Online Bar

On our own SamenUITagenda platform there are three drinks bars available to meet in, within these drinks bars break out sessions can be held, people can use the chat and can see and talk to each other.

Try out the borrelbar yourself, you don't have to download anything and it is free to use!

Teams, Zoom or Google Meet

Other low-threshold platforms that are often used for online events are Teams, Zoom or Google Meet. These platforms sometimes require you to create an account or download the app, but they are nevertheless convenient and professional to use.

Do you have any other tips for online event platforms that might be useful? Please let us know!

Most common online events

Online events that are common nowadays are webinars, livestreams, online lectures, online quizzes and workshops. 

Livestreams are becoming increasingly popular with museums and musicians (and other entertainers). Organising high-quality live streams with good audio, multiple camera angles and where nothing goes wrong is a real challenge. We recommend using a professional for this. It is also important to note that when organising a live stream event (depending on the size of the event) it is more difficult to facilitate interaction for the visitors. Perhaps the tips given on this page can help. 

Another possibility that is now emerging is Hybrid Events, which means that some of the visitors are physically present at the event, and another part of the visitors attend the event from home. This type of online event does require some preparation, as there needs to be interaction between the people at home and the visitors who are physically present. 

The big difference between offline and online events is that with online events you are completely dependent on technology and the internet. So make sure you have a good connection, and preferably also technical help that is ready if something goes wrong during the event. Many companies that organise online events hire audiovisual partners for this purpose. 

Tips for online events

Before the online event: 

• Send out invitations
• Engage participants with pre-recorded videos, articles, games or let them get to know each other on a platform
• Opportunity to ask questions and share wishes and ideas (can also be done via a platform)
• Walk-in/Test hour before the event starts

During the online event: 

• Welcome visitors personally
• Use polls, chat, Q&A or upvoting to interact during the event
• Use visitors' names when answering their questions to make it more personal
• Use tools such as Kahoot, Slido, Flipgrid, Storymap or whiteboard to co-create during the event
• Divide the group into smaller groups and host break-out sessions to allow visitors to interact with each other in a more meaningful way
• Chat carousel or speed-dating option for one-on-one interaction between visitors
• Networking table with e.g. 4 to 10 visitors for interaction in smaller groups

After the online event: 

• Have a recap or download of the event available to view again
• Keep the possibility to ask questions also after the event
• Send an evaluation to the attendees and ask for their opinion

Need help setting up an online event? Contact us for a free consultation!