COVID-19 Means Rethinking Online Events: Going Beyond “Dialing In”
Coronavirus mean you need to move your large event online? Here’s how to do more than ‘conference TV.’
Most of us think a meaningful event needs to be in person. But in-person meetings are just one way to realize the shared outcomes of gatherings. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations were moving away from in-person meetings. Reasons included ecological sustainability, a desire for increased total attendance, the challenges and costs of travel logistics, disruption to regular work, and life/work balance. And right now, with no end in sight, events aren’t getting ‘postponed’ due to COVID-19 — many are canceling altogether.
In-person events are more than just meetings. They are platforms for connection that help organizations realize network effects necessary for exponential change. Salesforce, arguably one of the most digital companies in the world, hosts a massive, 170,000 person event every year. Called Dreamforce, it’s proven to be the best way to accelerate connections in their ecosystem. Furthermore, it has another 16 million viewers online.
