As Coronavirus continues to disrupt industries across the globe, it is unsurprising to learn that the events industry has begun to feel the full impact of the outbreak.
Google, Adobe, and Facebook are among the many companies who have recently made the difficult decision to completely restructure their upcoming events in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. In place of large, in-person conferences, companies are beginning to turn to digital solutions in a bid to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
Google announced their Cloud Next event, a 3-day conference with keynote speakers, hands-on training and breakout sessions, will now be held virtually, rebranding the event as ‘Google Cloud Next ’20: Digital Connect’. The new event, still to be held in April, will still include an online version of the keynotes and breakout sessions, as well as interactive learning and digital ‘ask an expert’ capabilities.
New technological advances provide companies with an excellent alternative as a contingency plan and the ability to curate and execute their events in a digital space. These digital solutions can reduce the impact that unexpected situations – such as outbreaks like the Coronavirus – have on company events and allow companies to still get their message and information out there to their audience.
Whilst some may see cancellations as an overcautious measure, as event managers and organisers, the health and safety of our clients and their attendees are the most important thing to UKSV.
This is why during this difficult time we are working with some of our clients to implement creative and innovative ways to keep the wheels turning for our clients and their business, whilst protecting the well-being of all parties involved. With how much planning that goes on before the event, the decision to cancel an event altogether should be the very last option, with all other avenues exhausted.
Restructuring an entire event is no small feat. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as live streaming your entire event programme; what will captivate an audience in a conference hall for an hour or so won’t always translate on camera.
It’s imperative to engage your audience throughout your virtual event, and this takes some reconfiguring not only of your content but also of your objectives. You want your virtual event to offer as much value as the in-person experience.
With virtual events, you want the experience to feel as much like the live event as possible. To do this we introduce interactive elements which encourage audience participation, such as voting, asking and answering questions, sharing your own content and follow up surveys and feedback. This means your audience are engaged and feel as though they are a part of the event and therefore more receptive of your content and messaging, rather than feeling disconnected and as though they are watching from afar.
Some argue that a virtual conference offers more in terms of networking and the opportunity to meet people in your industry, however with new digital advancements, this too can be replicated online, with interactive elements allowing attendees to interact and converse with one another from the comfort (and safety) of their own home. We can also facilitate virtual breakout rooms which again allow audiences to participate and engage with your content in a more hands-on approach.
When making the switch to virtual, online events, you will also need to take into consideration the delivery of your speeches; delivering to camera is very different to delivering to a room full of people where you are able to feed off of audience reaction and organic participation. This, with the added pressure of streaming live (no outtakes!), can discourage even the most confident of speakers.
We can work with you ahead of the event to ensure that your speakers are comfortable in front of the camera, ensuring that you and your audience get the most out of your event.
Live streaming events such as these are completely scalable and reduce limitations around accessibility. We have the ability to stream securely to anywhere in the world, to audiences from as little as 10 people, to as many as 5,000.
UKSV have been connecting audiences around the world for over 10 years. We can bring this extensive web streaming experience to your business and event, helping you to effectively reshape the structure and content to communicate your goals and messaging just as effectively as your physical event.
In times like these it’s important to be flexible in order to maintain the health and well-being of your audience, as well as limit the disruptions to your business.
If you would like more information on how UKSV can help you limit the effects of Coronavirus to your events and your business, please give us a call or fill out our enquiry form.