What Really Happens on the Day of a Virtual Event

What should you expect on the day of your virtual event? From the minute registration begins to the day before the event, there is a lot that goes into it. And it doesn’t always go perfectly smooth.

Jason Widup, VP of Marketing, and Mark Huber, Head of Brand & Product Marketing at Metadata, delve into everything that went on behind the scenes at the Metadata virtual event, DEMAND. They cover the successes, failures, and lessons learned along the way.

Watch the full session to learn more about the ins and outs of hosting a successful virtual event, with actual takeaways from Metadata’s virtual event.

Watch the full episode

Or keep reading for three important takeaways from the episode.

Three top takeaways:

Takeaway 1: Things will go wrong

No one wants to hear this, but not everything is going to go according to plan at your event – especially when you’re taking the virtual route. There’s bound to be one or two technical issues.

The best way to tackle this is to dive into problem-solving mode. Don’t underestimate the power of clear and timely communication. If your audience can sense that something is wrong, there’s no need to hide it. Be open and honest about the situation. Let them know as much as you can (without inciting panic).

Also, it never hurts to have a plan B(or C & D) in place in case something goes wrong. Like your event platform doing down after the keynote.

Bottom line, plan for the best but expect the unexpected.

Takeaway 2: Stick to your event’s goals

If it’s a sales event, make sure it’s a sales event. If it’s not, then be clear about that too.

There are very few things audiences value above honesty and transparency. Masking your true intent for your event is guaranteed to backfire.

So, make sure that you keep the purpose of your event at the forefront of everything from your marketing plan to the actual day itself.

Give your audience exactly what you promised. That’s exactly what we did for DEMAND. It was clear that it was set up to help, inform and inspire the community of B2B marketers. And that is exactly who we got at the event. We didn’t pitch slap them. We didn’t push the product. We just helped them get better at their jobs.

Takeaway 3: Be realistic about creating a great attendee experience

It’s natural to want your attendees to get the most out of your event. But it’s equally as important not to overwhelm them. And finding that balance is often easier said than done.

Here are a few pointers that should get you on the right track:

  • Schedule breaks at the right time
  • Create more tracks to shorten the length of the event
  • Provide a good amount of time for networking
  • Open registration for the next event early (right at the end of your event if you can manage it)

There are just a few tips to stay on top of the attendee experience.

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