Questions to ask before an online event | Beginner’s Checklist

As the Covid-19 pandemic to spread, it does not just affect people’s health and life, but it also has a big impact when it comes to businesses and companies. This made some unexpected ways or strategies to continue the business.

 Some used virtual events as their assets to cope up, as their solutions to revive their businesses, and as their alternative point to survive in the current situations  

What are online events?

Online events or virtual events are just your regular events that take place in an online or virtual space. It gives an opportunity for people to interact and communicate with each other even through online only.

So, we have here different online events that you can use for your own purposes. So let’s define each of them.  

Webinar

Web-based seminar, in short, webinar, can be used to present a workshop, or seminar via the web by the use of video conferencing software. It has the ability to allow the presenter to send, discuss, and receive information in real-time. 

The webinar is ideal for connecting with a large number of participants. If you are planning to have a big virtual event, you can ask some person to take responsibility or a person who has enough knowledge with event management. 

In doing so, your event will look more professional, that’s a plus point for your audience. The event planning template is important even if it’s a big or small event. You must have prepared your strategies and techniques to achieve your goals

Virtual Summits

A virtual summit is a sort of a private online event where speakers are being interviewed by a host. The virtual summit is one of the most effective marketing tools that can help businesses and companies generate sales for a short period of time. 

Even if you are just starting up your business, or already in the industry of businesses, it is a good tool for you as well.

Online Meeting

Online meetings are also known for web conferences or video conferences. Online meeting is more flexible for employees and also for other stakeholders. 

They can do work from home, stay connected, and be engaged without going outside. An online meeting can be held by only using an internet browser or software application that was downloaded on your laptop/computer or any smartphone devices. 

Here the users are allowed to share their screens, can do poll attendees, and more while running your online meetings.

Why do we need online events? 

Because of this pandemic, we are now into a virtual world. But did you know that there are advantages of using online events not only for individuals but also for the companies and businesses? 

So let’s talk about those advantages. As for ordinary people, we don’t need now to cancel our planned events. Instead, we can have events online. 

While for businesses and companies, using virtual events will allow them to reach more clients, customers, or even potential partners. Time, budget, or even location, are some reasons that are why some of your clients will not be able to attend your events. 

But because of this online meeting, they don’t have to worry when and where the events are, they can attend and access the event from anywhere.

What are the questions you need to answer when you do online events? 

In making a virtual event, there are some questions that you need to consider. But to be able to answer those questions, you need first identify your or your team’s objectives and desired goals. 

And then afterward, ask your audience some questions regarding the events. In this way, you will anticipate the needs and wants of your audience. 

If you did traditional event planning before you must’ve encountered or read blogs that provide tips or questions to ask for a successful event. It’s kinda the same but in a virtual setup.

So here are some questions that you need to ask for yourself before you proceed to ask your team and lastly your attendees.  

For yourself

What

• What are your and your team desired outcomes? 
• Are you trying to save money, gain more attendees, or just to introduce or promote some product events?
• What do you want your attendees to learn or gain from this event?

When

• When will your event be held?

Where

• Where will your event be held?
• Where across the world your attendees came from?

Who

• Who will be your speaker and host?
• Who will be your participants?

How

• How will your participants join? Is it through website registration or online registration?
• How will you face technical issues during your event?
• How will you promote your event? Are you trying to sell tickets online?

Why

• Why are you doing this event? For what and for whom?

For your team

What type of event would you like to see?

If you are asking your teams about what kind of events they would like to achieve, some may want a traditional way, like face-to-face conferences. While others may suggest having an online event, using webinars, virtual conferences, and other kinds of online components. 

But because we are now in the middle of the pandemic. We have no choice but to turn our work or activities including some events into a virtual one. In making decisions it is better to choose the best that suits your event. 

Furthermore, it is important that at the end of the day you have one goal to achieve together as a team. To unite is the key to success.

What would you most like to get out of an event?

These questions are important. If you can give what your attendees want and need, and satisfy them, then you are near to your goals. 

Ask your team what they want out of your event, does it include educational content, networking opportunities, entertainment content, and so on. In answering these questions, then your team might get some idea from this. 

What topics are of particular interest to you right now?

Whatever topic your team will choose, make sure that your team members or perhaps the potential team members will deliver the topic that they are interested in. So that they are in line with the industry they are related in. And maybe they can use it in your next event.

What have we not had in the past that you would like to see at one of our events in the future?

Don’t get these questions wrong, you may feel awkward with this one, but it will help your team and your event a lot. Take this question in a positive way, because in this question you can learn from your previous mistakes and you can avoid it to do it again. 

Insights and suggestions from your team are so important because they are the first ones who see and experience the problems.

What type of swag/giveaways would you like to see?

Making some giveaways cost money, in this situation, you need some opinions from your members, it is better than wasting money, right? Ask them what appropriate giveaways you should make or buy, and what other kinds of stuff of giveaways they want to see in the next event. 

Make sure that you go for the best and unique opinion, and most of all, the one that will shoot to your budget.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us regarding upcoming meetings and events?

Make your member feel free to add some comments and suggestions to the event. Let them speak out and give their chance to let out the amazing ideas that are hiding inside them, listen, and acknowledge their opinions and ideas. 

Having an opinion and comments on your team will help you to have a successful event.

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For your attendees

How did you hear about the event?

Answering these questions will help you determine how and where people learn and hear about your event. Besides, It helps you to attract and gain a more like-minded audience. In this, you can also monitor if your market strategy is effective or not.

Which social platform do you prefer?

This question will help you understand which platforms do your attendees most used and what platforms your attendees most popular with. And by answering these questions, will help you improve your platforms or even you can use the most used platform during your event.

On the side note, if you will be doing a big virtual event it is better to do it in a platform that will allow you to stream in quality. JetWebinar is a seamless and limitless platform that will allow you to do your webinar easily. It will be downloaded in the cloud and can be accessible in all types of devices without the need to download any application or software. 

How do you feel about the platform of the event?

By this question, you might get the best platform for your event, and also a platform that is suited for your audience. Having answered if they are satisfied or not will make you decide if you still use the same platform or improve into a new one. 

What are you hoping to get out of the event?

This is a great question to answer. By this, you will understand what are the objectives and goals of your attendees. If you will know their goals and objectives it is time to make a move to make them satisfied with what they are craving for. They become more engaged with you, with your content, with your topic, and with your event. Just let them tell you what they want and need to hear from your event. Just like how MeetingPlay mentioned in their blog. 

Have you attended this event before?

Depending on their answers, you can conduct some welcome sessions if they are only new from this virtual world, or maybe give them some workshops and receptions.

What speakers are you looking forward to most?

As the speakers are one of the most important elements of your successful event. Make sure that the speaker you choose or hire will excite and amaze them to the fullest. It is a major point to reach more audiences.

Is there any event information that you couldn’t find or access easily?

Making your attendees feel at ease with your marketing tools will help you build a smooth relationship. Because no matter how interested they are in your content, if they find it hard to use your event apps or marketing tools they will leave your event, or they might get upset in using some of your event tools. And that’s not good feedback for your event. So make sure you have some instructions and info of your event tools to keep things running smoothly.

CONCLUSION

Virtual events made our life and work more convenient and flexible. On the other hand, planning an event can be so stressful, so why not ask some help or tips with others who have enough knowledge about this. 

Asking yourself, your team and even your attendees will also help you find the right ways or strategies to make your event successful. Furthermore, there’s a lot of things you need to consider before you jump into the event, starting from the event planning template up to the post-event task.

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