Filed under: technology
Underneath technology of a virtual event, attendees must find value in participation
As associations look to incorporate the social connectivity of Web 2.0 in their events, it’s easy to see why a virtual event would be a logical next step in online community building. Virtual conferences, webinars and online sessions offer a new level of interactivity and attract a wider range of attendees, while keeping their roots in the tried and true best practices of a traditional in-person event.
The projector’s down
If a glitch happens during an in-person session, the show will likely go on. But the success of your virtual conference depends greatly on the technology you use to serve your event. Make sure users can easily connect and participate in the session by choosing technology that is user-friendly and easily accessible.
Find a technology that requires a system check before a user can register, recommends Anthony Allen, Director, Digital Media for American Society for Training & Development. There is nothing worse than registering for—and paying for—an event only to find you cannot attend because of your browser’s capabilities.
Speaker, Prepare Thyself
When it comes to content, your audience will benefit from a presenter who is prepared to speak to a virtual group. Allen recommends giving your presenters a speaker orientation that helps them with some of the finer points of speaking to a virtual audience. As Allen pointed out during a recent webinar, “Producing Virtual Sessions,” a speaker should consider the shelf life of an online session that is recorded and say hello to the “audience of the future.” A simple greeting akin to “Good morning or good afternoon to those of you viewing this recorded session” will suffice.
Know your competition
Allow attendees to revisit sessions (or perhaps view them for the first time) after your live event has passed. Often virtual attendees can commit only the time for one or two sessions of a day-long conference. Remember, when attendees are in front of their computers, your session is in competition with email, calendar reminders and anything else that, literally, pops up.
After attending a recent virtual conference, Event and Marketing Manager Bridget Feeley says, “The sessions offered some great content, but attending all of them in one day was an information overload. That’s not much different from a physical event.”
Exhibitors and Sponsors
The best way to include exhibitors or sponsors depends on whether your online event is paired with a live event or stands alone. Some virtual-only events include a virtual exhibit hall, where attendees browse exhibitors’ information, enter their “booth” and chat with the exhibitor.
“The exhibit hall was the most interesting aspect,” Feeley says. “Each booth was set up differently and as you entered, a representative from the company chatted to see if you had any questions. You could download brochures, see demonstrations, link to the exhibitors’ web site, and chat with other attendees or with the company reps.”
If your virtual event is paired with a concurrent live one, consider allowing virtual attendees to ask questions of a live exhibitor via a web chat and live video stream.
As host, also consider what your exhibitors and sponsors can gain from being in front of your audience. Feeley says, “As an exhibitor, you have access to instant leads, can measure your results, and have the ability to communicate with your audience before, during and after a physical event.”
Million dollar question: How can you generate revenue from a virtual event?
Perhaps the best way to generate revenue from an online event is to incorporate sponsorships that are valuable to both attendees and the supplier or vendor who is your sponsor.
Sponsored content and education materials, live Q and A sessions or product demonstrations during the virtual event allow the sponsor access to its prospective customers while giving attendees meaningful information and ideas to take away with them.
April 20, 2010
Digital editions are quickly becoming an integral part of a supplier’s advertising plan within an association marketplace.
“Advertisers are most excited about making their solution come to life through the digital technology,” said Ben Ledyard, VP, Sales.
We’ve seen an uptick of advertisers who are specifically requesting a digital publication, Ledyard said, because they are coming to the realization that this medium offers a more engaged audience than
previously thought.
And they have good reason to be present in those publications in an interactive way: 26.4 percent of readers play an ad with digital extras to see if they “may become interested in an ad,” according to a recent study conducted by Smarter Media Sales and sponsored by NxtBook and Zinio.
There’s more for advertisers and editors to like about a digital publication. A study in 2007 showed that 72 percent of digital subscribers visited an advertiser’s web site, and that 53 percent e-mailed an article to a friend.
Another study, done in 2008, found that 44 percent find digital advertisements more appealing. Thirty-seven percent of readers are more likely to ‘engage digitally.’
–Ben Ledyard, VP, Sales, Network Media Partners.
December 18, 2009
3 reasons your organization should use a wiki
1. Collective knowledge.
The more you share, the more your organization evolves. Give staffers the sense of ownership of a particular success by allowing for the free flow of information and ideas.
2. Collective ideas.
Think of a wiki as a prolonged brainstorming session with an open door policy. Ideas go in, get built upon, and come out of the wiki as fully formed innovations.
3. Collective efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions are easily answered by a quick wiki search.
In the blossoming age of social media, organizations have a variety of options for sharing information both internally and externally. At Network, we decided to implement a company-wide wiki as a central location for our internal information.
“A wiki is akin to what the founders of the Internet originally envisioned as the primary purpose of the Web,” said Jim Cooke, Vice President. “Our wiki allows everyone to both contribute and search for information specific to our company.”
“A wiki is good for any and all organizational practices and processes, as well as suggestions, tips, and ideas,” explains Jen Smith, Creative Director.
“Information that was once only known by one person is now accessible by all departments,” says Sean Soth, Senior VP. “Using the wiki has cut down on my own individual FAQs.”
Anyone at Network can update the internal wiki, which ensures that the most current information is available. Carrie Hartin, COO, remarks, “As reflective of the media industry, our work processes and tools are constantly evolving. The wiki has been perfect for information that changes regularly, as well as more established information and procedures.”
An organization-wide wiki, which is free-form in structure, defies our usual organization of server-bound file folders. Because of its lack of traditional structure, the wiki is easily searchable. For Megan Lebo, Assistant Traffic Manager, “having one place to look for information is very helpful and increases efficiency, instead of searching through several folder hierarchies and hoping to recognize a file name.”
The fewer parameters you set for your wiki, the more versatile it can be. Because anyone can edit or comment on a topic, a wiki can also serve as space for collaboration.
“In the art department, we use the wiki to house important logistical info for our jobs, but we also use it to share design inspiration and ideas,” Smith says.
“[My team] can share conference call notes here to be sure we have a record of our conversations and joint concerns,” Soth said. The more topics we add to our wiki, the more its purpose evolves. “I have the ability to gain new ideas from what other employees are doing successfully…the wiki allows me to see what is working for our entire team,” says Shannon Reid, VP, Sales.
A wiki’s versatility and free-form structure can be adapted to meet the varied needs of any organization. From an information bank, to a collaborative, creative space, a wiki can increase your organization’s efficiency, dispense information, and build new channels for innovation.
–Katherine Boyce, Sales Associate, Network Media Partners.
December 18, 2009
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