Virtual events really are a different kind of media than a live event. Rather than putting on an event, it’s better to think of these meetings like producing a television program. That’s important because going virtual reduces the amount of interactivity that you can have.
Let’s face it, you can only really have one - maybe two - people talking in a virtual meeting room before everyone is drowned out in a sea of voices. So think like a television producer or a broadcast journalist.
Below is some very helpful advice that I got from television interviewers like Larry King and Katie Couric on how to run a concise interview for television (or a Virtual User Group)
Here are some questions and tips to consider as you're moving to a virtual format:
When talking with two people on video, turn off your screen share so that Zoom turns to a full screen video presentation of that person. It gives you a sense of body language in the discussion that makes it more meaningful and focuses attention to that person.
Preparing guests is important to have a good set of ground rules that make for a great session. It’s likely they don’t have experience in this format and in your desired output. I usually give people the following guidance before going on a Virtual MUG that I’m running:
Other than the advice on interviewing speaking guests, it’s important to work on engagement with your audience. Here are some considerations that you can introduce to your meetings to make them more effective:
About Michael Tucker
Michael Tucker runs The Conversion Store, a Marketing Technology Consultancy based in Charlotte, North Carolina that specializes in helping enterprises migrate and deploy marketing automation software. He is the Leader of the Marketo Virtual User Group for Manufacturing, and a Marketo Certified Expert.
