Who would have known that video calls and facetime that we only use to communicate with people far away from us will be the primary platforms for formal meetings, conferences, and conventions?

Video conferencing has been around for quite a while, especially when world trade has become more powerful than ever. Multinational companies use video conferencing to meet with the bosses of their local subsidiaries.

But the demand for a virtual conference in Singapore has spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. For public safety, many businesses have closed the doors of their offices and implemented a work from home setup. But the show must go on, and the operation must continue moving forward despite not seeing people face-to-face.

Thanks to virtual conference tools in Singapore, like Google Meet, Zoom, Skype, and other software, carrying out a virtual event in Singapore is possible. Continue reading to know more about the events that can be held virtually.

Events That Can Be Held Virtually

The global pandemic has brought the best quality out of us, and one of it is being adaptive to the situation. There may have been restrictions towards social conventions, but it didn’t stop us from gathering. Instead, we use the available tools and resources we have to conduct specific events with many participants. Here are a few examples:

Webinars

The webinar is a seminar that is held online. The objective and programme flow of webinars are similar to seminars. There are hosts, speakers and their presentations, and participants. Webinars have different goals. It can be selling products and services, educating and raising awareness, and engaging and communicating with people.

A webinar is a live event. It requires an internet connection, mobile phones, computers, laptops, and a virtual conference platform.

Many hold this kind ofvirtual event in a company in Singapore as part of employee training and education. Governments and organisations also hire a virtual event organiser in Singapore to arrange webinars tackling social issues and raise information.

Virtual Trade Shows and Exhibition

Before the pandemic, trade shows and fairs are anticipated events for businesses and enthusiastic consumers. Trade shows happen in a large venue where companies gather and have their own booths to display and exhibit their new products and services.

A popular type of trade show is an electronic fair where technology companies introduce their latest technologies. Tech-savvy consumers are patrons of these trade shows.

During the pandemic, businesses have heldvirtual exhibition shows in Singaporeto introduce and sell services and products. It may also incorporate virtual shopping to generate sales as well.

A larger virtual trade fair may require scheduled reservations from attendees to prevent compromising the capabilities of the video conferencing tool. At the same time, exhibitors can focus on introducing their products and services to a limited number of participants.

Virtual trade shows can also be a hybrid event in Singapore– a combination of online and face-to-face events.

Online Workshop

When the global pandemic hit, many countries switched to online classes and learning setups. Online training and workshops are similar to online study. The online workshop’s goal is to educate and train the participants through a series of lessons. An online workshop course can run for weeks or months.

Most online workshops are paid. People who paid the fee have access to the online class, soft copies of learning materials and presentations, and tests. Students who have finished the online workshop course receive a certificate of course completion.

On the flip side, companies also hire a virtual event organiser in Singapore to help conduct an online workshop for their employee training.

Online Concert

The COVID-19 pandemic has paralysed the entertainment and music industries. Music concerts and world tours have been cancelled as mass gatherings have been prohibited in many countries. To adapt to the current situation, production houses and artists hold live music concerts online.

Concert production hires a virtual event company in Singaporeto music concerts online. Usually, online music concerts consist of recorded and live performances. It can either be a free or paid concert.

For paid online music concerts, a virtual event organiser in Singapore partners up with a live streaming platform, like YouTube, that sells subscription packages. People who have subscribed or paid a membership fee can watch online music concerts and access concert replays.

On the other hand, artists can use free live streaming platforms for free concerts, like Instagram and Facebook.

Online Meetings

The simplest and probably most used by many is online meetings. Companies and organisations today conduct online meetings using tools, such as Google Meet, Zoom, Skype, and so on. This virtual event in Singapore doesn’t really need the help of a professionalvirtual event organiser in Singapore. Online meetings have also been used by people who live in different countries and time zones.

Access to online meetings is limited to only those with invites, thus, maintaining privacy.

The internet and these video conferencing tools and live streaming platforms have truly made a non-face-to-face meeting, especially during the pandemic. It helped people stay connected from the comforts of their homes.

The virtual exhibition and hybrid event in Singapore is the personification of “the show must go on.” Despite the gathering restrictions, businesses continue to operate, musical concerts continue to entertain, and students continue to learn through virtual events and video conferencing.

Regardless of this technological feat, virtual events and conferences still encounter several hurdles. Learn the challenges a virtual event company in Singaporefaces today.

The Challenges of Virtual Events in Singapore

Although virtual events have been around for the last five years, it is only today that it was used on a larger scale. Many people, especially those who have the resources and familiarity with the technology, have adapted quickly. Yet, there are still people who have been left behind. Other factors also contribute to the reduced agility of virtual events. These factors are among the challenges a virtual event company in Singaporetries to overcome.

Technological Limitations

Millennials and Gen Z, the generations who grew up in the technology era, have no problems adapting to the virtual event in Singapore. Older and those who are less familiar with technology may find virtual conferences a hurdle.

