Get Wired

Making The Most of Your Virtual Event

Three ways to elevate your online meeting to be more engaging.

Keep it Interesting

Virtual events longer than an hour or two can have your audience lose interest easily. Adjust your agenda for short attention spans by including videos, graphics, and even background music.

For presentations, encourage officers to keep their speeches brief and play up their dialogue and delivery (perhaps with a dash of humour). Having a diverse panel of speakers guided by a moderator can help to keep the discussion vibrant and to the point.

In smaller teams, assigning roles to each officer creates an environment of shared responsibility. For example, roles like facilitator, timekeeper and scribe can be rotated between participants at every meeting.

Another way to involve your audience is through quiz platforms like Kahoot and Bingo. Encourage your audience to take part with vouchers, discount codes and e-gifts.

Preparation is Everything

Have one or two rehearsals with the organising team to avoid technical difficulties that can cause delays in the programme. As with physical meetings, send out any necessary information and material to participants beforehand.

During a Q&A, preparing a few seed questions fill silences and allows the speaker to prepare their responses. You can also tap on attendees who are willing to get the ball rolling to encourage more audience interaction.

Get People Talking

Icebreakers and introductions are effective ways to kick off digital gatherings.

During lengthy presentations, include short breaks to help keep attendees’ focus. Intermission activities like stretching, mini-games and quizzes allow audiences to clear their minds and re-charge for the next segment. Whenever suitable, lighten the mood with banter.

For regular meetings, seeking feedback or input from members throughout the discussion fosters inclusivity within the team.

Live Q&A sessions and instant-polling functions on platforms like Slido and Pigeonhole Live can be used to keep invitees active. Features like threads, chat groups and breakout rooms create opportunities for attendees to network more closely.