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Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

  • 1.  Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-13-2023 08:05
    Edited by Megha Jetley 09-13-2023 08:06

    Happy Wednesday everyone! Let's kickstart with our next edition of the Tip of the Week discussion!   Whether you've been using virtual meetings for years or you're a beginner looking to learn more, we hope you find some insight into the power of virtual connection here. 

    Differences Between Virtual Meetings and Virtual Events 

    A virtual event, like an in-person event, tends to have multiple sessions. These allow attendees to customize their event experiences to best fit their interests. However, for virtual meetings, there is only one session for all meeting attendees. 

    • Choosing the Right Virtual Meeting Platform
    • Can it record your meetings? 
    • Does it have chat capabilities?  
    • Does it sync meeting invitations with your calendar?  
    • Can you personalize meeting rooms?  
    • Are there engagement features?  
    • Can you edit documents in real time?  

    Once you choose a virtual meeting provider, it is equally important to have an event technology software that will help you to manage your meetings program.  

     Benefits of Virtual Meetings 

    As the pandemic has taught us, the workforce can not only function remotely but can excel, as well, and virtual meetings have played a critical role in making the transition to remote work possible. But what else can virtual meetings offer your organization?  

    Environmentally Friendly - One amazing benefit of hosting virtual meetings is the positive impact on the environment similar to green meetings. Think about all the various factors that might go into an in-person meeting.  

    Low Cost - In addition to a going green, switching some of your in-person meetings to virtual platforms may save you money.  

    Connection That Spans the Globe - Virtual meetings allow you to connect easily and effectively, and to develop relationships with people you otherwise may not have been able to meet as frequently – or at all – in person. 

    Ability to Pivot Quickly - The ability to host virtual meetings in place of in-person ones has helped businesses around the world maintain productivity and some semblance of normalcy during these challenging times. 

    Bringing the Fun to Virtual Meets 

    Below are just a few ideas to make your next virtual meeting a little more creative: 

    Bring your pet to work.  

    Showcase your artistic side by uploading a new background on your next virtual meeting.  

    And remember – it's 5 o'clock somewhere! Take time out of your stressful day and host a team happy hour virtually.  

     Questions for you: 

    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while 

    As always, feel free to drop in your suggestions in the comment section below!  


    #ManagingVirtualEvents

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    Megha Jetley
    Manager
    Cvent Marketing Department
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  • 2.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-15-2023 10:28
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  
      Load up on the additional content! Make sure that all resources are already loaded and on-demand viewing is ready as soon as possible. 
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while
      Every once in a while now. We are picking up more one-day virtual events for special topics. 


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    Chris Townley
    Marketing and Communications Associate
    National Council Of State Housing AgenciesUnited States
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  • 3.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-15-2023 16:10
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  Being remote and still included in what is going on, not just watching.
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while Daily


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    Mary Ann Hall
    Event Specialist
    Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago(CRSO Department)
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  • 4.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-15-2023 10:28

     Questions for you: 

    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  Allowing team members to work remotely and still participate in meaningful conversations. This shows our team members how much they are valued.
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while - DAILY


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    Cate Liverman
    Director-Constituent Relations
    UVA Medical Alumni Association and Medical School FoundationUnited States
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  • 5.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-15-2023 10:57
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  
      • It's a great way to reduce costs
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while 
      • all the time - our team works from home, and is located all over the country. 


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    Lori Wildman
    Marketing Director
    lwildman@dmainc.com
    DuCharme, McMillen & Associates, Inc.United States
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  • 6.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-15-2023 12:22
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  We use the chat, polls, whiteboards to allow for interaction & collaboration

    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while  Every day, multiple times on many days. 


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    Elena PEREZ
    Communications Coordinator
    SEIU - UHWUnited States
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  • 7.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-15-2023 15:30
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  Virtual events allow us to reach an audience that might not have the funds or time to come to an in-person event. Make sure your virtual events are on demand so attendees can rewatch it or watch it another time if they missed it. 
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? We haven't hosted a virtual event besides our company all hands meetings. We are looking to create a webinar sometime soon


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    Laura Apel
    Events Manager
    CDLLifeUnited States
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  • 8.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-16-2023 12:44
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  
      MVJ: a. Make use of the interactive features integrated into your video conferencing tool.
                b. Virtual break out rooms for quick discussions
                c. Live polls, quiz and Q&A
                d. Best part is without interrupting the meeting, I can notify the host/others if I have to leave before the end of the meeting

    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while 
       - Once in a while


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    MVJ
    Associate
    AZ
    Incred!ble India
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  • 9.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-18-2023 08:57

    How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  Using Attendee Hub OnDemand recordings, participation tracking time in sessions for credit. 
    How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while.

    Once in a while now. 



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    Erica Lovercamp
    Conference Coordinator
    Curators of the University of MissouriUnited States
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  • 10.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-18-2023 11:22
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  
      • We actually do a lot of these as we have core staff that live out of state.  I even teach a class that is fully remote. I'd say we fully embrace them!
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while 
      • We have 3-5 virtual a week, sometimes more/sometimes less. Our small team always has one virtual and one in person and our larger college wide meetings are always hybrid.


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    Lesley Irminger
    Manager of Operations, Alumni and Constituent Engagement
    George Mason - Office Of University EventsUnited States
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  • 11.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-19-2023 00:36
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  As often as possible!  We host statewide meetings and travel has always been a barrier.  With virtual meetings, we can greatly expand the audience reach.
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while  - It just depends.  We host small monthly virtual meetings and also host annual large scale events both hybrid and virtually.


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    Sarah Jacobson
    hybrid
    St. Luke's Health SystemUnited States
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  • 12.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-19-2023 09:39
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  We make sure to utilize engagement such as polling, as well as provide links to handouts, presentations, etc.  
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while Solely virtual meetings don't happen often for me, but we do a lot of hybrid - a few times a year as my accounts have just a handful of events annually.


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    Julie-Michelle Davis, CMP
    Meetings Manager
    Amex GBT - USA
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  • 13.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-19-2023 14:59
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  Training webinars are very effective in a virtual environment
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while: series and one-off extended webinars incentivized with a generous delivery service meal voucher if the registrant attends and meets the time requirement. AND entered for a larger prize drawing.


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    Hallie Loeb, HMCC
    Event Operations Specialist
    CDW United States
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  • 14.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-20-2023 11:19
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  Make it accessible to everyone, allowing chat feature for people to connect.
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while Once in a while


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    Beth Vriesen.
    Events Registration Administrator
    Associated Bank Corporation
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  • 15.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-20-2023 15:25

    We try and make OnDemand as ready as possible and create resources to help people with the content we're presenting. 

    Company wide we probably have 3-5 a week. Different groups / different geographies.



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    Rachel
    NJ
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  • 16.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 09-22-2023 05:34
    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  
      • Facilitates content sharing and flexibility
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while 
      • Daily 


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    Maria Pedrosa
    EMEA Event Manager
    W.L. Gore & AssociatesSpain
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  • 17.  RE: Virtual Meetings Guide: Tips, Ideas & Tools

    Posted 10-04-2023 15:10

     Questions for you: 

    • How do you embrace the positive aspects of virtual meetings?  
      • It is easy because it saves so much time and cost! Although still great to connect in person. 
    • How often do you host virtual meetings? Options – Daily, weekly, Monthly, or once in a while 
      • Daily!


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    Olivia Popofski
    MKTG
    Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada and AffiliatesUnited States
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