6 Online Events Ideas for Sports Publishers

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Online events ideas for sports publishers are fast becoming one of the best ways to keep website audiences engaged. Use these online event ideas for inspiration – pick one or two that fit your team’s capabilities.

Six Online Events Ideas for Sports Publishers

1) Pre Game Online Events

Major sports publishers have long published stories and coverage before major games and competitions. For example, pre-game coverage for the Super Bowl is a staple of football coverage. To grow audience engagement, plan to offer pre-game online events. 

Here are two ways to plan your pre-game online events:

Interview A Player

Reach out to well-known players and interview them live during the online events. If a live interview is unworkable, you can pre-record an interview.

Bring The Data

The sports world is filled with data – spend some time with resources like Sports Reference or FiveThirtyEight. Once you have the data, create infographics to make that data exciting with fans. For example, you could highlight the players with the best scoring record and check if they are close to setting a record.

2) Organize A Sports Betting Strategy Event

In the United States, legal sports betting is booming since a 2018 Supreme Court decision allowed states to legalize sports betting. With millions of dollars changing hands, sports fans are eager for insights to improve their odds.

Building an online event around sports betting can be simple – organize a panel discussion with a question and answer session. For example, you might invite a few sports betting experts like Larry Gibbs, an expert on the sports betting field, or Alex Kane, CEO of a sports trading app.

Tip: consider charging a fee or limiting access to paying subscribers only to make this online event more exclusive.

3) Take Sports Fans Behind The Scenes With Coaches and Trainers

Many people are attracted to professional sports because it is exciting to watch elite athletes perform. Imagine if you could pull back the curtain on how famous athletes achieve success. That’s the essence of this ‘behind the scenes’ online events concept. 

A sports publisher lets fans into their favorite athletes’ locker rooms and gyms with this event. You could run the concept of this online event multiple times for each sport. For example, you might have a session on how athletes like Olympic runner Colleen Quigley and Michael Jordan used meditation to improve their performance. 

Tip: Use Arena CDP to gather data on your attendees as they participate in these events. If you find that your audience is much more engaged in basketball content or specific players, you can use that insight to create better events in the future.

4) Explore The Business of Sports

The sports industry produces billions of dollars in revenue each year. Some parts of your audience may be curious to learn more about the intricacies of the business. This online event idea might explore new trends like NCAA athletes earning money, contract negotiations, and the rise of sports-themed startups.

Queen’s University in Canada recently organized a virtual event dedicated to the business of sports in February 2022. The Queen’s event illustrates how bringing together a varied group of panelists – lawyers, executives, and entrepreneurs – can create an exciting event.

5) Run A Sports Equipment Gear And Apparel Online Event

The right equipment can make a significant difference in your sports performance. That’s why elite cyclists and golfers often spend thousands of dollars to get the best equipment. Sports fans also want to know about the latest and greatest in equipment.

This online event idea for sports publishers also offers great monetization opportunities. For example, you can reach out to manufacturers and retailers to request free products to review. Also, you might sell sponsorship spots in the section. 

To make a virtual gear event compelling, plan to demonstrate a variety of gear at different price points. For example, you might have a virtual event dedicated to golf clubs before the golf season. The event could feature entry-level golf clubs, intermediate equipment, and pro-level equipment.

Tip: Make sure you use Arena Live Chat to gather questions from your audience about the equipment you’re demonstrating.

6) Live Blog A Major Game

Dedicated sports fans can’t get enough when a championship game is on! Think about the world series in baseball –  the event attracted over 11 million viewers in 2021. That intense level of interest creates an opportunity for sports publishers to create online events.

Running a live blog during a major sporting event is easier when you prepare in advance. Use these ideas to prepare a few blog posts in advance. With advanced preparation, online events ideas for sports like live blogging become less stressful. Fox Spots Australia is doing a great job using Live Blog and Live Chat during its online coverage, averaging over 500 monthly live events.

Report on Player Injuries and Absences.

When a team misses a key player due to an injury, penalty, or other reason, it can dramatically impact the outcome. Casual sports fans may not track such details closely, so your live blog can remind them of these details as the game gets started. 

Introducing New Players.

Has the team recently recruited or traded players? If so, your audience wants to know more about the new player. Prepare notes about the new player’s key statistics and background.

Prepare Content About Recent Controversies.

Controversial decisions sometimes play a significant role in sports. In early 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals won their first playoff victory in decades thanks to a whistle error. If your online events involve the Bengals or their opponents – the Las Vegas Raiders – it would be wise to have commentary prepared about this mistake and its implications.

