Facilitating Online Meetings And Events: Key Considerations For Local Private Sector Organizations

Since Panoply Digital began our collaboration with CIPE, training sessions we have delivered on their behalf have occurred both face-to-face and online. From our extensive online training experience, we’ve developed 5 top tips that you can host meetings successfully and securely.

1 . IDENTIFYING THE AUDIENCE

There is a lot of competition for people’s attention, so it is important to distinguish your organization and the meeting or event you are trying to arrange from other invitations your target audience might receive.

2. PROMOTING INVITATIONS TO THE EVENT

If your organization is expecting a certain number of stakeholders at your event, it is recommended to decide on the ideal volume of attendees and then double that figure.

3. SELECTING A VIRTUAL PLATFORM

When selecting a platform for an online gathering, there are a few considerations to take into account. First, it is a good idea to identify a platform that your target audience may already use or will feel comfortable using.

4. ENSURING INCLUSION IN THE EVENT

If some or most of your stakeholders have variable connectivity or only have a low-bandwidth connection, it may be useful to encourage your attendees to turn their cameras off. 

5. FOSTERING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE AUDIENCE

Lastly, it is important for your organization to keep participants engaged throughout the online meeting or event. Recently, researchers from Stanford University (2021) confirmed that humans experience fatigue from participating in virtual meetings and events.

To read more information on our tips for online meetings, please read the full blog post here.