A Changing World Requires Engaging Online Events
The COVID-19 pandemic means that larger live events such as conferences, holiday parties, networking and fundraisers likely won’t be able to happen until quarter 2 or 3 2021, but that doesn’t mean that you need to postpone them. We have seen an increase in taking what was a live corporate event and turning it into an online event. Our virtual event producers are sharpening their skills to transform your engaging live events into engaging online events. Online events are perfect for networking, education and even for scavenger hunts, all from the safety and comfort of our homes.
Creating Great Experiences Online
While we cannot yet gather together in large groups, with some creativity and plenty of planning we can still execute engaging online events. While we may not be able to meet all in one venue for your networking meeting or annual gala, our team is here to help you reach your event goals by creating the right virtual platform for your event. Just like in live events, many of the choices made depend on your event goals. We still concentrate on audience engagement, however, instead of focusing on things like the chairs your guests will be sitting in and the size of the stage, we will be more focused on providing dependable streaming, opportunities for connecting and creative audience breaks.
Get a Head Start on Producing Online Events
Many companies, including Microsoft, have changed all their in-person meetings and events to online events through the end of 2021. Regardless of the corporate event that you are planning, now is the perfect time to get a head start on determining what your event will look like going from a live event to an online event. If you are gathering in a small group or in an area where certain restrictions are lifted, you can also explore the world of hybrid events which combine your in-person event with an online broadcast. Our goal would then be to allow both of these audiences an opportunity to engage with each other.
There Are Surprising Benefits to Online Events
While planning online events might not seem as appealing as planning traditional live events, there are plenty of upsides that you may not have thought of.
Extra guests can be brought in with the click of a button, so you can have more attendees than you would at live events, exposing more people to your brand.
Guests can sleep at home, avoid the time and expense of traveling and attend without leaving their house.
You will save money on things including catering, bars, and drinks as well as production, labor, banners, signs, and more.
Paper handouts can easily become PDFs, which, along with traveling and transporting less, is great news for our planet’s health.
Lighting and sound only need to be considered for a studio filming location, hosts and panelists, instead of rigging a huge venue.
You can create reusable content for after the streaming presentation, which can lead to added revenue after the event and prevent FOMO in attendees who wanted to watch but had a time conflict.
Chat, polling, and Q&A options allow for great attendee interaction and data collection, because many people are less intimidated by participating online.
What could a corporate online event be? Anything from networking to annual meetings, business development events to fundraising galas, expos and trade shows to educational conferences. Demand is growing for these events, and we are already engineering online event experiences and hybrid events for companies of every size. What are you waiting for?
We Can Help When Planning Your Online Event Experience
Innovative Party Planners is your resource for event design and planning in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Virginia. To learn more about our event planning services and how we can help make your event one of a kind, contact us by calling (410) 998-9999.