Running your live blog smoothly helps to use the right tool. Arena Live Blog is a light blogging platform that can be installed in minutes. Arena also makes it easy to discover and feature social media content – like tweets by players – during your online event.

How To Run Online Events Without Facebook and YouTube

Sports publishers tell us they’re worried about relying too much on Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms to execute their online events ideas for sports. 

When you rely on these platforms, your audience can easily get distracted by notifications and disengage. The solution is simple – end your dependence on those platforms and create your own online events platform. Get started today by using Arena’s free live events ebook.

The Top 7 Trends in Digital Marketing in 2022

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Knowing the top trends in digital marketing in 2022 is critical to hitting your goals. New opportunities are vitally important, whether you are looking to increase audience growth, engagement, leads, or conversions.

Achieving early success on newer marketing platforms often leads to big wins. In the early days of Facebook, it was easy to get significant amounts of organic traffic. In paid advertising, clicks from Google were almost shockingly inexpensive in the 2000s. To give yourself the best chance of winning this year, review these marketing trends and determine which impacts your goals.

The Top 7 Trends in Digital Marketing in 2022

1) TikTok Is Here To Stay

Since 2020, TikTok has exploded in popularity to more than 1 billion monthly active users as of September 2021. Those numbers put the platform in the same league as Facebook (2.9 billion monthly active users) and YouTube (2.3 billion monthly active users). Some digital marketing experts dismissed TikTok for a while because of the platform’s limited features and youthful demographics.

TikTok is changing, and major brands are achieving big wins. For example, e.l.f cosmetics has achieved over 1 billion views through their #EyesLipsFace campaign. The first step is to create an account for your brand and start to follow a few accounts.

2) YouTube Advertising Is Booming

YouTube, one of the most popular video-sharing sites globally, is getting better and better for advertisers. The video site earned tens of billions in revenue in 2021, far ahead of other social networks.

There are multiple ways to execute YouTube’s growth. You can use the platform’s extensive menu of advertising options, including skippable and non-skipped videos. Also, you can work directly with Youtubers to sponsor videos. 

3) Seize Early Adopter Advantage In The Metaverse  

In the fall of 2021, many digital marketers became excited about the potential of metaverse when Facebook embraced the concept by renaming itself. Since that time, some of the enthusiasm has faded away. 

For digital marketers with a long-term view, investing heavily in the metaverse this year can pay off for years. In contrast to social media platforms, metaverse technologies are relatively immature. The easiest way to get started is by adding a metaverse element to your online events. 

For those not yet convinced about the value of the metaverse, consider a few numbers. In 2021, Meta (the company formerly known as Facebook) invested $10 billion into metaverse efforts, according to the New York Times. There are also more than 300 active metaverse startups working on the technology. Spend some time in metaverse games and virtual reality this year to familiarize yourself with the technology and its potential. 

4) Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)

Over the past few years, NFTs have boomed in popularity reaching $21 billion in 2021. An industry forecast recently estimated that the global NFT market will grow to more than $80 billion by 2016. A significant amount of recent NFT activity is driven by low-interest rates and speculation. While NFT growth may slow as the hype cools down, the category presents a major opportunity for digital marketing,

By creating and issuing NFTS, brands have the opportunity to create new excitement. For example, Fortune created a NFT based on a magazine cover in 2021. Instead of spending heavily on traditional swag for conferences, it might just be the time to create NFTs to promote your online events.

5) First and zero party data

If you’ve been following recent moves by Apple and Google, you already know that traditional Internet marketing cookies are declining in value. The end of the marketing cookie means that marketers need to find new ways to understand their audiences. The old way of running retargeting campaigns on Facebook and Google are not going to produce the same results any longer.

The solution is to focus on first part and zero party data. First party data is data you collect directly from your audience. To collect that data, you need to give customers a reason to keep visiting your website like offering exciting content and online events is the first step to growing your audience. Once you have your audience on your website, you need a way to systematically understand them. That’s where using a customer data platform can make a vital difference. With Arena CDP, you can easily determine which content, online events and actions customers take on the road to making a purchase.

Once you have your foundation of first party data, you can start to gather more zero party data. The classic example of zero party data is a customer purchase intent like color or size of a product they are most interested in buying.

6) Live Shopping

Live Shopping remains a growing marketing opportunity for retailers and ecommerce brands. From a base of $21 billion in 2021, this opportunity is slated to grow to $35 billion by 2024 according to Statista.

