The pandemic has changed the world in so many ways, including the fact that many individuals are having to become socially distant at any event. Many events, including bridal and baby showers, birthday parties, and even corporate and business events, are becoming virtual, and you may feel as if it is difficult to have the same audience engagement. There are ways to make your virtual event just as enjoyable though, which comes through taking the proper preparations to do so. Learn more about how to get the most out of your next virtual event by reading the information found below.
1. Add Value
You want to make sure that your audience or that your event attendees want to be at your virtual event, which comes through adding value to it. Make your event worthwhile to attend in that the attendees and guests will receive benefits from deciding to join in on this new and exciting virtual opportunity. If you run a business in a certain niche, for instance, arrange for a guest speaker for the event who is an expert that others will be excited to hear from. Offer gifts and rewards that can come from attending the event, in that only those who attend are eligible to receive the rewards.
2. Bring Out the Emotion
If you are hosting an event such as a wedding or a shower virtually, you still want to bring out the same levels of emotion. Purchase and ship plastic champagne flutes for everyone so that you can all engage in the wedding toast and bring the emotion from that, for instance. Make sure that your attendees can still feel the joy and excitement, and even laughter, that comes from fun party games and fun opportunities. Make sure that the experience is true as personal as possible to make everyone feel as if the event was worthwhile.
3. Bring a Professional
For many birthday parties or business events, you may hire a professional entertainer for an in-person event. Who is to say that you cannot bring a professional entertainer for a virtual event, as you can provide the same levels of entertainment. Hire a magician, a comedian, or even someone who is talented in creating balloon animals if you want to so that your guests feel entertained. This will make your guests and your audience feel more interested in coming to your event as well so that they can see this professional for themselves.
4. Make It Interactive
Many virtual events are hosted through social media platforms or through webcam software. Many of these software and social media platforms allow for interactive features in which your guests can truly feel as if they are a part of the event. Offer games, for instance, in which your guests can play a quiz or take a poll right through the features mentioned. Allow for the guests to share the content of their own through screen-sharing features if you want to look at photos or videos together about pertinent information concerning the event.
5. Make a Plan
Virtual events do require a lot of organization and a lot of planning so that they run according to plan. Make sure that you choose the date and the time that will work with as many guests as possible so that you can still have a fun event. Set a specific schedule for when certain events will occur within the overall virtual event to keep the whole process going smoothly. Make sure that all required games, speakers, and entertainers are aligned well prior to the event so that your guests can know what is coming.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, the reality of the need for virtual events will not be around for too much longer. While they are here though, it is important to ensure that you are planning your event to still keep your guests entertained and to still make them want to come. Make sure that you develop an emotional and personal connection with them, no matter how far you are physically apart. Incorporate entertainers, gifts, rewards, and interactive features in order to ensure that you have the virtual event of your dreams, no matter what type you are having.
