Evaluating your current event technologies is a task to be done regularly.
Bringing on a new technology solution is a heavy lift for most businesses given the upfront investment of both time and money. But evaluating your current event technologies is a task to be done regularly — tech changes fast (this new tech just got funded) and it's often hard to keep up. Here, we highlight 5 strategic questions to ask your team before launching a new platform or investing in event software.
“In recent years, there have been massive advancements in tools, devices, and software and a genuine emphasis on virtual events, so it’s critical to stay on top of your tech.”
— James Monrean, Executive Director of Technology, Production & Innovation
1. How do we want the event to 'look'?
Anyone can download an event platform and schedule speakers, but not many platforms offer high-quality production value. Speakers need managing, tech needs finessing, and the show needs to be thought of as a broadcast. Understanding how you want to the show to look to virtual (or hybrid) attendees, is paramount to understanding what bells and whistles you need in the tech vs a production team.
2. What are our KPIS?
Thankfully, event tech as caught up and many platforms now offer some form of analytics and reporting, helping event managers to understand the metrics. Real time data helps to redirect events mid-show, allowing event planners the ultimate freedom to problem solve on the fly. Unlike an onsite experience, virtual attendees can be funneled, channeled, and directed to very specific 'locations' (urls), effectively shuttling attendees to specific event touch points. In pre-planning, it's crucial this attendee pathway is mapped out. What's more important? Everyone being at your keynote? Or sponsors feeling valued? Understanding your goals up front helps direct both the platform choice, and the level of production required.
3.What's the pricepoint?
Who doesn't love to stick to the budget? Event platforms offered tiered packages. Any good production company *should* be able to part and parcel out what is necessary, given your KPI's.🤑
4. Where will the content live?
Don’t let your content become hostage to platforms like Facebook and Youtube where your audience is constantly being interrupted by ads, or being distracted by competing content. A strong player solution allows you to host live and on demand content on your own website, and give your audience a unique branded viewing experience.
5. What will you do with the content, post-broadcast?
Your content is a living thing that can be re-purposed, re-distributed, and in the best cases re-sold. Some players allows content to be searchable and shareable with a unique “share a clip” feature which are excellent tools for marketing post-event, and keeping an audience engaged long term. When you own your data, you have access to continual detailed analytics about your audiences viewing and engagement trends.
