HOW TO CREATE AMAZING CONTENT FOR YOUR VIRTUAL EVENT,

5 TIPS & TOOLS!

It's pretty safe to say that “Zoom fatigue” was one of the most used phrases in 2020. And as virtual event planners, we understand why. After almost a year of quarantining and cancelled events, our industry has missed the mark with most virtual events.

Even though we have some seriously cool and cutting-edge technology, most virtual events end up being last minute quick fixes that are more likely to bore the audience than inspire them.

But in 2021, we’re saying that enough is enough. We won’t settle for less anymore when it comes to planning and executing exciting, intriguing, and beautiful events.

So, to help reach that goal, here’s our 5 tips, tricks, and tools to make next-level content for your virtual event.

How To Create Killer Content For Virtual EventS

01.

Go Back to Storytelling


If you want to put on a great virtual event with fantastic content, the first thing you need to do is go back to storytelling. Storytelling is the foundation of our jobs. Events let the audience experience the story for themselves.

When virtual events become boring and lifeless, it’s because we forgot to tell a story. When you’re not storytelling, all you’re doing is dumping information on them. It’s like the difference between reading a novel and reading the phone book. They’re just not the same.

So before you do anything else, you need to figure out what story your event is trying to tell. And then build your content strategy off of achieving that goal.

02.

Get the Right Tools


Back in February of 2020, it might have been excusable to think that virtual events were just a temporary replacement for live events that didn’t require any major investment. But by now it’s obvious that virtual events are here to stay, pandemic or not. And if you want to make them any good, you’re going to have to invest in the right tools.

It’s time to say goodbye to the belief that virtual events are always majorly cheaper than in- person events. Sometimes you have to make a calculated investment to put on the best virtual event possible--in the same way that you would invest in a venue or caterer for a live event.

When it comes to must-have tools for putting on a high-quality virtual event, this list is a good place to start:

  • Green screens-If you’re planning on doing some post-production work, green screens are a great investment. After recording you can insert maps, graphs, videos, and other interactive features that will bring your content to life.
  • Microphones-When you’re recording sound, external microphones are a must. If you’re laying down an audio track, an XLR microphone would work. But when you’re videoing a speaker, it’s best to have lavalier microphones that can clip to their shirt and record their voice no matter where they are. Crisp, clean audio is a gamechanger for virtual content.
  • Video editing software-If you want to edit your videos in-house, do yourself a favor and invest in video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. You might also need to invest in a computer that can handle the video-editing in the first place.
  • Lighting--If you’re shooting professional video content for your virtual event, lighting is a must. Depending on your budget and needs, this could be anything from a ring light so a soft light set-up or even studio lights. The right lighting will take your content from “home video” to “professional presentation” just like that. 

03.

Know Your Audience


There’s one simple rule to remember when you’re figuring out what content to produce for your virtual event: know thy audience.

After all, the audience is the focus of the event. So when you’re picking speakers, brainstorming topics, and creating content, you need to always keep them in mind. Some things to know about your audience are:

  • Pain points
  • Concerns
  • Goals
  • Aspirations
  • Education
  • Job level

At the end of the day, you’re putting on an event to serve the audience. The more you know about them the more successful you’re going to be--because that’s how you get genuine engagement. 

04.

Switch Things Up


After a year of Zoom meetings and webinar overload, most people are sick of sitting in front of their computers watching people talk. But don’t take that as defeat. Instead, you just need to be a little creative and find ways to keep people interested and engaged.

One way to do that is to vary the type and tone of your content. Nobody wants to watch a video of someone reading off of a PowerPoint for an hour. Encourage your speakers and content creators to break up their presentations with Q and A sessions, short videos, or graphics. And don’t forget to spice things up with real-life stories and context; like we said before, it’s all about storytelling.

05.

Warm Up the Crowd


Sometimes at a live event, a video will play before a presentation giving context or preparing the audience for what’s coming next.

Creating these little videos for your virtual event is a thoughtful touch that can whet the audience’s appetite for the upcoming presentation. And when your event has attendees with wide ranges of experience or expertise, contextual videos can help bring everyone up to speed.

Making Content For Your Next Virtual Event

If you want to create amazing content for your virtual event, there are 2 things to keep in mind: Know your audience, and tell a story. If you do that, you’ll be able to create amazing content that your audience actually cares about. So spend the time getting to know your audience and the story you’re telling and your virtual event will have some seriously incredible content.

Need some help along the way? That’s what we’re here for.

Contact us today for help planning and executing your next virtual event!