Volume Two: Digital Commandments
Since launching digital event services, we are constantly learning and evaluating our process for planning. Before we dive into our latest learnings, here are the first three commandments from our original message on this topic:
1. Digital events are not a solution, they are a tool.
2. Digital events require strategy.
3. Digital event roles and responsibilities matter.
These three statements remain true and the ecosystem of digital events has revealed two other principles I think everyone should know.
Commandment #4: Digital events require time. In my experience, digital events require additional time for a few reasons:
• Organizational leadership needs to approve the digital event concept and cost.
• Key stakeholders need training.
• Some corporations need to verify the security levels of a platform.
• Speakers are vetted differently and, if approved, will need training.
The above is a short preview to this simple principle: if this is your first digital event, allocate time for discovery and learning. Discovery allows you to identify a tech solution that meets your business requirements. Learning allows you to confidently use and implement the tool. When you do not allocate sufficient time to the process, you run the risk of overspending and increasing employee anxiety.
Commandment #5: Digital events must combat Zoom fatigue. If you are reading this and your organization has decided to replace their in-person event with the exact same event online, I regret to inform you that this strategy may prove unsuccessful. Digital events should be concise, visually dynamic, highly engaging, and cutting edge. Can your event have the same desired outcomes? Absolutely, but the execution and method of delivery should be evaluated. To begin this process, ask: What is most important for my attendees to learn? If you start with your content goal, you can begin the process of designing an epic digital event.
Digital events are meant to be interesting, creative, personal, and worthy of your attendee’s time. If you design a digital event with the human experience in mind and ask yourself the simple question, “What type of event would I like to tune into?” you are headed in a positive direction. As I always like to say: Moments that create good feelings, digital or in-person, are the moments I live to plan for.
