Many event coordinators are so overwhelmed with the creation of the content and organization of the webcast that they forget to focus on other important elements such as participant engagement and interaction. In fact, there are many simple techniques that are used during in-person meetings that can be applied to virtual meetings. Below we have outlined 3 simple ways to engage the audience on your next webcast.
1. Kick things off with an Ice Breaker – Instead of spending time with lengthy presenter bios and formal intros, fun ice breakers can be a great way to allow the audience to get to know the speakers. Tell a story that applies to the topic at hand, and then ask the audience to respond with their thoughts on a similar experience. Have them use the chat feature to chat their thoughts and ideas about your story and their own experiences to allow them to feel a part of the meeting and become an active participant.
2. Include live polling questions and engage audience in Q&A – Actively encouraging the audience to type their feedback into the presentation via polling questions and Q&A keeps them actively engaged in the presentation and also helps them feel like they have a voice. Reading some comments aloud and acknowledging this feedback at several points during the presentation is a wonderful way to maintain engagement. You can easily save this feedback for later reference in the poll and Q&A transcript as well.
3. Include Videos – Giving your presenter this tip of sharing a video clip or two is a great technique to get your participants engaged. Videos can help get your audience in the right mood by creating an emotion and reinforcing the story you are telling.
Even if you are short on time, try incorporating at least one of the methods above and you will see a noticeable change in the amount of interaction from the audience on your webcast. Remember to utilize the other tools and features that your webcast has to offer such as a live demo, and social media apps, such as a live twitter feed to keep the conversation going.
Jessica Craig,
V2 | Virtual Event Manager