The moment you start ideating your virtual event, you are looking forward to celebrating its success. However, not many organizers tend to overlook one of the most crucial factors that decide the success of your event; the self-managed online event platform you choose for your online event.
But, how do you ensure the self-managed virtual event platform you are picking is appropriate for your online event? You ask questions! What kind of questions? We will tell you.
In this blog, we have compiled a list of a few questions you should ask before selecting a DIY event platform. So without any further ado, let us drive straight into the blog.
Does the Self-Managed Online Event Platform Go Well With Your Event Needs?
The first and the most crucial thing that you need to understand is if the platform goes well with the tone of your virtual event and is capable enough to meet the needs of your event. Since there are a plethora of options available, it gets crucial to pick an option that goes well with your event objectives and needs. Consider basic requirements such as the event scale, the number of attendees you are targeting, event type and format, and other elements before making the final decision.
Is the Online Event Hosting Platform Customizable?
The next thing you need to consider while picking up a DIY virtual event platform is the customization capabilities it comes with. The customizable virtual event platforms are new in, and with customization functionality, you will be able to design your virtual event keeping your brand requirements and objectives in mind.
For example, with customization, you would be able to design the templates according to your convenience and requirements. Moreover, custom registration pages will help you get information that is relevant to your virtual event. Even though these factors are very minimal, they can help you boost the ROI of your event.
Is the DIY Virtual Event Platform Secure?
Indeed the most significant feature of the DIY event platform that you should ask for is the security of the online event hosting platform. Since we have become so technologically advanced, online security threats have become more common than ever. It is the main concern of the online event organizers. Apart from it, as an event organizer, it becomes your responsibility to ensure the safety of your attendees’ data.
For this, you need to select a self-managed virtual event platform that comes with encryptions and ensures the utmost security of your attendee data. Risking your event along with the attendee data might prove to be fatal for your event and your organization’s reputation.
A Report by Statistica reveals, “In 2020, the number of data breaches in the United States came in at a total of 1001 cases. Meanwhile, over the course of the same year, over 155.8 million individuals were affected by data exposures – that is, an accidental revelation of sensitive information due to less-than-adequate information security.”
Does the Online Event Hosting Platform Provide Branding Opportunities?
One of the most common reasons organizations host events is to expand the reach of their brand and market their brand. To say marketing is the backbone of a brand wouldn’t be wrong.
As Tom Goodwin once quoted, “Brands are essentially patterns of familiarity, meaning, fondness, and reassurance that exist in the minds of people.”
Therefore, it is vital to look for DIY event platforms that don’t let you compromise on the branding of your virtual event. The moment your attendees log in to the event, they should feel connected with your brand. So, consider choosing a self-managed virtual event platform that doesn’t let you compromise with the branding of your virtual event.
What are the Networking and communication Features the DIY Virtual Event Platform Comes with?
Networking has always been the first and most significant reason people like to attend events. With things going virtual, connecting and networking with others has become more important than before. Therefore, don’t even think of going with an online event platform that doesn’t provide you with enough networking and communication features.
A few tools you should definitely consider are:
- 1-1 Chat
- Video Calls
- Networking Tables
- AI Matchmaking
- Q&A feature to interact with the speakers and guests
Having a set of high-end communication tools will help you make your event immersive. Not only this, by enabling the attendees to communicate with others, you are adding value to their overall experience.
What are The Tools to Keep the Audience Engaged during the Event?
Several organizers have this misconception that getting an audience to your virtual event is more than enough. However, it is not the only thing that would make your event successful. As an organizer, you need to focus on retaining the audience equally. For this, while looking for an online event hosting platform, ask if the platform comes with immersive engagement tools. Don’t forget, Audience Engagement Rate is one of the top-rated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). A few of the features you can consider are breakout rooms, gamification, leaderboard, etc.
Does the self-managed virtual event platform provide in-event analytics?
Online events will always have an upper hand when it comes to in-event analytics. Real-time analytics is a great way to analyze the effect of your virtual event. The data will tell you which of your strategies made an impact and which ones failed to do so. Apart from it, with clear data and metrics, you will be able to measure the success of your virtual event. In addition, the analytics will help you understand how you can improve your strategies and plannings for upcoming events. So, ask your online event provider if the online event platform comes with real-time event analytics or not.
What do the users say about the self-managed virtual event hosting platform?
Last but not least, customer review is one thing you must check before selecting an online event platform. To begin with, analyze your competitors and the platforms they had considered for their online events. Moving further, ask people in your immediate network. Then, proceed to the third-party reviews. While going through the reviews, ensure you pay extra attention to the features that the users didn’t like about the self-managed virtual event platform. It will give you an actual picture of what working with the platform looks like. Also, since online event hosting platforms keep updating their features, we recommend you to go through the most recent reviews.
Summing Up
Since virtual events have become more popular than we thought they ever will, every other brand has come up with a self-managed virtual event platform. It is why selecting an appropriate online event hosting platform becomes challenging. If you are considering creating your virtual event, we recommend you keep the above-shared questions in mind. Apart from it, you can select Mixhub, a 3D customizable online event platform, to host your online event most conveniently and seamlessly. So, what are you waiting for? Book a Demo, Today!
