creative with how you use them. For example, they could be used for brainstorming sessions, small group discussions, or socializing.
Furthermore, if the event focuses on learning new skills or getting people up-to-speed on something new that they need to learn, breakout rooms can also be utilized as hands-on workshops. In turn, participants get to practice doing some of the things they’ve been learning about in their sessions.
When it comes to using breakout rooms, the possibilities are endless. You could even reserve one for non-event purposes like team meetings if your team is too big for one room but not big enough for two or more meeting spaces at once.
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Follow Up With Your Attendees
After your event is over, it’s important to follow up with your attendees. Thank them for their time, and ask them to provide comments on the event. This is a great way to get feedback that you can use to improve future events.
In addition, you can also ask your attendees to provide suggestions on the event’s format, the speakers, and the content. This feedback will help make your future virtual corporate events more interactive and engaging.
Conclusion
Corporate events don’t have to be boring, especially given that they just might have carved a permanent spot in the corporate sphere!
By making your events more interactive, you can create a more engaging experience for your attendees. Use a platform that allows for interactivity, create engaging content, and follow up with your attendees afterward.
