Five Common Virtual Event Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Hosting a virtual event is the latest trend in the event industry. The changed circumstances and boom in technology have made virtual events even more popular recently. As per a recent study by Grand View Research on the virtual event industry, the international virtual events market was valued at US$94.04 billion in 2020 and is estimated to upsurge with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.7% from 2021 to 2028. Almost every SME and large business uses digital platforms for their events or meetings, but are we correctly using the successful virtual event concept?

There are several specific mistakes that professionals make while organizing a virtual event. These include getting off the event track, under-structuring the event, presenting heavy PowerPoint content and overcomplicating the virtual event. Although these are some specific mistakes, they can be avoided by addressing the five most critical and common mistakes that many virtual event organizers make in planning virtual events.

We'll outline these five most common mistakes that many virtual event organizers make in planning. It will help you understand the event mistakes in detail. In addition, we'll include helpful tips on how to avoid them in your upcoming events.

1 Five Common Virtual Event Mistakes

1.1 Selecting a Random Platform

One common virtual event mistake that many event organizers make is selecting a random platform for their event. Event organizers sometimes choose just any trending, virtual event platform. As a result, deciding on the platform without analyzing its features and your feature requirements can put you in an unpleasant situation during an event.

1.1.1 How to Avoid

One of the first things you must be vigilant about is a virtual event platform. Don't go for any random platform that is popular or that is suggested by someone in your business circle. Understand the platform features, analyze your requirements and, finally, decide which platform is best. Access a demo of the virtual event platform before finalizing your choice.

1.2 Replicating In-person Event Experience

Many event organizers want to make the virtual experience similar to the in-person event; however, you should not compare the virtual experience to the in-person experience. Common event success strategies do not work for all event types. Replicating the in-person event experience as a virtual event may diminish the event experience. Instead, decide on digitally compatible goals for your virtual events and plan for improved involvement of the virtual event audience.

1.5.1 How to Avoid

Getting a quick-witted host or an event team to answer the event attendees' comments and questions would help to avoid this mistake. In addition, prompt response from the event team will assist in creating a favorable reputation for the business in the attendees' minds. It can also help build professional relationships with attendees.

You have explored the most common virtual event mistakes and learned what works to avoid them. Although none of the errors mentioned above are difficult to correct, every virtual event team must be ready to identify and correct any of these potential problems.

Conclusion

A virtual event is the next level of experience for event attendees. It is not the same as that of in-person events where audience members get distracted by multiple things. During virtual events, all the attendees are looking at the screen throughout the event. Because of this, it is best if you were more careful and presentable during these events in particular. Any mistakes can make the event tedious, confusing, or even irrelevant. Understand the solution given above and make your virtual event even more exciting and entertaining on digital platforms.

FAQs

1. What are the top three mistakes that can occur during a virtual event?

Selecting the wrong platform, going without a virtual host and replicating the in-person event are the top three mistakes that occur during virtual events.

2. How can virtual events be improved?

Building quality content and hiring a proficient keynote speaker can improve the overall virtual event experience.

3. Why should we track virtual event mistakes?

Tracking the mistakes in virtual events can help us avoid such mistakes in the future and organize a more polished virtual event while achieving the set goals.