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30/04/2023

"Streaming media subscribers are up, even as streaming media budgets are down. Streaming platforms are seeking to stabilize their revenue in any way possible. That means being creative with revenue models, innovative with ad delivery and exhaustive with content options — within reason." via Applause https://zurl.co/Kq4s

For media companies, testing live events and ads that support them is the best way to ensure a great viewer experience.

30/04/2023

"Having a best camera for streaming is essential if you're serious about going live online. While a built-in laptop camera and microphone will do a basic job of putting you in front of people, it provides a limited quality of visuals and audio compared to the best streaming cameras." Jon Stanley via Creative Bloq https://www.creativebloq.com/buying-guides/best-camera-for-streaming

30/04/2023

"Crystal Vilkaitis, social-media expert and owner of Crystal Media, says that hosting live selling events on Instagram or Facebook is a great way to not only increase sales, but also increase engagement with your followers and customers. And while she agrees that the most important thing is to simply start with your first video and then try, try again, there are a few ways that you can better ensure your success. Here are Vilkaitis’ top five mistakes that retailers make when hosting a live stream." Denise Willis via Gifts and Dec https://zurl.co/6kpd

Crystal Vilkaitis of Crystal Media Co shares the top 5 mistakes retailers make when hosting a live stream. See what not to do.

30/04/2023

"To create something exceptional, your mind needs to focus on the tiniest details. While the major factors make the event, minute factors transform it. With Covid-19 turning our lives upside down, physical gatherings seem like a far fetch idea. Virtual gatherings have become a part of our lives and we are adapting to this new lifestyle." Priyadarshini Patwa via Entrepreneur https://zurl.co/mw3O

Want to create a virtual event that no one can stop talking about? Entrepreneur spoke to event expert Varun Chibber and founder of Apollo Entertainment, who gives us tips on how you can nail your next online event

29/04/2023

"Business owners in the events industry have had to make quite the pivot in 2020. From music festivals to sports games, the coronavirus pandemic effectively halted business for these companies, as their core product became a public health threat. As a result, an estimated 12 million live events workers are unemployed, and some public health experts and owners of large venues warn that we may not ever see a full return to in-person attendance as we knew it before the pandemic." Amrita Khalid via Inc https://zurl.co/EZVG

Medium Rare had to reinvent its business this year. Here's what its founders learned in the process.

29/04/2023

"In a world where a live event can be as simple as a few people meeting via videoconference, how do the rules of music licensing apply? According to one legal expert, it’s a question of liability and risk, just as with in-person events." Ernie Smith via Associations Now https://zurl.co/NBUS

In a world where a live event can be as simple as a few people meeting via videoconference, how do the rules of music licensing apply? According to one legal expert, it’s a question of liability and risk, just as with in-person events.

29/04/2023

"This week's IBM Think event prompted some thoughts on how companies could (and should) use their own technologies to make virtual events better." Rob Enderle via Computer World https://zurl.co/4BOP

This week's IBM Think event prompted some thoughts on how companies could (and should) use their own technologies to make virtual events better.

29/04/2023

"Attendee engagement has long been a critical element to any event, whether live or online. But in a virtual environment, the stakes are even higher. There are more opportunities for attendees to "zone out," and distractions are only a click away unless planners prepare strategies to keep them engaged. Following are eight tips from meeting professionals on how to capture and maintain attendee attention." Ben Leikach via Successful Meetings https://zurl.co/A1dS

Eight strategies for planning an online gathering that people won't want to leave.  

29/04/2023

"While virtual events might not be able to dazzle attendees in quite the same way as in-person meetings, there is a tried-and-true tradition that can live on in the era of virtual conferences: conference swag." Micheal Hickey via Associations Now https://zurl.co/66lB

In the age of online gatherings, a physical gift or box of swag can help your association’s virtual event stand out above the rest.

28/04/2023

"Hybrid events aren’t just something we’ve got to do to get through the pandemic—they’re what events are going to be like forevermore. Now is a pivotal time for the event community, because the groundwork that we’re laying today, the strategies and best practices, will be the new standards of the industry." Associations Now https://zurl.co/RJ2y

These philosophies are driving the industry into the future.

