Your checklist is ready.
If you prefer to sit back and relax, watch the build-along.
First things first, secure your virtual venue. Look for an event platform that allows you to BYO (bring your own) streaming, webinar, and engagement tools to stay on top of a changing virtual tech landscape. Built-in streaming and engagement is great, but a platform that supports embeds, like Zoom and Slido, is even better. The more interactive your events, the bigger your sales pipeline grows.
Data will set you free and your sales team up for success. Make sure your event platform offers native integrations with CRM and marketing automation platforms like Salesforce and Marketo, so you can measure event impact and ROI while providing your team with qualified leads. As an added bonus, look for an event platform that can connect to the rest of your tech stack with API support and HTTP requests.
Consistent branding strengthens your relationship with your attendees. This is why every event touchpoint — from the invite email to the virtual venue to the post-event follow-up — needs to uphold your company’s style and voice. Save time by finding an event platform that automates branding across event templates for you. This will allow anyone on your team to spin up events that foster brand recognition and trust with your audience.
Focus your email strategy on personalization and your open rates will thank you. According to a Campaign Monitor study, “...emails with personalized subject lines are 26% more likely to be opened than those without.” Make sure your event platform also supports smart audience segmentation using registration status, attendee type, and other guest data. This ensures your guests only receive content relevant to their actions. To combat event drop-off, schedule emails ahead of time to keep your attendees engaged pre- and post-event.
In a world of competing online events, it’s crucial to communicate the value of the experience you’re providing. Create clear event content, then promote it to your audience. Outline your agenda on your registration page, post the top three attendee takeaways on your socials, and send emails to unregistered guests with one must-have resource they’ll get access to upon registering. If your attendees know you’ll be providing them with valuable content, they’ll show up ready to engage.
Think beyond the screen. Ask yourself what an event would look like in-person, then reimagine it in the virtual world. Send your attendees gift kits that create a collective event experience using tools like Sendoso or Reachdesk. Make sure your event platform pairs with interactive tools, like Slido and Pigeonhole, to power Q&A and polls that keep the conversation and networking flowing.
Every event is a chance to build sales pipeline. Make sure your event platform allows you to track attendee interest so you can chase those opportunities with targeted follow-ups. Did guests want to learn more about your company? Did they show high interest? Gauge their response and curate post-event emails with relevant resources. You’ll soon see those leads blossom into lasting relationships.
Splash provides event marketers and field marketing teams with the tools they need to design, create, and execute virtual, in-person, and hybrid event programs that create memorable experiences, engage attendees, and drive business value. The Splash platform empowers users to easily create their own branded, connected, and compliant event programs in minutes or hours, not days or weeks. By marrying data, design, and intelligent automation, Splash helps companies market, measure, and scale their event programs in ways that were previously impossible. See why Fortune 500 companies choose Splash to power their events at www.splashthat.com.