The current approach to live shopping carries risks however. Today, the most popular platforms for live shopping events are YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Amazon Live. Relying exclusively on these platforms means your audience might get easily distracted by other content and notifications. Further, your ability to gather additional data for your customer data platform from third party websites is limited.

We forecast that more and more brands will shift their attention to creating their own live shopping events on their own sites. To ride this trend, use Arena Live Chat to power your live shopping event. 

7) Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Digital marketers are increasingly expected to respond quickly to our society’s social justice, diversity and inclusion expectations. According to Deloitte research, 35% of buyers in the 18-25 year old audience often notice representative advertising at the time of purchase. The research found a similar pattern in travel, household equipment and banking industries. 

However, don’t underestimate your customers – they can see through shallow efforts at inclusivity. Token efforts to fulfill diversity may even backfire and undermine your marketing objectives.

Instead, your goal must be to authentically embrace diversity in your marketing efforts. At a minimum, review your use of images and videos. Next, look at your reviews, testimonials and customer stories. It’s entirely possible that your brand has a significant blindspot like failing to include women.

The Marketing Channel To Invest In This Year

Live digital events are cost effective and convenient for your audience. At the same time, many marketers are still learning how to design and launch successful online events. To help you succeed in the online event world, check out free report on 2022 Virtual Events Trends.

SXSW 2022: Closing weekend impressions

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After 10 days with an agenda of promising technology outtakes and a variety of online events to watch, SXSW came to an end and left us excited with how technology is merging with the real world. Aside all the issues with online transmission, from the sound volume being too low, to unavailable chat for online viewers: it was, as usual, a massive opportunity to learn and understand what is happening in the world of technology.

With a final weekend full of exciting music attractions, such as first timer participant country singer and superstar, Dolly Parton, who partnered with FOX Entertainment’s Blockchain Creative Labs (BCL) to launch her first NFT experience “Dollyverse”, unarguably, the main topic of the conversations was around NFTs and the Metaverse. So let’s jump into the highlights of the weekend.

One Year Later: How NFTs Are Changing The World

Vladislav Finzburg (Blockparty), came back to SXSW 2022 a year later after talking about the initial stages of NFTs, bringing along updates, mostly with the mainstream adoption. He brought interesting topics of the gap between digital and physical NFTs and how the rise of NFTs, pointing out how brands and companies jumped full into the NFTs world – with innovative creation and an increased number of online transactions- even though it’s still circling around a niched group of people.

Bridging into the Metaverse: 5 Top Considerations for Brands

Metaverse was also a major topic of discussion, and in this session, Sebastien Borget, the co-founder and COO of The Sandbox, shared his insights about emerging best practices and top considerations for brands as they bridge over to  the metaverse. 

Brands such as Adidas and Warner Music are already making massive entries into the Metaverse. One topic that got our attention was, “How should brands protect themselves in the Metaverse?”. Data Privacy has been a huge topic of discussion over the past few years. We recently mentioned a couple of ways that data can be protected in the Metaverse in our blog.

It Starts on TikTok: Discovering Your Audience

The most downloaded app in 2021 was the main topic of this session with Carey Sheridan, US Head of Music and Content at Tiktok and Sadie Jean, whose first-ever song “WYD Now?” has become a certified sensation on the app, all because of the power of the #OpenVerseChallenge — a viral format that invites creators to duet with her during an instrumental opening of her song. A great example of why the community-driven video platform is impacting the music industry.

Next Gen Tech & The Live Entertainment Revolution

The fusion of the physical and virtual worlds in the entertainment world has brought so many opportunities to artists helping them understand their fans, and to fans living an elevated and personalized experience with concerts. For instance, Live Chat and Customer Data Platforms have been good examples of technologies that can be used  to create a Live Stream event. 

Conclusion

This edition of SXSW showed us that the future is here and we are already living in it. NFTs and Metaverse are already being worked into new technologies, and companies and specialists are very up front with innovative solutions and technology around various themes, like events, medicine, sports, entertainment and currency. And during these past 10 days, it  showed us nothing less than a brilliant technological future for us. 

It also was great to see it balanced with super sessions and themes about social justice & equity. Even though those who’re experiencing South by Southwest are somehow already connected with all the technology available, we have to see outside our own bubbles. A lot was said about what can be done to present opportunities and help bring the advantages that the technology has to where people have less access, and I believe this has to be the main topic of discussion for the next couple of years. We hope to see more conversations around access and inclusion in next year’s event. Are you already excited about SXSW 2023?

