UPDATED: The Case for Virtual Events

Edit: Since this blog was first published on March 9, millions are self-quarantined and companies are looking for virtual solutions around every corner. I have continued to research and talk with technology providers to find the best solutions, and will continue to update this article as I find more resources.

Every time I refresh my Apple News, podcast episodes, and watch TV news spots, the coronavirus is front and center. What started in China in December has now spread internationally, caused widespread panic, travel delays, flight cancellations, event cancellations, and has started to disrupt economies all over the world.

Events are cancelling by the minute, and the number of cases is increasing exponentially by the day.

But, COVID-19 is just the latest in epidemics and pandemics that have spread, and caused the same level of panic and ceased business around the world. As business becomes more and more global, what can associations, organizations and companies do to recreate the impact that in-person events have on business?

Virtual events have gained traction in recent years, with a plethora of tools that allow speakers and organizations to connect directly (and face-to-face, in some cases) with their attendees and customers. From Facebook Live’s, Instagram Live’s and Uberconferences to live-streaming tools, there are numerous ways for us to digitally connect.

Here are some tools to get to started in planning a virtual event:

Switchboard Live - Philly-based company Switchboard Live has been innovating in the virtual event space for years, and the importance of a platform like theirs is realized during a time of social distance. It allows you to “multi stream” your live content across YouTube, Facebook, Periscope, Twitch and more.

AdobeConnect - All-in-one platform with so many add-ons and ways to get your attendees involved. With features that allow you to brand your own meeting rooms, white boards, chat features, and gamification, it’s an almost-lifelike experience.

SlidesLive - Live Streaming, Conference Recording, and storage/marketing solutions post-event. Their team will help ensure that everything goes smoothly and that your digital audience has a top-notch experience.

Zoom Conference - From one-on-one meetings to webinars, this software is a solution for digital group consulting, presentations, and conversation. With certain account settings, you can livestream your event to Facebook simultaneously.

RingCentral - Voice, video, team messaging and contact centers…allows you to get creative with your meetings using one platform.

Socio - Event apps, branded with your company or organization’s logo and colors, complete with chat features, push notifications, sponsor and exhibitor pages, and file sharing. Socio is the company I’ve trusted with all previous event apps, and they’ve started to build out their platform to include elevated virtual event details, including webinar capabilities and breakout rooms.

Slack or Google+ - These communities are great to start conversations, keep threads categorized, and keep in touch. They can be used as add-ons to your event’s community building strategy for in-person events, and a great way to connect in lieu of them.

Teachable - Online courses can be a great way to make sure that your attendees’ time and money wasn’t in vain. Bonus points if you use a community-building tool like Facebook, Slack, or Google+ to keep the conversation going and provide checkpoints with which to engage.

Of course, the pricing structure for a virtual event depends on the quality of the tools that you use, the content that you share, and the engagement of all of your key stakeholders and attendees. It will take some creativity and outside-the-box thinking, but ultimately will spell success for your attendees and sponsors in the future!

What tools have you used for virtual events?

What elements do you need to make it successful?