Virtual Event Success

CeCe Salomon-Lee posted another gem outlining the 7 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Next Virtual Event (co-authored with Dennis Shiao). As I read through the 7 tips, the big thing that stood out for me is that as an attendee, you have to interact with the exhibitors, speakers and other attendees.

To really apply what you’re learning, you need to brainstorm with other attendees. Often, that’s where some of your best ideas will come from. As CeCe and Dennis state:

Engage in the Group Chats: Besides the content, the best parts of a virtual conference are the group chat and one-on-one chats within the virtual environment. While the presentations can be viewed on archive after the live event ends, the conversations are not replicable. I recommend spending at least 1-2 hours chatting with others in the various group chats.

Yet another advantage to attending virtual events is a chance to speak to exhibitors in a low pressure environment. Most exhibitors who attend virtual events do so to collect information on attendees. Since their priority is to generate leads, you’ll find that most exhibitors at virtual events won’t pressure you to buy something. As CeCe & Dennis point out:

Speak with Exhibitors: Unlike a physical event which would mainly be staffed with sales staff, vendors can staff a virtual conference with more subject-matter experts. Take the opportunity to speak with these experts especially if you’re researching or even in the final stages of selecting a solution.

So, remember that interaction with exhibitors, speakers and other attendees will be key to helping you make the most out of your attendance at a future virtual event.

This is a wonderful video that Cece Salomon-Lee, Director of Marketing for InXpo, put together explaining how to use Twitter for virtual events.

The first part of the video focuses on Twitter basics, such as signing up, following people, retweeting, blocking people and sending tweets or direct messages. So, if you consider yourself to be an intermediate or advanced Twitter user, you can skip the first 5-minutes.

Cece starts to explain how to use Twitter for virtual events at the 5:50 mark. Some very valuable advice, so click on the play button below to hear her tips.

I also blogged about how to use Twitter hashtags to fill your next virtual event.

To be successful at producing a virtual event, you need to put some plans in place. A plan helps to direct where you're going and how you'll get there. The resources below give you a great overview on how to plan your virtual event for optimal success.

• Cece Salomon-Lee on Planning a Successful Virtual Event and Going Virtual Isn’t Necessarily the Answer to Replacing Your Physical Events
• John Failla on Producing Your First Virtual Event and Succeed In Your First Virtual Event

Homework: Write down your goals and objectives for your virtual event.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments below so others can see it.