Anna Maria RichardsIf you are in business, you need live events like webinars, conferences, concerts and many more for your digital marketing. While these events help you reach potential customers, you must know everything you need to succeed.
Though event planning is challenging, you can succeed if you prepare well. One way of preparing is having all that is needed for the event. For example, you are more likely to get disappointed if you look for a venue several days before the event’s date.
Below are some must-haves for a successful live event.
1. Communication and Advertisement Tools
Since you use live events to promote your brand, you need tools to indirectly promote your products to the audience. For example, you can have a banner with your logo behind the speakers or a lightbox display on the wall behind. To catch the viewers’ attention and add fun, you can use non-stationary tools such as branded mascots.
In addition to advertising, you need tools to engage the audience more. For example, you might need a flipchart or whiteboard if you plan to do a presentation during your webinar or live conference.
2. Live Streaming Service
Live streaming is a huge deal when it comes to live events. Unlike traditional events where people only get access to post-event photos and videos to get a dose of the event, interested people can watch the event live nowadays, thanks to streaming services. Moreover, viewers can comment through the live chat feature most streaming service providers provide.
If you are on a budget, you can look for a cheaper streaming service provider or one that offers free services. For example, YouTube lets users stream events live and save videos for later viewing free of charge. You can also use analytics to gather crucial information, such as the number of viewers and watch time.
3. Engaging and Diverse Speakers
Some brands need to avoid inviting the same speakers or the industry’s talking heads instead of looking for a diverse pool of speakers. Instead of only engaging celebrities or famous people in your live events, you can look for others who can educate and interact with your audience.
You can look for someone who is highly recommended or think of a good presenter you have seen in action at a similar event. Also, consider having several speakers who bring varying experiences and viewpoints to the subject.
4. Internet Connection
A strong internet connection is necessary if you want to host a virtual event without glitches. Your audience would be satisfied if your live feed is blurry and the audio fades in and out. The event could also be a waste of time and resources if the key speaker disappears halfway through their speech.
Therefore, ensure that you get your internet from an enterprise-grade link and have a backup connection to keep things seamless in case of a problem. Careful testing of your key participant’s local networks and internet is also crucial if they will join remotely.
Such preparations range from checking the internet speed on the event day or having a WiFi expert dial into each guest’s network remotely and checking the internet performance. You can have a dedicated connection installed at the key speaker’s home if need be.
5. Audio and Visual Tech
Since your audience will see you through their screens, ensure you have a good camera to produce high-quality images. The role of the camera is to produce images that impress your audience. Choose a camera with at least 1080p resolution and position it perfectly for sharp images.
The speakers’ faces should also be well-lit for the best results. Consider hiring a professional if you lack the required camera skills.
On the other hand, microphones are essential for ensuring that all speakers’ voices are clear. You need a microphone that produces audible voices for the best audience experience. If you are using a webcam, your computer’s built-in microphone may not offer the best results. External microphones are the best choice, as they ensure that voices are clear and audible to the audience.
Also, instead of the participants sharing a microphone, get one for every participant to avoid distractions.
Parting Words
All over the world, companies are realizing the benefits of live events, especially for social media marketing. Events allow you to promote your brand and interact with your customers and prospects in real-time. Ensure that you have all the necessities listed above if you want your live event to go smoothly.
