As we enter the second month of the Covid 19 crisis, a lot of the talk within the events industry has honed in on the need for diversification by way of virtual events and meetings. Perhaps understandably so given that the live events industry has come to an almost complete standstill. However, are we placing too much emphasis on the need for companies to diversify into the virtual sphere once we finally reach the daylight at the end of this unprecedented tunnel?

Everybody who works in the event industry knows how vital it is to maintain strong engagement levels with their participants. High ratings and positive feedback often follow when event organizers are able to successfully involve participants throughout a meeting! There are plenty of good activities to use in a physical meeting in order to promote engagement, but what if the participants are participating virtually and calling in through a conference platform?

During these challenging times, we need to make sure we are checking in with our team members, to make sure they are OK. This not only means their physical health, but also their mental health. Regular catch up calls with your team members, where you turn your camera on, can really help with the human connection that we are missing. At Shocklogic, we practice mindfulness as a team. This includes an online conference call, where we all participate in a mindful breathing exercise.

Remote work is the future. 

A 2018 Global report states that 52% of workers work from home at least once every week, while 18% of people work remotely full-time. Work flexibility is also an increasingly important requirement for many workers. 61% of people have left or are considering leaving their current job because of the lack of work flexibility. 

The value of face-to-face interaction will never go away, but there are times when going virtual is a necessary part of your event programme. But how do you turn a multi-day conference, filled with networking opportunities, educational sessions, and the attendee insights they generate into a virtual one? And once you do, how do you ensure attendees are engaged throughout the event?