7 steps to impactful online events

Organisation, organisation, organisation

I’m a big fan of structured agendas - down to 5-minute intervals if needed, to ensure there’s time for questions, dialling in, and latecomers. 

In your event invites, make it clear that attendees must download and test access to your online tool of choice, ahead of the call. Emphasise the importance of having the right environment to be part of things: a suitable webcam (for optimal interaction), and a quiet environment with good audio clarity. 

Get creative!

Don't cancel your in-person events - reschedule them. If you haven't run a digital event before, this situation will present a number of unique challenges. Approach them with the same creativity you would an in-person event, and you'll soon find that digital alternatives aren't "replacements", but events in their own right. 

I suggest cranking up the interactivity. Delegates are going to miss those "informal water-cooler chats" that can sometimes be the best part of an event - a new contact, a new friend, someone to follow on social media. 

Consider more workshop-style sessions in place of traditional "I talk, you listen" style webinars. Divide delegates into groups for collaborative exercises, and use activities to keep them engaged. 

Create a professional workspace

If you're going to be screen-sharing, I can't emphasise enough the importance of cleaning up your desktop. Change the background, too - maybe to a branded CTA you can default to as a holding screen. 

The same goes for your physical surroundings - make sure you're dressed in smart, work-appropriate clothing, and that your background is plain, simple, and quiet. You should be aiming to engage with your content, not distract delegates with your environment. 

Use a holding pen

In the absence of a physical foyer, you’ll need to use a virtual holding pen or waiting room. This has two main benefits:

Participants have the opportunity to relax and get in the right mindset for the session.
You can see how many participants have joined the call, and start the session once everyone has dialled in, thus avoiding the awkward drip-feed of latecomers joining one by one. 
 

Break the ice

Virtual sessions can still be engaging, despite not having the luxury of in-person interaction. Part of this relies on your ability to get participants in the right headspace for your event - comfortable, relaxed, and feeling vocal (if appropriate). 

Start the session with an introduction, and if relevant: get attendees engaging with each other from the get-go by sending them to virtual breakout rooms, where they can participate in ice-breaker activities. 

Prioritise pairings

Collaboration works best in pairs. With groups of three or more, introverted attendees are less likely to speak up, and some people take the opportunity to mute their microphones, or slink off to get the washing done! 

Split your attendees out into pairs for collaborative activities to ensure they get maximum value out of the event. 

Online feels longer

The average attention span of an internet user currently stands at around 8 seconds. Shocking, isn't it? If you want to grab (and retain) the attention of your participants, you need to make them feel like they're engaging with you in person. 

Circumvent the opportunity to lose focus: 

• Schedule shorter tasks and longer breaks
• Diversify content styles and tasks
• Be understanding when your attendees' attention levels drop in the afternoon.