Virtual Event Success

I’ve blogged a few times about my feelings against hosting a free telesummit. That’s the one where you get all the sessions after you input your email address and first name in a sign up box.

Telesummits and virtual events cost money to run. You have to pay money to:

• rent a bridge line service
• get your assistant to help you with the administrative tasks
• buy materials to send to attendees
• get a graphic designer to design the creatives
• get the recordings transcribed (the most expensive virtual event task)
• and more…

I conducted a survey asking those who have organized telesummits how much they spent to produce it. Close to 76% of respondents spent between $500 to $2,500 to produce their telesummit or virtual event.

Some telesummit hosts and organizers “cheap out” by not paying for some of the tasks above and instead, do it themselves. If you put sweat equity into producing your telesummit or virtual event, the stains of mediocrity will show through your sales page like sweat marks on a blue, button up cotton shirt.

This is NOT the solution.

My friend, Shannon Cherry, has convinced me that you can host a free telesummit only if you do one simple thing.

Want to find out what that is? I’m hosting a 60-minute call at 8pm Eastern on October 13, 2010 called:

Using Shannon’s tips, I was able to generate close to $60,000 using the free telesummit model and I’m happy that Shannon has agreed to share this info with you.

Register for this no-cost call by clicking here. I’ll be using the refresh model for tonight’s preview call, so if you want an example of how to do your preview calls differently, sign up as well.

Of course, if you can’t make the call live, register anyways because only those on the list will receive the access to the limited time recording.

Looking forward to sharing Shannon’s tips and advice with you.

Update: You can get the recording by clicking here.

I should’ve done this weeks ago, but better late than never. I’d like to introduce you to the wonderful women on my virtual event team who help make my clients’ virtual events shine.

These Virtual Event Managers have been trained using my 7 step-by-step process. Here are just some of the duties they’re responsible for:

• Help the client complete and sign off on the Virtual Event Requirements document
• Create an action plan and budget for the client
• Create and/or write all promotional copy for the client, including the sales page, affiliate promo copy, preview calls promo copy
• Facilitate the launch of the Virtual Event Platform
• Facilitate the design of a logo and banner for the client’s virtual event
• Organize weekly status meetings with the client to discuss status
• Facilitate weekly status meetings with the client to review action items
• Guide the client on how to use the promotional copy
• Organize the recordings for playback on the Virtual Event Platform
• Monitor and respond to emails from attendees during the virtual event
• Pursue speakers and collect their bio, photo, picture and signed release forms
• Collect weekly performance report from the client during the promotional stage of the virtual event
• Complete the Virtual Event Lessons Learned document after the virtual event is over
• Use Basecamp to facilitate to-do items, deadlines and tasks

Whew! That’s a long list. Here are the women that make me and my clients look good:

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The way you’d engage attendees at offline events, such as conferences, workshops and tradeshows, isn’t the same for virtual events. The tips in the links below will give you an idea how you can keep attendees at your virtual event interested in each session that you provide.

• Leesa Barnes on How Do You Engage Attendees During Your Virtual Event?
• John Failla on What’s the right length for virtual event conference sessions?
• Alli Gerkman on Are Attendees and Individuals Redefining the “Virtual Event” As We Know It?
• Ramesh Sambasivan on What Is the Ideal Duration for a Virtual Fair
• Kari Dunn Saratovsky on Pros & Cons of Virtual Events

Homework: Identify the tools that will help you engage attendees during 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.

The way to determine if your virtual event is successful is to use tools that will help you measure what you’re doing. Understanding your return on your virtual event investment (ROVEI) is critical so you can decide whether to do it again. Here are some resources you can use to measure your virtual event success.

• Brent Arslaner on Use Virtual Events to Deliver More Value and Virtual Events Deliver an Excellent Buzz—And Results
• Leesa Barnes on How to Measure Your Virtual Event ROI
• Heidi Cohen on Seven Virtual World Marketing Tactics and Metrics to Follow
• How to Measure Your Virtual Event ROI

Homework: Find the tools that will help you measure the return on your virtual event investment.

