3 Solid Options For Hosting Your Live Online Event
Never before has there been a more urgent need to convene digitally.
We’ve been using a few digital platforms for remote collaboration, accelerator cohorts, and workshops for some time, but like other national events, COVID-19 pressed pause on our annual SXSW programming. On the backdrop of the Coronavirus outbreak, we’re conducting research, revisiting, and testing new offerings that can best bring the in-person experience online. There are many to choose from where your audience may already exist, like YouTube Live or Facebook Live. Knowing where your potential attendees already interact removes barriers for sign-ups, participation, and your own understanding of the platform.
The power of convening, community, and curation of an in-person experience can still apply online. If you’re shifting to digital, below are some excellent options to consider when hosting your next live online event:
Shindig
Shindig is a turnkey solution for online video chat events. Its technology offers the dynamics of an in-person event at a larger scale. Shindig is one of the more established companies in cloud video conferencing.
Features:
- Present up to 1000 attendees
- Audience Q&A
- Private video chats
- Live stream integration for YouTube and Facebook Live
Zoom
Zoom provides remote conferencing services that combines video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and mobile collaboration. Zoom is widely used and recently partnered with Chipotle for “a virtual lunchtime hangout for 3,000 fans that will feature celebrity appearances, Q&As, and exclusive content.”
Features:
- Integration with Facebook and YouTube
- Chat functions
- Can quickly promote an attendee to a panelist so they can interact live
- Q&A polling
- Virtual hand-raising
- Breakout rooms
Run The World
With fresh backing from Andreessen Horowitz, Run The World makes it easy and fun for all kinds of organizers to put together exciting events. Organizers can simply plug and play RTW’s event templates; attendees can interact and learn from each other and have meaningful conversations, entirely online.
Features:
- Set up is three easy steps
- Browse attendee lists and reach out
- Fireside chats
- Interview your guests just the way you are used to
- Enable attendees to chime in
- Attendees can create a video profile akin to an Instagram story that can help inform other attendees about who they are
- Virtual cocktail party for attendees to socialize
If there are other virtual event platforms that you’ve used and recommend, then we’d love to hear it. Please share below in the comments or email us directly at start@humble.vc. Additionally, see below for more advice, tips, and recommendations on how to host a successful live online event:
