avoid these five virtual event mistakes
Promoting too early or too late
You might think that you should start promoting as soon as possible – but in my opinion – you should save your time and energy for two weeks before the event. People will see the event early and then forget about it. I literally WAIT for an organization to post again closer to the date so I can actually plan for it and it usually comes with a discount code or sale of some sort. Inversely, if you wait too long to start promoting people will miss it in the algorithm or already have something planned. My recommendation is to announce the event four weeks before and then escalate the promotion as the event nears.
2. Not planning ahead for the limitations of your video platform
I hadn't realized at one of my previous events that I had a 100-person limit on my account. SMH. The emails started flooding in that my attendees couldn't get in! In complete panic mode, I had to search for how to increase the limit of my webinar, and luckily I was able to change it while the presentation was in session. Before your event, take a moment to check your account to make sure everything is enabled to avoid last-minute frustrations! Making sure participants enter on mute is also a good idea.
3. Not planning for awkward silence during interactive elements
"Any questions?" .......crickets........
Don't leave your speaker with a silent audience! Plan for one of your team to ask a question in the chat or come off mute and ask a question. That will give the audience a minute to think about their questions and continue the conversation. If you're having any type of breakout room situation preparing guided questions or putting a team member in the breakout rooms can also help create connections in the space. I also like putting a team member in the chat to hype up the speaker and create conversation during the panel.
4. Thinking breakout rooms are a great idea for connection and workshopping
I have integrated breakout rooms into several events and have participated in them as well. The overall response has been...thumbs down. I've heard that there's just not enough time to make connections and for everyone to speak, it's awkward, people weren't prepared to speak or come on camera...At this point in time, I could not recommend breakouts unless they have a distinct purpose that attendees know about beforehand.
5. Not following up with a post-event survey
The only way to keep growing and create better content is to ask your audience what they think and what they want to see. All of the events I create are rooted in a culturally relevant topic or from feedback straight from our (Women Who Create's) community. Incentivize your audience to fill out the form with a prize they can win, whether it be a gift card or a 1-1 service you can provide,