If you are planning to host a virtual event in the near future and are confused about how to go about it, we have got you covered. In this article, we will discuss the steps that you must follow to create a virtual event on your own.
Table of Contents
Identify Your Goals
First of all, figure out the reason why you want to host the event and identify your event hosting goals. This will help you plan your event more efficiently and effectively. It also facilitates the identification of various features that you will need to make your event successful. Moreover, identifying your goals will help you align them with the needs of your target audience and create a more immersive event experience. For instance, your goals might be to increase your brand visibility, launch a new product or hold a corporate meeting.
Conduct Pre-event Polls
The next step will be to figure out what your target audience needs and expects from the event. You can do this by conducting social media polls and event surveys through email. You can ask questions related to your product or services and try to understand the types of problems they are facing. Moreover, you can create polls to understand what they expect from the event. Having this information will help you plan a more immersive and personalized experience for the attendees.
Determine a Budget and Timeline
Once you have identified the expectations of your target audience, the next step is to determine the amount that you will have to spend on the event and allocate appropriate timing for each of the sessions. Having a clear budget will help you keep a check on your money outflow and also ensure that all the sessions and activities are completed on time. This will further enhance the overall event experience.
Set an Agenda for the Event
After determining the event budget and a timeline for its completion, you must also plan out all the activities that you want to include in the event. Make a list of the sessions that your audience might like and then choose the most suitable ones. Make sure that your event agenda consists of all the crucial details of the event like its date, time, speaker’s names, and the activities to be hosted. Additionally, you must also make sure that you circulate the agenda among the attendees. This will provide them with a generous amount of time to be prepared for the event and also provide them with all the necessary details about the virtual event.
Choose a DIY Event Platform
Building your event on your own could sound like too much work, but actually, it is not. If you select the right DIY virtual show platform, you can easily build your event very quickly. Therefore, you must choose a DIY virtual event technology as it lets you build your event on your own, providing you with greater control over your event. With the help of a dynamic virtual event platform, you can build your event in just 15 minutes.
Make Use of Social Media
Leverage the power of social media and post content regularly on the dedicated event pages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn. Promoting your event on social media is the most effective way as it helps you reach out to more people and increase attendance at the event. You can also use email marketing and send out regular emails to potential attendees, compelling them to attend the event.
Get Popular Speakers Onboard
Find the speakers or celebrities popular among your target audience and rope them in for your event. The virtual event will make it easier for them to join as it will save them the travelling time and costs. Make sure that the speaker can crack jokes in between the event and keep the attendees entertained throughout the virtual event.
List out the Engagement Activities
Make a list of the engagement activities, games and ice-breakers that you plan to include in your event. Planning this beforehand will help ensure a smooth and seamless event experience for the attendees.
Conduct a Dry Run
Don’t forget to conduct a dry run before the event. Conducting a rehearsal session will help instil a feeling of confidence among the attendees. In addition to this, you must also conduct a technical check to ensure that all the equipment is in place and ready to be used.
Arrange 24×7 Support
Make sure that the online event platform you select provides 24×7 customer support. This will help you ensure smooth attendee onboarding and technical support during the event. Therefore, while exploring the event platform, you must make it a point to look for 24×7 event support.
Analyze the Collected Data
Virtual events will let you gather a lot of in-depth data about the event and the attendees. You must analyze this data to identify the most liked and least liked sessions and activities. The information derived from this exercise will help you make improvements in your future virtual events.
Final words
This article must have cleared your doubts about creating a virtual event on your own. Make sure you follow the steps mentioned in this article to host your virtual event.
