Sometimes, it can be downright difficult to get attendees engaged and actively involved with your event.
There usually are various reasons why you are struggling to keep your audience interested. It could be that the size of the audience is too large that some members feel left out, maybe that you’re not using the right presentation techniques, or even that your audience is not getting the chance to engage back.
Whatever the reason for reduced engagement in your events is, there are a few things you can do to get more attendees involved. Keep reading to find out more.
1. Be a good moderator
While it might sound simple, it is important to be a good moderator who can get the audience interested and engaged in your presentation. Before you start your event, have an outline ready so that you can structure your presentation appropriately. Make sure that the presentation has a good beginning, middle and end, and make sure to repeat key points throughout the presentation.
2. Make sure to offer compelling content
One of the biggest reasons why your event might be losing audience engagement is that the content is not compelling. If the content is not entertaining or valuable, it’s easy to understand why some people might not find it useful.
There, however, are some cases where you could be working with good content, but it’s still not captivating enough attendees. For such situations, you should consider tricks like splitting your content into small chunks to make them more attractive, which can help to improve audience engagement.
3. Make use of virtual graphic recording services
You might not think that it will work, but one of the best ways to help engage your audience is to use virtual graphic recording (VGR) services. These services allow you to bring out the visual side of your presentation in a very interesting and unforgettable way.
When you leverage virtual graphic recording services for online events, you give the attendees a chance to relate to your content, which makes them feel like they are part of the event. Keep in mind that when you use this service, it’s crucial to get an expert graphic recorder who will bring out the best of your presentation.
4. Set aside some time for breaks and networking
When you’re on a stage, it can be easy to forget about everything else that’s going on, but online events have their own challenges. We simply are not designed to sit in front of computer screens and concentrate for a long amount of time.
When holding an online event, allow at least 5 minutes per hour for breaks so that your attendees can reset their concentration and probably have some time to network.
5. Don’t use static slides only for presentations
Slides do get the job done, no doubt about that. But when you decide to use them exclusively for your presentations, they can result in a mundane presentation. That’s why it’s important to enhance your presentation as much as you can.
Leverage interactive animations or short videos related to your content or use other interactive inputs such as quizzes, polls, or games that increase audience engagement. Making your presentations as dynamic as possible will keep your audience interested. They will feel that they are part of the presentation, which will at this point feel like a conversation.
In conclusion
There are lots of things, from reorganizing your presentation schedule to getting the right tools for the event, that you can do to enhance audience engagement in your online event. All the things mentioned here are simple but effective ways to do just that.
As you try to increase your audience’s engagement, remember that it’s all about keeping it fun and interactive. Most importantly, never forget that your attendees are the ones whom you should always look out for.
