Guest Post: Shameka Jennings, Smart Meetings
Editor’s Note: As part of Back Light, a series of articles sharing illuminating insider observations, we asked Shameka Jennings, director of meetings and partnership development with National Coalition of STD Directors, to share her experiences planning meetings during a pandemic.
Most meeting planners are in a world of upheaval right now. We must pivot to transition our normally in-person events to virtual platforms, maintain a connection with our communities, and bring in revenue to support our organizations. Over the past few months, I have hosted two virtual conferences and have a lot of lessons learned. While the experience was tough, I had fun challenging myself to be more innovative to produce our virtual events.
Here are seven critical areas to focus on as you pivot your in-person events online.
1. Picking the Right Platform
When planning a virtual conference, start with the end in mind. Design your meeting experience first. Similar to planning in-person events, identify your goals and objectives. Are you trying to foster connections, drive innovation, generate leads, educate, or simply keep your foot in the door? Once you define your goals and the experience you want to deliver, you can identify the right platform.
