Standout Virtual Events

How to create an experience that your audience will love

Everyone wonders what the future holds for events if people are unable to travel or gather in large groups in the short term, and how the industry may be impacted in the long term. One thing we know for sure: Whether you are an event organizer or speaker, your business is changing.

Unfortunately, when experienced events folks move into the virtual setting, they often try to replicate what works for in-person events. However, what works on a stage rarely translates well to digital. To succeed in virtual events we need to reimagine what is possible.

In this essential guide, David Meerman Scott and Michelle Manafy share newly emerging best practices in virtual events. As speakers at, and organizers of, virtual events, they have unique opportunities to speak with people in many different aspects of the events business to learn what works. Here, they offer concise, practical guidance you can quickly put into practice, including:

• Making Connections in a Socially Distant World
• Understanding the Purpose of Running a Virtual Event
• Critical Differences Between In Person and Virtual Events
• Building Audience Interaction
• Six Key Benefits to Hosting Virtual Events
• Format, Features, and Platform Considerations
• Speaker Preparation for Virtual Events
• The Business of Virtual Events
• The Cost of Producing a Virtual Event
• How To Run A Great Virtual Event

Whether you are a seasoned event organizer, a speaker making the transition to virtual events, or just getting your first event off the ground, this guide will equip you with everything you need to run a great virtual event.

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About the Authors

David Meerman Scott

David Meerman Scott is a marketing and business growth strategist, entrepreneur, advisor to emerging companies, author of 12 books including four international bestsellers, and public speaker. He has delivered in-person talks in 46 countries and on all seven continents and has presented at hundreds of virtual events.

About David

Michelle Manafy

Michelle Manafy is the editorial director of media trade association Digital Content Next and a regular contributor to Inc. She focuses on digital media, marketing and entrepreneurship and promotes best practices in a variety of venues.

About Michelle

From the Forward

“Our feedback from the audiences at our digital events has been crazily, overwhelmingly positive!”

“The digital medium is way better than in-person for certain things like delivering information verbally together with additional supporting material and driving you to action.”

- Bob Bejan, Corporate Vice President: Global Events, Production Studios and Marketing Community at Microsoft

"We shared the equivalent amount of insights, ideas, and inspiration in two-hours, compared to what would normally consume two-days of attendees time..."

“Virtual events allowed us to reach new people who joined as a participant as well as broaden our reach of sponsors, partners, and affiliate arrangements. Whereas we expected around 1,000 CEOs and CXOs to attend our in-person event, we hosted over 14,000 paid attendees across the four virtual summits. So, our reach was essentially 12 times our in-person events and we were able to replace most of our gross margin dollars.”

Verne Harnish, author and founder/CEO of a global executive education and coaching firm Scaling Up

“The level of engagement and the studio chat was off the charts..."

“Reimagining Perspectives during a pandemic couldn’t be as simple as doing a broadcast version of our in-person event; it needed to reflect our new brand and frankly our vision to democratize learning. Which meant that we had to create something new that encouraged people – everyone – to participate live.”

Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek, Skillsoft’s CMO

"IMPACT’s virtual events brought our audience together in a time of crushing isolation of quarantine..."

“Through our virtual events we were able to help businesses focus on the right things to weather the storm of the pandemic as much as possible and empower digital sales and marketing professionals to better connect, build trust, and sell virtually.”

Stephanie Baiocchi, Director of Community & Events at IMPACT

Chapter 1: What Is The Purpose of Running a Virtual Event?

Chapter 2: In-person vs: Virtual Events

Chapter 3: Building Audience Interaction

Chapter 4: Six Key Benefits to Hosting Virtual Events

Chapter 5: Format, Features and Platform Considerations

Chapter 6: Speaker Preparation for Virtual Events

Chapter 7: The Business of Virtual Events

Chapter 8: The Cost of Producing a Virtual Event

Chapter 9: How to Run A Great Virtual Event

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