Event Management 2 (Virtual and Hybrid)

Learn to Plan and Run Virtual or Hybrid Events.  

Conferences and seminars, and even trade shows and festivals have changed.

Modern events may still be things you can attend in real life; but increasingly, they also can be attended in the virtual world. It is a challenge, and requires different knowledge and skills to organise something that an attendee can participate in over the internet, from wherever the participant might be at the time. 

This course leads students through ways to: 

• set the mood at an event, 
• choose the tech that suits your attendees and your needs,
• help create enduring connections between attendees, 
• introduces you to selling at a hybrid event, 
• examine costs and ticketing, 
• embrace evaluation,
• and ensure high-impact engagement. 

This course is right for if you:

• establish your own online events management business,
• work in corporate events,
• manage events which have moved to a virtual platform, 
• coordinate technology for remote working in your current role, 
• want to specialise, 
• if you're looking for more than handbook, ebook or guide - you want authentic learning.

To be successful in an events management career, you need more than passion. You need persistence and a willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed. You also need skills. If this describes you, we can help you to get a start in this industry. 

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Scope and Nature of Virtual Events
   • Recent changes in event sector
   • Virtual events
   • Advantages and disadvantages of virtual events
   • Hybrid events
   • Advantages and disadvantages of hybrid events
   • Difference between in person and virtual events
   • Challenges of delivering events
   • Attention span
2. Creating a Virtual Event
   • Goals of creating the event
   • How and when to host the event
   • Promoting the event
   • Audience engagement
   • Event planning process
   • Event Concept/purpose
   • Staff
   • Budget
   • Technical Resources
   • Activities
   • Invitation and promotions
   • Marketing
3. Creating a Hybrid Event
   • Internal and external hybrid events
   • Goals
   • Marketing the event
   • Registration
   • Time zones
   • Virtual attendee's content
   • Venue selection
   • Technology and equipment
   • Transportation and logistics
   • Food and Beverage
   • Health and Safety
   • Cost
4. Content Creation
   • Creating engaging content
   • Visual aids
   • Developing an agenda
   • Presentation selection
   • Trade shows and exhibition
   • Creating a stand
5. Building preparation
   • Challenges of maintaining participation online
   • Presentation skills for online events
   • Networking
   • Using visual real rooms
   • Social media
   • Social media applications
   • Success pointers
6. Marketing
   • Digital marketing
   • Virtual tours
   • Linking to education
   • Sales techniques
7. Managing Finances
   • Cost for virtual and hybrid events
   • Develop revenue streams
   • Sponsorship
   • Advertising
   • Ticketing
   • Pricing
   • Developing packages
8. Technology Requirements
   • Importance of Technology
   • Connectivity
   • Security
   • Preferences of clientele
   • Sourcing technology suppliers
   • Attendee technology
   • Communicating with audiences before event
   • Technology During the Event
9. Evaluation
   • Event evaluation
   • Evaluation tools
   • Managing feedbacks
   • Stakeholder engagement
10. Special Project
    • Design and deliver a remote event.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Discuss the scope and nature of virtual and hybrid events.
• Explain how to create different events that are delivered 100% virtually.
• Describe how a variety of live and virtual event components can be delivered and linked together.
• Construct content for a virtual or hybrid event.
• Demonstrate how to build participation for a hybrid or virtual event.
• Determine marketing for a virtual or hybrid event.
• Explain financial management for a virtual or hybrid event.
• Explain the application of different technologies to deliver virtual or hybrid events.
• Analyse a virtual or hybrid event.
• Design and deliver a remote event - the ultimate goal where you can bring it all together.

What You Will Do

• A Practical Approach to Learning
• This course is more than just theory. Learning about virtual and hybrid event management requires needs practical experience to apply to theory.
• Virtual event management students can start to achieve this through tasks and activities built into the course.
• You will also be allocated your own dedicated tutor you will guide you through the course as needed. Receive timely feedback on returned assignment submissions.
• We also encourage connection with industry - so get out there and get connected.

What is a Virtual Event?

