Our world as we know has shifted dramatically in more ways than I can mention. Virtual has permeated our lives and has changed the way we communicate with our co-workers, our audiences and even our families.

One area majorly impacted by the transition to digital is live events. People who were used to and planned to give talks in front of a room of people are now behind their laptops doing it through the medium of digital tools. One of my favourite metaphors for describing a virtual talk versus a physical one is to imagine the former being a live TV show and the latter being stage theatre. They both deliver the same result in terms of the relaying of information but offer two very different experiences both from the point of view of the speaker and also the audience.

So what are the main differences and more importantly the benefits of delivering a talk through virtual means versus being there in person.

1.   The size of your audience

When it comes to a digital presentation, there is virtually no limit to the number of eyes and ears you can capture. What was a 2,000 people event can now easily become an audience of 20,000 people or more.

2.   Data and measurable results

One of the most important benefits of virtual events is how easily measurable and trackable there are. Anything from the actual size of your audience, interactions, comments, number of questions, demographics data and much more.

3.   Grabbing and gauging the audience’s attention and reactions

Participating in an online event takes a different level of commitment compared to a physical one. You will have the full attention of your audience; you can see their comments and reactions in real time and people who are introverts are more likely to engage with the speaker.

4.   Accessibility

Accessibility is a key difference between a virtual and an in-person event meaning that anyone around the world, even with travel restrictions in place or disabilities can become a participant.

5.   More sustainable (no need to travel)

There is no doubt that the lack of travelling and being able to reach millions from the comfort of your home office chair is much kinder to the planet than air travel, being booked into a hotel and all the other aspects that come with mobility.

6.   Content is still king but you have to work hard

If there was one thing that you should focus all your time and effort on is the content of your presentation. As always, content will and will always be king. Capturing the attention of your audience in the first 5 minutes of the presentation will ensure a successful delivery and an engaged audience. One thing to remember is that due to the nature of digital you need to deliver the content in a condensed and precise manner, respectful of people’s time and attention span.

7.   Playing it back – learning and improving

Re-watching your speaking performance is essential to becoming better at it, see where the improvements points are and what you need to replicate for the next one.

8.   More casual and personable vs formal

Due to the nature of the set up (in your home, surrounded by the things that calm you and offer you comfort) the result will be a more relaxed, casual tone of voice and delivery that would not be present in an in-person event. However, presenting from home also offers its challenges. For instance, you do not want your audience to focus on your selection of books or your family photographs rather than listening to you speak or the room you choose is noisy or has a bad echo.

For the same reason that what you choose to wear is very important, nothing should distract from what you have to say and your audience’s ability to concentrate. Part of our job is to make sure that our clients present absolutely the right image through coaching, screen testing, rehearsals and quality production.

9.   Cost effective

Remove travel, accommodation, food and drink and even a new wardrobe out of the equation and you will come to realise that presenting from your home office will have an important impact on the overall cost of the event.

10. Time

Time is the commodity that we put above all else in normal times and perhaps will do so even more now in a post-pandemic world. Attending a virtual event will save you a lot of time from travelling to and from an event and the unavoidable delays with in-person events. Time that you can put in somewhere else, learning new things or spending it with your loved ones.

11. Production value and pre-planning

With virtual events, one aspect that we have a lot more control over is the quality of production, which, if executed properly will result in better, more high quality streams and eventually a more engaged audience. There are lots of things to consider when it comes to production and pre-planning, from the script to the lighting and camera angles, all equally important in delivering the best virtual experience both for the speaker and the audience.

For us at The Virtual Event Company we believe that the technology should not take away from audience engagement and should be used as a means to deliver and put the spotlight back on the customer, the audience member, the participant. Whilst a different experience from a physical talk, a virtual one offers copious benefits.

As part of our offering and solutions, we work with speakers, thought leaders and prominent voices in their industry to consult, train and coach them through the shift to a new way of spreading ideas.