In the last few years, virtual conferences have become a crucial part of how we connect and share knowledge worldwide. With more people tuning in online, an event company must think outside the box and go beyond the usual slideshow presentations to grab attention. 

In this blog, we will look at some of the most exciting and new ways to run virtual conferences. Our goal is to show you how these innovative formats can make your event more engaging and create lasting impressions on your attendees. 

Let’s dive into virtual conferences and discover how we can make them unforgettable.

Why Innovate Virtual Conference Formats?

Sticking to the conventional webinar-style presentations can pose a few challenges. They often lack excitement with hours of monotonous slideshows. 

This passive learning experience can decrease engagement and retention among attendees, potentially resulting in early departures from the event.

That’s why bringing something new to the table is so important. Trying out different ways to run virtual conferences can make them more interesting and interactive. 

Active involvement makes attendees more likely to pay attention, enjoy themselves, and remember the experience. And, of course, this makes your event a bigger success overall.

Cutting-Edge Formats for Virtual Conferences

#1 Interactive Workshops and Breakout Sessions

Instead of just listening, what if you could participate in activities or chat in small groups? That’s exactly what interactive workshops and breakout sessions are all about.

What are they? These are parts of the conference where you can get stuck in with activities or discussions. Workshops are like mini-classes where you might learn something new in a more practical way. Breakout sessions split everyone into smaller groups to chat or work on something specific.

Why are they good? They make the conference more fun and engaging. You’re actually doing something or talking with others. This is great for learning in a deeper way because you’re actively involved. Plus, it’s a brilliant chance to meet new people who are interested in the same things as you.

How do they help with networking and learning? In these smaller groups, it’s easier to chat and share ideas, so you can make new contacts and get to grips with the topics discussed. It’s a win-win: you learn more and meet new folks at the same time.

#2 Stepping into Virtual and Augmented Worlds

Imagine popping on a VR headset and suddenly being in a conference hall, pointing your phone at a code, and watching a product demo come to life right in front of you. 

That’s the magic of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) – two technologies that are changing how we think about online meetings and conferences.

What’s the buzz around VR and AR? VR takes you into a completely computer-generated world where you can move around and interact with things as if you were really there. 

AR, on the other hand, overlays digital images onto the real world through your phone or glasses, making it look like digital objects are part of your surroundings.

How are they being used? At virtual conferences, VR can create a fully immersive experience, making you feel like you’re attending in person – you can ‘walk’ around, see exhibits, and talk to other attendees as if they were right next to you. AR can bring products or presentations to life in your own room, showing you how things work in 3D instead of on a flat screen.

Have people actually done this? Yes, indeed! Some events have used VR to let attendees explore art galleries from the comfort of their homes or join virtual meeting rooms where everyone feels like they’re in the same space. 

AR has been used for interactive product demos, where attendees can see and interact with new products as if they were physically present. These tech-savvy conferences offer a glimpse into the future of virtual meetings, making them more engaging and interactive.

#3 Gamification and Interactive Elements

What if attending a conference felt more like playing a game? That’s the idea behind adding bits of gaming, or ‘gamification’, to make things more lively. It’s about making the whole experience more interactive and fun by borrowing elements from games.

What does gamification mean here? It’s about incorporating elements from games that make them addictive and engaging. This could mean adding points for doing certain activities, leaderboards to show who’s the most engaged, quick quizzes to test what you’ve learned, or challenges to complete during the event.

Why add game bits? These elements make people want to participate more. Imagine watching a presentation and getting points for answering a quick quiz about it afterwards. 

You’d probably pay more attention, right? Plus, seeing your name climb up a leaderboard can be a real boost, making the conference not just informative but also a bit competitive and a lot of fun.

Any examples? Yes! Some conferences have leaderboards that track the most active attendees, giving points for questions like asking questions, networking, or visiting virtual booths. Quizzes can help recap a session’s key points, and challenges might involve completing certain tasks throughout the conference to earn badges or prizes. These game-like features keep attendees engaged, encourage participation, and make the whole experience a lot more enjoyable.

#4 Hybrid Events: Best of Both Worlds

Imagine an event that you could attend by walking into a conference hall or by logging in from your living room. Hybrid events are all about mixing live, in-person gatherings with virtual ones. This means you can be part of the action whether you’re there physically or joining through a screen.

What’s so special about hybrid events? They offer the best of both worlds. Suppose you can’t make it in person, whether because of distance, health concerns, or time constraints, you can still join in online. And if you do prefer the buzz of a live crowd, the option is there for you.

Why go hybrid? The beauty of this setup is how it opens up the event to more people. Someone on the other side of the world, or someone who finds travelling tough, can still take part as if they were right there. 

It’s all about making sure no one misses out. Plus, it means you can get a larger audience than a venue might physically hold – the more, the merrier!

Any perks? Beyond just making events more accessible and inclusive, hybrid events can also be more engaging. Online attendees aren’t just passive watchers; they can interact, ask questions, and network through chat rooms or social media. 

Meanwhile, live attendees get the traditional experience but with the added bonus of digital elements, like live polls or interactive Q&A sessions, making everyone feel connected, no matter where they are.

Choosing the Right Virtual Conference Platform

When you’re planning a virtual conference, especially one that’s a bit out of the ordinary, it’s really important to choose the right virtual conference platform. This is the online space where your event will happen, so you want it to support all the clever and creative ideas you have in mind.

What should you look out for? Here are some key features to keep an eye on:

• Flexibility: Can the platform handle everything you want to do? Whether it’s breakout rooms, interactive polls, or live Q&A sessions, you need a platform that can cope with these without a hitch.

• Ease of Use: It should be straightforward for both you and your attendees to use. No one wants to spend ages figuring out how to join a session or share their screen.

• Engagement Tools: Look for platforms with built-in ways to keep your audience interested. These could include quizzes, virtual hand raises, or even ways for attendees to chat amongst themselves.

• Technical Support: Things can go wrong, and when they do, you’ll want quick and helpful support to fix any issues without disrupting your event too much.

• Integration Capabilities: Does it integrate well with other tools and software you use? Incorporating social media, email platforms, or VR technologies can make your conference stand out.

• Analytics: It is beneficial to see how things went after the event. Virtual conference platforms that offer detailed analytics can tell you what worked well and what didn’t, helping you improve for next time.

Choosing the right platform is about making sure your virtual conference is as engaging, accessible, and memorable as possible.

Conclusion: Time to Think Differently About Virtual Conferences

It’s clear that sticking to the same old presentation styles just won’t cut it if we want to keep virtual conferences interesting and impactful. The world has moved on, and so should we when organising these online gatherings.

We’ve got to be bold and try out new things. Whether it’s incorporating game-like elements, exploring virtual or augmented realities, creating more interactive sessions, or mixing live and online formats, there’s a whole world of possibilities.

So, to all the businesses and event organisers looking ahead to their next virtual conference, let’s not shy away from innovation. It’s time to experiment with these new formats and shake things up.

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