Welcome to the digital age of networking and business growth! 2023 has brought with it a new era of virtual conferences, where the possibilities are endless and the reach is global. But, as with any new venture, there are bound to be a few hiccups along the way. Don’t let common mistakes hold you back from reaping the benefits of virtual conferences. In this article, we’ll uncover the top 7 virtual conference blunders to steer clear of and equip you with the tools to host a seamless and successful virtual conference that will help generate leads and revenue for your business. So, grab a cup of coffee and let’s dive in!

Not having a clear idea of what your virtual conference is about

Virtual conferences offer a cost-effective way to reach a large audience and can be easily customised to fit the needs of any organisation. However, virtual events can also be complex and time-consuming to plan. The last thing you want is to be scrambling to put together a conference at the last minute. Without sufficient planning, they can quickly become chaotic and unproductive. That’s why it’s important to allocate adequate time for planning before any virtual event. This will help to ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day. By taking the time to develop a well-thought-out plan, you can ensure that your event runs smoothly and meets your organisations goals. 

When planning your virtual conference, there are a few things you should keep in mind. 

First, you need to have a clear idea of what your conference is going to be about. What topics will you cover? Who is your target audience? What format do you want to use? Once you have a good understanding of your goals, you can start putting together a detailed plan.  

• Choose the right platform: There are many different options available, so it’s important to do some research and find one that will work well for your needs. 
• Take care of logistics: This includes setting up registration, creating a schedule, and ensuring that all speakers have what they need to deliver their presentations. 
• Promote the event: This can be done through social media, email marketing, and other channels. Be sure to let people know what they can expect so that they can decide whether or not they want to attend. 

By taking care of these details in advance, you can ensure that your virtual conference is successful.

For more information, read how to plan a virtual conference 

Failing to engage with virtual conference attendees 

Conference attendees are not always easy to engage with. This is especially true when the conference is virtual, and participants are not in the same room. In order to make sure your virtual conference is interactive and engaging, there are a few things you can do:

• Try to create a sense of community by forming small groups and setting up forums where participants can interact with each other.
• Make use of technology to facilitate interaction, such as video conferencing and instant messaging.
• Encourage participation by offering incentives, such as points for the most active participants.

By taking these steps, you can ensure that your virtual conference is interactive and engaging for all attendees.

Neglecting the attendee experience  

In today’s business climate, more and more events are moving online. While this can be a great way to reach a larger audience, it’s important to remember that virtual conferences require a different approach when it comes to creating an engaging attendee experience. Just because attendees aren’t physically present doesn’t mean you can neglect their experience. In fact, it’s even more important to make sure your virtual attendees feel engaged and connected to your event.

This means making sure that the conference platform is easy to use and navigate, provides useful and relevant information, and offers opportunities for interaction and connection. By neglecting the attendee experience, virtual conferences can quickly become boring and unengaging. As a result, attendees may not return for future events or may choose to engage with other virtual conferences that offer a better experience. Therefore, it is essential to focus on the attendee experience in order to create a successful virtual conference.

Lack of branding or marketing  

It’s important to make sure your virtual conference is marketed well so that people are aware of it. There are a few ways you can go about this. One way is to create a landing page for your conference. This is a page where people can go to get more information about the conference and register for it. Make sure to include all the pertinent information on the landing page, such as the date and time of the conference, the topics that will be covered, and the speakers who will be presenting. 

You should also promote the conference on social media and in relevant online communities. Use hashtags and post engaging content that will generate interest in the conference. Finally, reach out to influencers in your field and ask them to promote the conference to their followers. With a little bit of marketing effort, you can ensure that your virtual conference is a success.

Not Choosing the Right Platform for your virtual conference 

In this day and age, technology is a necessary part of doing business. However, not all businesses use technology to their advantage. One common mistake is not choosing the right platform for their needs. There are a variety of virtual conferencing platforms available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. 

It’s important to choose one that will fit the needs of your business. For example, if you need to hold a large virtual conference, you’ll want a platform that can accommodate a large number of users. Similarly, if you need to conduct online polling, you’ll want a platform that makes collecting and analyzing data easy. By choosing the right platform, you can ensure that your business is using technology effectively.

Not enough dry runs before the virtual conference

When it comes to hosting a successful virtual conference, preparation is key. That’s why many event planners choose to run a dry run or rehearsal before the big day. By doing a dry run, you can work out any technical kinks, test your audio and video quality, and make sure everyone is comfortable with the platform. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to get feedback from your team and make any necessary adjustments. 

However, skipping the dry run can be tempting, especially if you’re short on time or resources. But keep in mind that it could end up being a costly mistake. With a dry run, you avoid technical glitches, confusion, and an overall less polished event. So if you can swing it, make sure to schedule a dry run before your next virtual conference.

Not building an event community 

You’re missing out on a huge opportunity if you’re not building a community around your event. In today’s world, people are used to connecting and learning all year round. You can tap into that need by creating a community hub and keeping attendees engaged. This approach has several advantages:  

• It allows you to build relationships with attendees over time, which makes them more likely to attend your next event. 
• It gives you a chance to learn from your attendees and improve your next event. 
• It allows you to generate revenue all year long, not just during the event itself.  

So if you’re not already doing it, start building a community around your event today!

Conclusion 

Conference planning can be daunting, but if you plan well and execute effectively, you can achieve great results. By following the tips we’ve shared in this blog post, you can ensure that your conference successfully engages delegates and achieves your objectives.