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.

In order to fill your virtual event, you need to promote it. Below are some resources you can use to fill your virtual event and market it using both traditional and non-traditional tools.

• Leesa Barnes on 5 Ways to Market Your Virtual Event So It Sells Out and How to Use Twitter Hashtags to Fill Your Virtual Event
• Gina Bell on 8 Ways Virtual Events Quickly Boost Your Biz
• Online Event Marketing Tips
• Heidi Cohen on Seven Virtual World Marketing Tactics and Metrics to Follow and Seven Ways to Market in a Virtual World, Part 1
• Lorilynn Smith on Marketing Your Virtual Event

Homework: Put together a promotional campaign for your virtual event to help you fill seats using the tips in the resources above.

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.

Once you know the benefits and have put your plans in plans, it’s now time to choose the platform you’ll use to host your virtual event. You can choose to lease a virtual event platform or you can rent a conference bridge line for less than $100 per month. Use the links below to decide with technology will fit your virtual event needs.

• Brent Arslaner on Virtual Event Technology
• Leesa Barnes on Why Using the Phone or Webinar Are Perfect for Hosting Virtual Events
• Heidi Richards Mooney on Instant Teleseminar
• Julius Solaris on 10 Useful and Free Mac Applications to Run Events
• Virtual World News on A Look at 30 Virtual Worlds Platform Providers

Homework: Decide on the virtual event platform you’ll use to host 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.

To understand why virtual events are valuable, it’s important to know the benefits to hosting one. The links below will provide a mountain of reasons why your business must consider hosting a virtual event.

• Leesa Barnes on Recession Proof Your Business Hosting a Virtual Event, Part 1 & Recession Proof Your Business Hosting a Virtual Event, Part 2
• Rohit Bhargava on 6 Reasons Virtual Events Are Getting So Popular
• Simon U Ford on 10 Reasons Why Every Company Should Host Virtual Events
• Nicole Hammett on Virtual Events – Gaining the Virtual Edge
• Matt Kinsman on A Perfect Storm for Virtual Events: Social Networking and Slashed Travel Budgets Boost the Appeal
• Nancy Pekala and Brent Arslaner on Economy and Globalization Help Drive Success of Virtual Events
• CeCe Salomon-Lee on Industry Stats – Virtual Events Increasing

Homework: Write down 5 reasons it’ll be beneficial for your business to host a 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.

Hosting a virtual event is one of the best ways to make money. I have earned 5 and 6 figure paydays hosting virtual events.

Whether you hold an event over the telephone or using webinar software, you can attract leads and become a sought after leader in your niche hosting a virtual event.

Here are some of the benefits of why you should host and facilitate a virtual event for your business:

Benefit #1 – No travel
When I attend non-virtual events, I typically spend $2500 on just travel and accomodations alone (and this doesn’t include the registration fee to attend the event). With more businesses cutting back on travel, hosting a virtual event is a great way to share cutting edge information with others from the comforts of your home office.

Benefit #2 – Reach more people
If your goal is to be of service to a global market, virtual events help you do this. You will attract people from around the world because all they need to connect with you is their telephone or their computer. Hosting your own virtual event means that you’re not tied down to any location and gives you the flexibility to attract a world audience.

Benefit #3 – Time shifted learning
With a non-virtual event, attendees have to show up at a specific place and time to participate in the learning. With virtual events, you can record the content and make it available for attendees to access later on. I find that 75% of those who sign up for my virtual events do not call into the live call. If I didn’t make the recording available for download or playback, I’d be leaving a lot of money on the table.

In Part 2, I’ll share with you 3 more benefits to hosting your own virtual event. And in just a few days, I’m going to announce my most comprehensive product to date. It’s my step-by-step blueprint on how you can use virtual events to practically make 5 or 6- figures overnight. I’ve done it and I want to teach you how to do it too.