Beyond the screen, a performer or speaker who takes to the stage is able to interact with their audience by making eye contact and fostering a dialogue. The audience can then respond with audible indicators to show they are engaged. People in the crowd might clap, laugh or even heckle the speaker to communicate their thoughts and emotions. Someone hosting online video content, on the other hand, usually isn’t able to see or hear the audience. Therefore, it is key to find creative ways to engage with a virtual audience and hold their attention throughout your program.
Utilize Polls
Polls are a great way to make your audience feel like they are a part of the conversation. Rather than observing from a distance and eventually losing interest, each person has the chance to interact and share their opinion. Live polling is fun, entertaining and in-the-moment. Plus, there is no better way to learn more about your virtual audience. An in-person audience member might be hesitant to raise their hand if a question is asked, but online anonymity offers attendees more freedom to share and express themselves.
Consider pacing, too: at the beginning of the session, ask questions that will help you better understand your audience and what they are most interested in hearing from you. The middle segment provides an excellent opportunity to make questions more exciting and thus keep your audience absorbed. Towards the end, use polling to get useful feedback.
Host a Q&A
By holding a Q&A event, you can facilitate productive conversations and make your virtual audience feel more connected. As a speaker, you get to receive input and find out what is gnawing at your audience. What needs clearing up? Is there a way you could answer a question by telling a story about your brand, or sharing a personal experience? Q&As create a lively back-and-forth between you and the attendees; these sessions link the virtual world to the real word via direct interaction. They can also take place at the end of your online video content, or questions can be laced throughout. This makes them a vital tool for keeping a virtual audience engaged.
Plan a Breakout Session
Breakout sessions are interactive events that break attendees down into groups and get them talking to one another. This can be done in a variety of ways: your audience members can discuss topics, solve problems, and workshop ideas by playing trivia games, creating mind maps, or debating complex subjects. Breakout sessions provide an excellent way to give your virtual audience a break from observing from the sidelines: this way they can get to know each other and share their thoughts in the process. Most importantly, they stay energized and remain active during your event!
ZMB Media can help you engage with your virtual audience. We can assist you with creating videos according to your business’s needs, from promotional material to more detailed marketing videos for your products or services. ZMB Media invites you to get in touch with our Baltimore-based videographers to learn more. Contact us today at www.zmbmedia.com.