This challenge can be overcome by training and education. A brief and simple instruction regarding the access, controls and functions beforehand helps eliminate this obstacle.

Another problem concerning technology is the access to it. Unfortunately, not everyone has the right resources for a virtual conference in Singapore,like internet connection, phones and laptops, and even video conferencing and live streaming platform subscription. These technological restrictions limit the reach of the event.

To bridge the gap, avirtual event company in Singaporeuses a more flexible software and platform.

Security and Privacy

Hackers and intruders do not spare virtual conferences and events as well. There has been an influx of Zoom meetings and conference call attacks globally, particularly in online classes.

Cyber attackers gain unauthorised access to these meetings and conference calls and display inappropriate and obscene images and videos in the middle of the meeting. Others yell and chat profanities in the middle of virtual conferences, disrupting the programme.

Avirtual event organiser in Singapore should ensure the security and safety of the participants and the hosts during these online events, mainly because participants and hosts use their emails and input their private information to register for the event.

There are several ways to ensure the safety and privacy of ahybrid event in Singapore.There are video conference platforms that allow organisers to provide unique passwords to each attendee. There are also attendee verification systems to filter the participants. Lastly, thevirtual organiser or host in Singapore has control over who to ban, remove, and mute in case there is a programme intrusion and disruption.

Social Connection and Commitment

Live interaction plays a crucial role in building a social connection. These networks and connections are significant, especially in summits and conferences. In reality, some people look forward to building networks in these special events more than the event itself.

Unfortunately, a virtual exhibition in Singapore lacks this element. Although attendees are there virtually, they may seem disconnected. The presence of each participant and the sense of togetherness are the keys to scoring deals during exhibitions and summits.

One of the ways to overcome this hurdle is to have honest content. Presenting your content in a personal yet sensitive way by eliminating jargon and corporate language and engaging and acknowledging the attendee’s presence creates the connection.

Keeping the communication line a two-way street helps in building commitment as well.

The Monetisation of Virtual Events

Compared to organising physical events, virtual events are significantly cheaper. Therefore it allows the host to conduct as many virtual events as they want with countless attendees without breaking the bank.

However, the problem arises when the primary goal of a virtual event in Singaporeis to generate revenue.

It could be a problem for online workshops and musical concerts. These events require membership and subscription fees for content access. In reality, people think the experience they will get in this paid content is not worth the money. The adrenaline you feel when attending a live concert in stadiums; and the online performance is entirely different, right?

It all boils down to the quality of content, its creativeness, and the bonus or freebie content. Proper promotion can also drive sales and revenues.

Audience Engagement

Like what was mentioned earlier, virtual events lack social interaction and a sense of togetherness. It is one of the reasons why maintaining audience engagement during a virtual conference in Singapore. Sitting in front of your computer for a two-hour webinar creates what they called “Zoom Fatigue.”

Series of meetings and conferences are extremely mentally and physically draining. Participants who are experiencing zoom fatigue become mentally disconnected from the discussion. When the lesson does not register to the audience, it is indeed a failed or unfruitful event.

Distractions are also present during avirtual event in Singapore. The noise outside, family members, and even your social media tabs you can access simultaneously get a fair share of your attention.

Additionally, people have a shorter attention span online. Keeping the audience engaged is really a tough task for the virtual event company in Singapore.

Among the challenges mentioned above, one of the easiest to solve is audience engagement. It is tough for people to have a firm grasp of the attention of their online attendees, but once they have the proper techniques, the flow of the programme will be smooth sailing.

How To Keep Your Audience Engaged During Your Virtual Event in Singapore

Present Enthusiastically

Some gifted speakers can capture the undivided attention of the participants, but if you are not one of them, then you have to work harder. In physical gatherings, gestures and facial expressions help in connecting with the audience. With a limited angle of the camera, speakers cannot show their body language. Instead, speakers put more enthusiasm in their voices to give life to the virtual conference in Singaporeto make it less boring.

Include Interactive Experience

Audience participation keeps the engagement. Live polls, Q&A, chat, and games are good ways to keep the virtual event in Singapore interactive.

Use Different Medium

People find it draining to see all the texts on your slides. You can add images, videos, animation, and infographics to make the presentation and delivery of the message interesting.

Try Hybrid Event

The hybrid event in Singapore is the combination of the live and online components of the seminar and conference. It provides multiple camera angles of the speaker, giving the sense of physical gatherings.

Set House Rules

The virtual event company in Singapore can politely ask the audience to keep their phones away and their cameras on to avoid distraction and maintain engagement.

We have reached the period where we remain connected to each other despite the distance between us. And beyond communication, we can now perform live music, educate, and sell products without being physically present. And that is through virtual events.

You can take advantage of these benefits by conducting your own virtual event with Evention. For more virtual event services, visit Evention today.