28/04/2023

"When Bizzabo analyzed the 988 virtual events that ran on its platform between January 1 and April 1 of this year, it found an interesting pricing trend: A full 91 percent of the events were offered free to attendees. That’s a marked increase over 2020, when 80 percent of events that used the platform were free." Sue Hatch via Meetingsnet https://zurl.co/jVYN

A review of almost 1,000 virtual events in Q1 2021 reveals a change in the pricing landscape.

28/04/2023

"What’s the biggest barrier to engagement?

For many marketers, it’s creating meaningful online networking experiences for attendees, sponsors and exhibitors.

Fortunately, new tools and best practices are changing the game for the better." Jim Sharpe via ClickZ https://zurl.co/aC2T

Jim Sharpe, CEO of Aventri, explains how virtual events will evolve in 2021, with new tools and best practices to enhance networking.

28/04/2023

"As event planners are canceling or scaling down in-person events, virtual events are taking their place. As tempting it can be to replicate the in-person schedule in a virtual environment, this strategy can leave organizers and attendees feeling frustrated." Lakesha Womack via Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/5-strategies-hosting-successful-virtual-event-1562730

28/04/2023

"Digital events can't replace live conference experiences, but organizers who quickly shifted to virtual event platforms report surprising benefits and expect to use them long-term." Don Fluckinger via TechTarget https://zurl.co/01Su

Event organizers who quickly moved from live conferences to digital events during the pandemic share the process and how virtual event platforms boosted attendance, engagement and data captured for sponsors.

27/04/2023

"The reality is that marketers have historically depended on physical events to build awareness, launch products, generate leads, and boost customer loyalty. In the blink of an eye, the pandemic drove a massive behavioral shift in how marketers were forced to execute their jobs — and the reality is that it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows." via Insider https://zurl.co/LwEB

Event professionals weighed in on the changing event landscape, the shift to hybrid, and the opportunities available to meet marketing goals.

27/04/2023

"Business is anything but usual these days. However, despite massive shifts in business travel, work environments, and schedules, the show must somehow go on. For many tech and business conference organizers, that means shifting from in-person to virtual events." Carla Rudder via The Enterprisers Project https://zurl.co/OBgy

As conference organizers face the daunting task of moving their events from in-person to online, what can they learn from virtual events that get it right? Consider 3 keys to success.

27/04/2023

"Whether virtual or in-person, the best events are inclusive and inspiring and enable us to succeed. Fortunately, many virtual conference organizers are asking the right questions: “How do we encourage conversation and interactions?” “What speaker sessions should we select, and how do we select speakers?” “How do we set our conference up for success?” Tiffany Jachja via The Enterprisers Project https://zurl.co/Iqpq

As conferences and meetings went virtual in 2020, we've learned a lot about what makes them successful. Consider this advice when planning your next digital gathering

27/04/2023

"The Covid-19 pandemic has stretched into a second calendar year, and fundraisers expect the bulk of their events to continue happening online. But after a year of Zoomathons and online galas, many fundraisers say they’re better prepared to plan virtual events.

The Chronicle asked fundraisers and event planners what they learned about hosting virtual events in 2020. Here are seven elements they say are essential." Emily Haynes via Philanthropy https://zurl.co/HbAb

Fundraisers expect the bulk of their events to continue happening online as the Covid-19 pandemic stretches on. The Chronicle asked experts what they learned about hosting virtual events in 2020 and how to make them even more successful in the year ahead. Plus, a checklist for virtual-event…

27/04/2023

"Obviously we're taking the safety precautions that the CDC and the local ordinances recommend, but we want to actually promote networking. We want to continue to help small businesses get back to business. They've been through a very, very rough time for nearly 18 months." Mark Hamstra US Chamber https://zurl.co/nmIz

In-person events were decimated in 2020 due to COVID-19, but many conference organizers are optimistic about the enthusiasm for their return.

