The pandemic may not have heralded the end of the world, but it
sure has altered the way we live. 

While we are now only beginning to adapt to what seems to be the
new normal, one segment experiencing a paradigm shift is the way we carry out
events.

Virtual events have been around for a while now, but are only
witnessing mainstream adoption as a substitute to the traditional form of
carrying out events. This is for good reason as we try to break the spread of
the pandemic by limiting human to human contact through social
distancing. 

In this post, we want to take some time to examine the rise of
virtual events and the importance of fine-tuning these events to your international
audience.

Virtual events are the new normal

Since the start of the lockdowns in April, more companies have
begun to adopt a virtual form of event, this can either be in the form of
webinars, virtual conferencing, or other adaptable forms. 

To put things into perspective, according to the 2020 Virtual Events Research Report by Wild Apricot, it is estimated that the number of organizations planning one form of virtual event or such had doubled in 2020 already. 

So, while many companies are cancelling already scheduled
in-person events, others, in a bid not to allow spent resources go to waste,
are exploring virtual and hybrid event options. On the surface, this may seem
tedious, but we assure you that it isn’t. 

The need to develop a virtual event plan

Moving events from the traditional in-person system to a virtual
one requires a plan since almost every organization have their peculiar
requirements and objectives. 

An excellent place to start would be the choice of platform to
adopt to host your virtual event, and this should depend on your already
established objectives. 

Your plan should also include an efficient yet robust content
and communication strategy. 

The ability to properly communicate the components of your
activities drives up audience anticipation, leading to greater engagement and
ultimately places you a step closer to a successful virtual event.

Global audience plays a vital role in expanding event outreach

While there may be conflicting opinions on the impact of virtual
events against the traditional form of in-person events, there is no denying
the fact that a virtual event has the potential to garner more participants
since it is not limited by locational barriers. 

This is where your global audience comes into the picture. 

Every organization or event company needs to acknowledge and
take into consideration the importance of catering to an international
audience.

Language barrier is a crucial stumbling that needs to be
addressed, and the virtual event host must ensure that all contents on their
platform are accessible to every audience.

For example, a way to increase audience engagement is by
incorporating Polls, Q&A’s, surveys etc. that have been translated and
localized for every global audience.

An effective strategy to guarantee that content on the event
platform is accessible is to ensure that pre-recorded content has translated
subtitles and voice-overs for your global audience while also including
real-time interpretation to all the speakers making a presentation in the
event, this help to promote inclusion and compensate for the cultural diversity
of your audience.

Live interpretation comes with its own requirements

The delicate nature of utilizing live interpreters demand that
certain practices are followed to ensure a smooth event process.

• For
  starters, interpreters should be provided with documents that help them to
  properly understand the context, in order to convey the right message.
• Carry
  out sound and video tests beforehand to ensure there are no underlying
  problems (remember this is a live event)
• Have
  a clearly spelt out troubleshooting mechanism they can follow in the event
  of an anomaly.

In conclusion, while the arguments for the level of immersion
virtual events holds, especially in the areas of audience engagement and the
ability of participants to network. 

We have finally come to the realization that these events are
here to stay due to the realities of our time.

The best bet is now to find solutions that make the entire
experience of these events better especially when catering to a global
audience. 

Are you looking for the most efficient way to cater to your
culturally diverse audience while hosting your virtual events?

The interpreters and translators at Translationsinlondon are experts in handling the complexities involved in servicing
diverse global audience during live virtual events.

Get in touch with us today at info@translationsinlondon.com