How to Increase Live Event Viewer Engagement

Getting a virtual audience to participate isn't really a technology problem. It's a timing and follow-up problem.

Slido, and the latency trap

Attendees scan a QR code and then ask questions, vote in polls and build word clouds in real time, in-room and remote the same way. The part most people miss: there's typically a 10 to 15 second delay between the live stream and what the remote audience sees. On Vimeo I've measured 14 seconds. So don't ask a question and stand there waiting. Ask it, keep the discussion moving, and circle back to the answers.

Four things that actually work

• Have virtual and in-person attendees submit questions the exact same way
• Reach out personally to virtual attendees after the event
• Use games, trivia and icebreakers in the waiting room or chat. Something as simple as "where are you tuning in from?"
• Keep participation voluntary rather than overwhelming

The tool most clients overlook

It isn't tech at all. It's post-event follow-up: personally answering the questions that didn't get addressed live. Pull the engagement reports Slido and most platforms give you, and actually use them.