26/04/2023

"Virtual events, conferences and meetings rapidly became the norm during the coronavirus pandemic, forcing businesses to adapt to a new reality as health concerns took top priority. While online gatherings were accepted with gusto in the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic, trade shows, exhibitions and conferences are reopening, with event organisers arguing that there is no substitute for in-person events." Mariaan Webb via Mining Weekly https://www.miningweekly.com/article/back-in-person-virtual-events-no-match-for-face-to-face-connections-say-electra-mining-africa-organisers-2022-08-26

26/04/2023

"Even though people are most excited about this in-person aspect of the future following a year of lockdowns, there's an even bigger opportunity that will go unnoticed by most entrepreneurs: leveraging virtual and hybrid events to increase awareness, brand loyalty and revenue. I personally see virtual and hybrid events beginning to play a role that brings the advantages of digital courses, video marketing and communities all into one powerhouse marketing channel." https://zurl.co/fPdb

Virtual events were a byproduct of the pandemic, but there are many reasons why this option will remain a lucrative choice moving forward.

26/04/2023

"But it’s not just a flash in the pan. Virtual events were already growing in popularity pre-pandemic, with the sector valued at almost $78 billion in 2019. It is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 23.2% from 2020 to 2027, strongly suggesting this is anything but a temporary phenomenon." via Marketing Tech https://www.marketingtechnews.net/news/2021/jun/01/virtual-events-set-to-grow-in-popularity-post-pandemic/

26/04/2023

"The outbreak of Covid-19 resulted in a substantial shift in the organization of social events. In-person events came to a standstill, and virtual events proved to be a blessing in a world mired in lockdowns." Ketan Pandit via Forbes https://zurl.co/DzI7

These practices can help you execute a best-in-class virtual event and deliver the maximum return on investment for your marketing dollars.

26/04/2023

"Running any kind of event is inevitably a challenge; that’s why event producing is a job and not a hobby. Virtual and hybrid events bring their own unique complications that may be overlooked by those with more experience running in-person events. However, even with COVID-19 increasingly more of a mild nuisance than a mortal threat for most people, virtual events are now indelibly part of the events landscape, so it helps to know what challenges event producers will face and, more importantly, how to overcome them." Benjamin Powell via CX Network https://www.cxnetwork.com.au/what-are-the-challenges-of-virtual-events-and-how-to-overcome-them/

25/04/2023

"Zoom fatigue is tiredness, worry, or burnout associated with the overuse of virtual platforms of communication, particularly videotelephony. While the name derives from the cloud-based videoconferencing software Zoom, it is also used to refer to non-Zoom video conferencing platforms." Aaron Raj via Techwire https://zurl.co/chGH

Are virtual events still relevant as the world moves away from the COVID-19 pandemic? For EventX, hybrid events might just be the future.

25/04/2023

"Ever since Meta announced its big plans for the metaverse, several other big tech companies have echoed the move and announced similar investments in the platform as well. While many were skeptical at first about the metaverse, the reality is, that the integrated network of 3D virtual worlds now provides endless possibilities for them." Aaron Raj via Techwire https://zurl.co/12de

Some companies are referring to virtual events as the metaverse to join the hype but without understanding what the metaverse really is.

25/04/2023

"The data that will be central to your business intelligence and strategy in the near future may just be self-generated during your next event. Real-time audience data (RTAD) is the modern equivalent of striking a gold vein for marketers and business leaders alike, especially if it’s coming from your own audience." Cathy Song Novelli via Forbes https://zurl.co/36S9

Data collected from your own event is comprehensive and specific to your stakeholders and customers, which makes it immediately actionable.

25/04/2023

"When COVID hit in early 2020, onsite meetings and conferences gave way to "virtual" ones. The virtual format posed some aesthetic and technical challenges, especially connectivity and organization." Neil Raden via Diginomica https://zurl.co/4iPb

For a while, virtual events were all we had. Now they're fading - but is that a good thing?

25/04/2023

"The virtual event industry exploded during the pandemic.

Like grocery delivery and home exercise equipment, sudden global restrictions drove an unprecedented need for pushing formerly in-person gatherings into always-online arrangements. But as lockdowns unlocked, businesses gradually returned to boots-on-the-ground venues." Mike Alston via Entrepreneur https://zurl.co/maae

Pandemic restrictions may have eased, but multi-session online happenings are here to stay.