Successful concepts for virtual events

A look back at a year of virtual events

As a result of the corona pandemic, virtual events are subject to an immense upsurge. Not only have the technologies for virtual platforms, live streams and networking developed rapidly in the last year, but the concepts for virtual events have also become more sophisticated. After one year, we can share our findings with you and find out:

• Virtual events with professionally produced streams stand out in terms of quality
• Professional moderation is essential
• Comprehensive tracking and reporting is invaluable
• 2-D is more user-friendly than 3-D
• Surveys and polls increase participants' involvement
• A Clap-O-Mat is fun
• Goody bags are the highlight

Almost exactly one year ago, we had AirLST Platform for virtual events launched. We can now look back on numerous virtual events and can say that the variety is great. We have Shareholder meetings, retailer conferences, product releases, in-house exhibitions, road shows and employee training implemented and supported as virtual events with our software. The tenor of our customers is clear: virtual events remain. The benefits are clear: The reach of events is increasing, the reactions and interest of participants can be measured and traced down to the last detail. No sales team wants to do without this anymore. The developments and innovations of virtual events are described as hybrid event formats play a key role even in a post-corona period.

Successfully implement dealer meetings virtually

Retailer conferences can be implemented extremely well as virtual events. A professional audience of experts who would like to receive targeted information will particularly appreciate a structured and comprehensive presentation.
So we built a virtual park landscape for one of our customers, a garden equipment manufacturer, through which retailers can move with their mouse. Various spots are placed within the landscape park, which optimally present our customer's products and coordinate them in a user-friendly manner.

Hedge trimmers on hedges, lawnmowers on the large green area and keynotes on the lake stage. With a wide overview from a bird's eye view, visitors can quickly find their way around the conference website. When a product is selected, the comprehensive information that has been stored about this product appears at the click of a button. Product videos present innovations and functions of the devices. Pdfs summarize the content in a structured way and are primarily downloadable. About a Quick contact form, trade visitors can ask their questions and get in touch with the expert directly.

The professional audience was of course invited beforehand and had to register on the event platform. This enables a precise Tracking and reporting ofthe user behavior. The time spent on the page, for individual products and the download of the specific brochures is assigned to the specific visitors, so that the after-sales team knows exactly who was interested in which product and where it can follow up again.

Virtual events have an integral part and that is the live stream: The trade visitors are all welcomed by management at the same time and receive new products in an exciting keynote presented. Immediately afterwards, retailers can talk about it and ask their questions in chat or in virtual rooms. A challenge for us, because we are responsible for ensuring that everything runs smoothly and that the virtual environment runs reliably.

Virtual events: Our challenges

It wasn't just the heads of our developers who smoked to make a Platform for virtual events Our project managers were also sweating whether the implementation was working smoothly and as planned. Virtual events are just as dependent on good dramaturgy, inspired moderation and active participants as any other event format.

After our customer has put together a suitable program and the live stream professionally pre-produced in the studio, we are left with the task of video signal reliable integration into the event platform.
After that, the biggest challenge is to get the virtual rooms up and running without interruptions and delays. Our server capacity allows up to 15 people in a virtual room to use camera and sound at the same time while working together on whiteboard Outline new ideas and exchange ideas. We can do that. This also shows that good planning and moderation are invaluable: Prepared questions for the individual groups guide the discussions and do not allow unpleasant breaks. The participants work in a concentrated and efficient manner. We're broadcasting live Surveys and short polls to the guests' computers that are linked to the keynote or group discussion. “Do you agree with the speaker's argument? ”, “Would your customers buy this product in black or green more often? ”. Timing is everything here too. The presenter informs participants about the surveys and holds everything in their hands. This is more than just following a filmed video stream.

At the same time, we note: 2-D is more user-friendly than 3-D. The areas, which are designed as a three-dimensional landscape and through which visitors can move like in a video game, are used less than the 2-dimensional exhibition stands, where information can be accessed with just one click. Accessibility and usability are accepted and appreciated by retailers.

The little extras for virtual events

Virtual events should also be fun and not only characterized by efficiency and structure. We are installing a Clap-O-Mat with which participants can virtually applaud. The more users click on the Clap-O-Mat, the louder the applause sound becomes. A popular tool that brings back a bit of the live feeling and can turn virtual events into events with atmosphere.

Our customer also sent selected visitors to the event goody bags in advance so that the virtual event stands out in real life. Brochures and chocolate are reminiscent of the typical trade fair visit to the souvenirs that people collect at the individual stands. Here, too, virtual events are in no way inferior to analog ones. What began as a response to postponed and unusual events has developed into an independent and convincing tool that will continue to play an important role in the future.