Check out our coverage for the first weekend and for all the other events that happened during the week.

SXSW 2022: What happened during the week

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The SXSW 2022 Conference agenda during the week was full of talks about technology and some extra special entertainment and music announcements. Our team focused on the talks about the metaverse, technology, and artificial intelligence, and here are some of our takes.

You can also find our impressions from the opening weekend here.

How is SXSW 2022 performing as a hybrid event? 

Considering we’ve been watching the SXSW 2022 online event, we have some criticisms to make about the transmission. As said to be a hybrid event, it was a bit frustrating to watch some of the sessions where the sound was so low, barely being able to understand what the speakers were saying.

Also, it is such a great opportunity to have a Live Chat during the talks, but in most of the events they were disabled. The ones that had it on were full of interaction between users, giving their point of view, and having live engagement and inputs between watchers. The tab with Q&A seems to be there just for show, as speakers were simply ignoring what was happening online, and only answering attendees who were physically there.

But, as someone who wanted to see most of the talks, being able to move around the rooms was very interesting and this made it possible to watch a great variety of events. Another great point was that most of the talks were made available on demand after a few days, or even on the following day giving us even more time to watch something we might have missed – or in some cases, rewatch what we had really enjoyed.

With so much to discuss and to watch, here are our top choices for the week:

Transforming Social Commerce: AR Beauty Tech & NFTs with Perfect Corp. and E.L.F. Cosmetics

Have you ever thought about how beauty brands are dealing with the new reality of AR, Online Shopping, and the Metaverse? In this talk, Perfect Corp and E.L.F. Cosmetics showed how they are already tackling this subject with their audience, and especially how AR is being a great ally when customers need to try a product online. It is a huge opportunity for brands to connect with consumers, build a community online and drive sales conversion.

Would you buy cosmetics using just AR and AI-powered virtual try-on technologies?; From what we’ve seen, this is what the future will look like.

Re-inventing Live Events for a Post-Covid World

We were expecting to see how technology will unite the real world with the virtual world. But for Rex Serrao (Salesforce), and Jeff Sinclair (Eventbase Technology Inc), they are completely different strategies. In their eyes, hybrid events are just a phase, a consequence of the pandemic, and are not here to stay, even questioning the reasons of who was watching the event in their homes, instead of taking a flight to Austin to watch it live. But as we can see in the chat in the image, the online audience felt differently about it.

Feature Session: What’s in a Metaverse?

These past couple of months, a lot has been speculated about  and talked about over the Metaverse. Facebook even changed their name to Meta. But aren’t we already living and experimenting with the Metaverse? In this talk, Raffaella Camera (Epic Games), Charlie Fink, (Chapman University), Philip Rosedale (Linden Lab) and Timmu Tõke (Ready Player Me), touches on their experiences and discoveries since the creation of Second Life, going through massive live events, such as Ariana Grande and Travis Scott concerts happening at Fortnite, an online game. We’re about to undergo a big metaverse consisting of different metaverses, in their words: a multi metaverse. But one question was left to be considered: Do we have the infrastructure to be fully in the metaverse in the next couple of years?

Renee Gosline: In Praise of Friction

Finishing up the SXSW 2022 week in great style, Renee Gosline (MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology) gave a powerful speech on friction in the online world: “Friction is neither good nor bad, it’s what allows you to change direction”. Questioning the current AI technology we have, she even voiced a great statement, as a black daughter of immigrants: “Algorithms would never predict that I would be here”. Explicitly expressing the necessity of humanizing the system – and with diversity – she finished it up with some suggestions on how to increment automated processes. In case you missed it, here are the 5 steps we should take to make the most of #AI and #MachineLearning.

1. Ask: should AI be doing this? Can it?

2. Audit AI journeys for touch-points that would benefit from added friction

3. Embrace the “discomfort” of inclusivity as good friction

4. Build a culture of experimentation testing before release

5. Eliminate “dark patterns”: asymmetric friction & digital lobster traps

Conclusion

With just a few days to go, SXSW 2022 is bringing so much food for thought to the table. Even though companies are already working on the future, maybe we have to take a step back and understand if the world is ready for all these changes. We can’t wait to see what will happen in Austin in the final South By Southwest weekend! If you want to keep updated, follow our live coverage: https://arena.im/sxsw-22/

SXSW 2022: Impressions From the Opening Weekend

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The SXSW 2022 Conference kicked off last Friday. It seems like everyone is writing about what’s going on in Austin. So we decided to take a different approach and analyze the online side of the conference.

