Live business events are expensive and time-consuming. As such, they need a large ROI in order to be justified. Most companies simply can’t afford them.
Therefore, if you do run a live event, you need to get everything right. If you don’t, you’ll wind up wasting money and ultimately feeling disappointed.
So, what do you need to do to make your event a roaring success?
Here’s our advice.
Shift To An Experience Mindset
Don’t start off with an “event” mindset. A lot of companies do this, focusing on the details.
Instead, focus more on how the event is going to make people feel. Ultimately, all that matters is the experience they have.
Going down the latter route requires more time, care and attention, but it is also highly effective. While it might take six months, once you nail your live format, people will remember it and it should land the way you want.
Choose Specific Themes
On top of that, you want to choose specific themes during your events. Pick some sort of pain point your audience is having and then focus exclusively on that. Try to make the experience as helpful as possible while offering solutions and follow-ups.
Most brands don’t try to sell directly. Instead, they use their live events as lead magnets and go from there. These attract prospects who want to try the company out before committing to a full purchase.
Co-Create
If you’re really struggling for ideas in-house, then co-create. Work with another brand to create something special and lasting in the minds of your audience.
If you can work with the people watching you, that’s often even better. Simply asking them what they want from you builds a lot of insight and makes you more effective. Then, all you need to do is create the winning topics and you’re off to the races in terms of engagement.
Improve Your Existing Equipment
Also, think about your existing livestreaming equipment and ask if it is good enough. Don’t just rely on your phone because someone said it had a great camera. That won’t usually give you the results you want.
Also, research your live transmitter-receiver. Ensure it’s up to the task and can provide you with seamless feeds every time you decide to film. Cheaper options may introduce lag, which can annoy your audience and make your messaging considerably less compelling.
Cap Attendance
Another thing you’ll want to do is cap attendance at around 70% venue capacity. When you do this, it creates a sense of exclusivity and scarcity, making the occasion feel even more extraordinary.
How you do this online is challenging. However, many tools allow you to limit the number of people in a room.
Replace Keynotes With Deep Dives
Finally, you want to make your actual content as interesting as possible. Don’t do what a lot of firms do and simply bring in random people who know something about a topic. Look for individuals who are capable of delivering the level of engagement naturally through their interest and charisma.
