HSY already organised 13. held its annual climate seminar for the first time and we were able to be part of its implementation as a virtual event in the spirit of the times. The topics included speeches on consumption and food, as well as a panel discussion on cities’ climate initiatives in the form of candidates for the 2021 municipal elections. Most of the speakers and all the panellists appeared remotely from their desks, while the presenter hosted the event from the studio stage. In addition, video footage was shot in advance.
Participants followed the broadcast on the event page and had access to the discussion via the Message Wall and Twitter. It was also possible to ask questions to the speakers and respond to thematic polls and surveys during the seminar.
The pre-arranged video shoots took us in the crisp January frost to the enchantingly beautiful Kilpiä organic farm in Pusula, the fascinating pilot pyrolysis plant in Ämmässuo, and to a cheerfully lively Espoo kindergarten for an HSY environmental education lesson. All these videos had their place between the presentations in the seminar programme and offered viewers interesting visits to places that would not have been possible even in a live event.
Keys to an engaging virtual seminar
Watching a seminar from behind the screen can sometimes feel overwhelming and viewers may be distracted by scrolling through their emails instead of concentrating on the programme. Creating interesting content is therefore important in virtual seminars, to keep viewers’ attention and minds sharp while watching the content.
We put together some tips on how to ensure participants’ attention during the event.
- Concise, briskly paced content and short, concise speeches are useful to avoid distractions.
- Engaging, lively speakers also engage viewers through the screen. It’s worth the time to polish the whole thing until it’s definitely diamond-bright!
- Topics and themes of interest to the target audience and their topicality are key. Perhaps even a perspective that is in some way surprising, divergent or challenging will awaken and engage the debate.
- It is important to actively involve and involve the participants throughout the mission. Interesting questionnaires that allow participants to express their views should be raised throughout the seminar.
- Two-way communication must not be forgotten; audiences must be given the opportunity to communicate with the studio and with each other via a chat feature or similar, so that they can influence the content and, for example, the questions asked of the speakers if they wish.
- Networking is part of the events and in virtual implementations it can be supported through social media channels, for example. Participants can be directed directly from the event page, for example to a LinkedIn chain, to share their thoughts and continue the discussion after the event.
- In addition to the formal seminar programme, it is important to provide an opportunity for informal discussion and presence, as people want to be heard. In separate remote meeting rooms, participants can discuss in smaller groups, either during breaks or after the seminar programme. In the meeting rooms, you can bring up one of the seminar topics for discussion, or ask the speaker to answer questions from participants.
At its best, a virtual seminar is an interesting, stimulating and inspiring experience for viewers!