Virtual events are events where people participate and interact with each other, without being in the presence of each other. To put it simply they are not physically with each other, not face to face.
However, it is a way to bring people together virtually. This may be through video or audio. Typically, they utilise communication technologies such as teleconferencing to connect and interact in real time. But they can also be recorded for participants to replay at a later date.
Examples may include:

• A webinar
• Livestreaming
• Seminars 
• Lectures
• Workshops
• Trade displays/shows
• Exhibitions
• Conferences
• Meetings
• Celebrations, awards ceremonies
• Festivals
• Concerts
• Training videos
• Lessons in topics such as cooking, mixology, pruning, gardening, creative writing etc.
• Online tours. For example, online tours of a garden or a stately home.
• Online Ghost Tours
• Online wine, whiskey, cheese, or food tastings. For example, wine or whiskey is posted out to the participant, then they sample the drink or food whilst listening to an online chat about the taste.

The list is endless really. There are many different opportunities where online events can be offered, and more and more businesses are adapting to this virtual phenomenon. Some because they have to it due to customer demand, but others because they recognise the opportunities available to them.

Why Go Virtual?

For the business and customer

• Travel – Virtual events are beneficial in terms of travel in several ways – reduced travel costs, eliminate travel time, reduced carbon footprint
• Increased inclusivity. Some people have mobility issues or travel can be difficult, with many venues and transportation options inaccessible. Online events increase their chances of attendance and this in turn increases opportunities for the customer and business. 
• Global access - Also, as we mentioned a moment ago, it opens up the event to everyone who has access to the internet or suitable technology. Where once an event may only have been opened to people in Belgium, for example, today, it can be open to the whole world.
• Virtual events can be offered at a cheaper price or at less cost to a business than face to face events. This is not always the case, but it can be. One or two people doing an online event in their office or at home in front of a good background can be substantially cheaper than hosting 100 people at a hired venue and providing drinks, staff to attend to the visitors etc. Of course, not all online events are that simple, but it is something to consider.
• Online and hybrid events are better than simply watching a recording or a talk or training session. They are interactive. (But they can be recorded for future viewing).
• There are opportunities to increase communication during the online event, such as with breakout rooms and chat rooms, discussion boards, question and answer sessions.
• Event flexibility – Online events can be more flexible than in-person events. If one room is used as a location, then this is easier to arrange than an online venue or stage etc.
• Parts of the session can be recorded - for example, a person giving an online tour of a garden might film the garden itself, then do a live stream talk about the garden as people watch the video.

The session itself can also be recorded and shown on demand for free or a fee via the event website. This means that people who cannot attend the actual life event can watch it at a date and time to suit them.

For the business specifically:

• Expand their audience – Online and Hybrid events offer businesses the chance to increase their audience substantially. A small business may be able to cater for ten people in their premises but open this up to an online audience and they may have hundreds if not thousands of people attending (hopefully).
  Increase their revenue - There are many reasons why people arrange online and remote events. If the aim is to increase revenue, then they can be really useful. For example, a person doing a lecture on The History of Perfume, may sell tickets 
• Enable them to track participants more effectively through utilisation of analytics
• Useful back up plan –  An online event can be a useful back up in the event of possible cancellations and postponements.
• Events can be linked to social media. Many social media platforms now offer live streaming of events. People scrolling on social media may see the event and attend. This can increase the potential audience, particularly if an event is free.
• Social media is particularly good for building audience participation and engagement.
• Monetising – From the business perspective there are two main avenues for monetising virtual events, from selling access to the event or from sales through the event. Selling access would be the method of monetisation used for events such as virtual learning or a live streamed festival. Sales would be the monetisation method used by events such as exhibitions and trade shows. There is overlap between these areas though. For instance, a training course may be provided for free, and monetisation comes from sales of items featured in the training, or a trade show may be aimed at a niche audience and charge for attendance.

Why choose ACS? 

ACS is recognised as leader in online education. ACS has supported thousands of students progress from a learner to an accomplished graduate. 

Some courses might simply involve ticking the boxes on a checklist of what you are supposed to know. 

This course is very different:

• We are always focused on reinforcing learning.
• We teach in ways that have an impact on how you remember. 
• We want you to succeed when you graduate.

What can do with this course? 

Current employment opportunities or other opportunities for virtual and hybrid event managers exist in: 

• advertising, arts and media 
• marketing and communications 
• schools, universities, education 
• mental health or other healthcare 
• hospitality and tourism and travel 
• business development 
• international trade 
• human resourcing and workplace training 
• council authorities and government departments  

Still undecided.... Talk with us today.

We have a friendly team dedicated to our students. We can answer questions and help you to solidify your plans. 

Email us admin@acs.edu.au | Call us today for a chat 07 5562 1800