SCMP Event’s Inspiration: Countering “Zoom Fatigue” with Hybrid Events
Yawn. Are you feeling sleepy?
This week’s intel tackles the dreaded Zoom fatigue. From yoga breaks to bespoke scents, Digiday and FastCompany explore companies with increasingly innovative ways to engage their audience. The Event Manager Blog explores virtual event studios, while AdWeek profiles one company’s efforts to build community online. Finally, notes from the field: one CEO offers a detailed set of lessons from running a major virtual event, and BizBash deep dives into the American Film Market’s online trade show.
Drink a cup of coffee and keep scrolling for more…
1. ‘The experience is much more valuable’: How publishers are testing hybrid approaches to keep their events engaging (at Digiday)
- Atlas Obscura, PopSugar, and more combat “Zoom fatigue” with hybrid events
- With limited attendees, amplifying hybrid events on social media is key
- Drive-in events are effective but can be expensive, often requiring sponsorship
- Simpler methods include mailing products ahead of time, scheduled screen-free activities, and other interactive experiences — get creative!
2. How Planners Can Successfully Leverage Virtual Event Studios (at Event Manager Blog)
- A recent Event MB survey found 58.1% of planners are uncomfortable with virtual event tech
- High production value is a #1 feature for virtual attendees, so it’s a key factor in setting your event apart
- Don’t do it alone: look for virtual studios with production support and the right AV partners, and don’t be afraid to outsource skills you don’t have
3. Lessons Learned from Running a Virtual Event (at LinkedIn)
- CEO of HLTH Jonathan Weiner shares on-the-ground insights from running a virtual event with thousands of attendees
- Attendees aren’t just there for the networking — the average attendee watched 13 sessions and over 4 hours of content
- Niche content is the secret: going generic turns your attempts to be “everything to everybody” into “nothing to anybody”
- Safety first! The industry needs to adapt to a new environment with clear safety measures, risk management, and alternative plans
4. ‘Our Strength Has Always Been Our Community’: The Information Invests in Virtual Events (at AdWeek)
- Lessons in online community-building from The Information’s virtual events
- No more water cooler: software like Hopin facilitates quick chats during breaks
- Can virtual events successfully charge ticket prices? The Information says yes — with all 50 of their events this year surpassing ticket goals
5. Conference organizers are finding new ways to engage remote audiences (at FastCompany)
- An unexpected plus of going virtual = putting the budget toward higher profile speakers and unique forms of engagement
- How to “Gamify” the conference experience with scavenger hunts and more
- The smell of success: organizers turn to ingredient lists, mailed packages, and bespoke scents to immerse attendees in the event
- Don’t hold your audience too “captive”! Less programming helps remain mindful of participants’ time
6. How This Virtual Trade Show Created Spontaneous Networking Opportunities (at BizBash)
- American Film Market’s virtual trade show may have cracked the code to recreating in-person networking online
- The event’s unique, 3D 10-story marketing pavilion offered virtual “floors” with different topics tables, plus a lobby for open conversations
- AFM’s tech combined 5 different technologies to meet its eclectic audience needs — and helped actually improve the experience for buyers and sellers
Till next week!
(SCMP Events’ Inspiration is a series of weekly post on interesting articles from around the web on the events business as we continue to transform ourselves for a new normal post-Covid-19. These articles are relevant to anyone working in the events industry)
