INDUSTRY UNLOCKED has been highly produced , featuring interactive tools to make them feel different from the day to day . These include things such as live polls , Q & As , personalised agendas , sessions that change on the fly based on audience feedback and even gamified elements like engagement scores with leaderboards .
Increasingly , gamification techniques are being used to reward attendees for getting involved in events , like creating a competitive environment to drive people to engage . We ’ re currently building a virtual conference for a client which gives people points for watching on-demand videos , taking part in polls and asking questions , with the top 25 most engaged audience members getting exclusive access to an after-show networking event with high-value speakers and VIP partners .
Greater ROI for sponsors
At a recent online conference , around 94 % of the audience watched sponsor video content between sessions . Rather than being traditional ads , these short pieces of content comprised of thought leadership and case studies , ensuring they were of interest to the audience . This is a huge pull for sponsors wanting to get in front of their target audiences and demonstrates that having breaks during your virtual event doesn ’ t drive attendees away .
Adding tangible value to sponsors is key to hybrid events – defining ROI in real world events beyond attendees going to a sponsor ’ s stand has always been a challenge for events managers , but advertising and sponsorship space online is actually far further reaching than at physical events .
This is especially true when considering large conferences , where it might take 20 minutes to walk from one end of the venue to the next among hundreds of people – some attendees may never see a sponsor booth . Offering a striking online display that looks good , is interactive and has unique features like a live chat box or video appointment-booking system makes for an enjoyable experience for the attendee while adding value for sponsors .
Better statistics mould better events
It ’ s much easier to measure and analyse online events compared to traditional in-person events . We can see exactly how long people spent watching , what they clicked on and what was most popular – all enormously valuable measurements for organisers . We can see which parts haven ’ t been as popular as others , meaning organisers can adapt in real-time , as well as improve the content for future events . At multiday events , we ’ ve had success with feedback provided on days one and two , helping shape content on day three – this real-time adaptation enables organisers to really listen to their audiences and tailor future content to their needs .
Jake Ward , Business Development Manager at Groovy Gecko
Our experience has shown online feedback forms are completed by around 25 % of attendees , whereas hand-written forms are completed by less than 10 %. Instant online forms that pop up straight after an event provide an easy way for attendees to share their opinions and contribute to evolving the event .
With the above points in mind , we must emphasise that we ’ re not contemplating or even suggesting that all in-person events turn virtual . People will always enjoy attending in-person events with a buzzing atmosphere and the opportunity to meet and network with people face-to-face , but by utilising the available technology to get the best of both worlds , businesses and brands can maximise engagement , making their hybrid events more impactful and far-reaching than ever before . x
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