Just because 2020 got cancelled, coronavirus cancel culture doesn’t need to mark the end of your events schedule. Now is a time to be creative and flexible – the show must go on. At Brandnation, we’ve worked hard to ensure this year isn’t a blip in marketing reviews, maximising the opportunities in spite of the challenges by delivering events digitally.  By embracing the new normal, virtual events should be the short to medium-term events strategy to help make brand plans, product launches, and event activations a resounding success.

Of course, there’s no substitute for live experience – like any events specialists, the sooner they return the better, but we’re talking about the here and now to make an instant impact during the current uncertainties.

We’ve been delivering digital events since March – activating experiences that meet the ever-changing working habits and norms of journalists and influencers. From panel talks to footwear launches, we’ve learned a thing or two (not just the beauty of the mute button and Zoom) about digital events. We’ve provided a few of our findings to help inspire and give confidence to get your event plans back on track.

Making your event successful:

• Aesthetic: Bring your event to life with brand colours, branding and logo – it’s time to get creative
• Speakers: For those of you at the back, are your speakers inspiring and interactive? Do you have a host of speakers with multiple viewpoints? Influential speakers can, quite literally, make or break an event.
• Preparation: Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to ensure a full-house at your next event. Your event attendance hasn’t been left high and dry, chances are you haven’t prepared or implemented an effective promotional plan to make the event attendance successful.

The possibilities are endless…

When it comes to your virtual event, the possibilities are truly endless. Make your virtual event dreams a virtual reality with a few agency inspired ideas.

1. Interactive online workshops: Do you have expertise that can be passed on to potential customers? Interactive workshops and classes are an amazing way to connect with your audience.
2. Q&A: Run a question and answer session – increase the interactivity of your event and get the feeling of a ‘live’ event.
3. Virtual Webinars: Answer all your audience’s questions through virtual webinars and how-to’s.
4. Live Streams: Live streaming an event is a great way of connecting your audiences, especially when shared via social media platforms.
5. Unveiling of new products: what better way to release a product to consumers, press, and bloggers than virtually releasing them through your online event.

Here’s one we did earlier… Saucony Ride 13 Virtual Masterclass:

This month, we welcomed top national media, including The Daily Telegraph, The Evening Standard, The Times, Women’s Running, Women’s Health (…that’s enough name-dropping), to Saucony’s Ride 13 virtual masterclass with ambassador and five-time Olympian, Jo Pavey and Product Line Manager for Saucony EMEA, Vincent Harder.

Conducted over Zoom, over 20 key media were treated to a product briefing and Q&A from running royalty, Jo Pavey – as well as conducting one-ton-one interviews to provide media with bespoke content from the event. Interestingly, there were no dropouts, no diary clashes, just a fantastic hour of like-minded running enthusiasts chatting about their favourite sport. Cue lots of coverage, and that’s a job well done.

Virtual event promotion:

If you need help planning, promoting or running your virtual event then get in touch with our team today!

Check out some of our past events here.