Come with me.

SXSW 2022 is a hybrid event. This means that all (or most of) the sessions happen in-person, there in Austin, Texas, and at the website if you bought a ticket. 

Being in the online side of things has its ups and downs. 

Ups:

  • No FOMO. Yes, some really awesome sessions are concurrent, but the little VOD (Video On Demand) sign in the corner of your screen provides peace of mind that the video will be there for me to watch later.
  • The ability to swap between sessions at any time, whether they happen at the Convention Center, the Paramount, or the ACC Ballroom.
  • Being in the comfort of your own home. In case you like the comfort of your own home 😉

Downs:

  • Not being there. You kinda miss a lot of the action. Human connectivity is different when you physically bump into each other.
  • Also, if you’re doing the online version, you’re probably working at the same time that you’re watching the sessions. This can suck the authenticity of the moment away from you. Although you do watch the content, you might be thinking about that spreadsheet you need to fix by the end of the day.
  • No autographs and selfies with that founder or movie director you would do anything to have in your hands.

Some of the takeaways from SXSW 2022 Online’s opening weekend

Our team took a good look at some of the live sessions. Of course, since this relates to our products, we kept an eye on the interactivity of components on SXSW’s website.

I noticed that the live chat widget is a bit clunky. For some reason it kept requesting to sign in after just a few minutes of inactivity. Once signed in, it offers the options to send text messages, emojis and upload files. We missed a GIF search and sharing option. For a long time GIFs have been a way to express emotions and to communicate in groups. And, even though the upload file feature can be used for a bunch of different things, there’s no real use for it in a virtual event group chat.

Live Chat trap: when your engagement tool becomes a mere support channel.

One Live Chat trap that event organizers should give more attention to: Live Chat can become some sort of a support channel if there’s no one there to guide the conversation. Therefore, it would help to have a moderator in the wings. We spotted attendees complaining that the sound was too low, they were asking the camera to show the slides instead of the speaker, and some even spammed with their Linkedin profiles.

The Q&A tab, on the other hand, is where the hybrid action actually happens. This feature allows online attendees to submit questions directly to the organizers and lecturers. They can be upvoted and replied to, so organizers can pick which ones they want to answer on stage.

Live Q&A is a powerful feature for conferences and events like SXSW.

There’s also a direct message chat widget which can be activated on top of the group chat. In this feature people can talk directly to other participants about whatever they want. It’s usually used to talk and do business, introduce companies and schedule meetings, but not to talk about the sessions.

Our team picked up some valuable content from the online sessions. 

Scott Galloway’s Famous Predictions on SXSW 2022

Scott Galloway brought his highly expected Provocative Predictions to the stage. Being a mediatic person, much of the content wasn’t new to people who follow him closely on CNN+ or the Pivot podcast. Still, he is gifted with dodging buzz – or yogababble (“another ridiculous business: Space Tourism”, “big flowery terminology for 2022: web3”) and conflicting trends against reality that just makes you want to see him saying it over and over again. 

Prof G takes the stage. Online and in-person.

At the same time, Galloway shows solutions to the themes he doesn’t clearly bet on. For instance, on the whole metaverse+crypto+blockchain realm, he said “You can have Chanel bags or the Chanel logo as your visual metaphor in the metaverse… I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think this coin would go for $100,000, $500,000. Imagine the speculation it would attract. So overnight, I believe Chanel or Hermès could raise $5 billion to $10 billion, trying to monetize this scarcity.”

Amy Webb’s keynote at SXSW 2022

Still pulling from the highly-expected shelf, Amy Webb, futurist and best selling author, brought her Emerging Tech Trend Report that everyone will be talking about until she releases the next issue. Re-perception is the keyword here: Amy wants you to stare at issues beyond the surface, because this is the way you can learn how to “predict” the future. Once you get more information about things that are unclear, you can find and add new patterns to your mental model.

Amy Webb invites the audience to practice re-perception as she presents her Emerging Tech Trend Report.

By the way, her Tech Trends report is fully downloadable here.

Conclusion

SXSW 2022 started this year’s edition in high style. And we’re there to bring you the latest news, the surprising trends, and the insightful reflections. Where? Here! Stay tuned for more surprises. 

SXSW 2022 Online: The Top 9 Online Events

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Are you excited to attend SXSW 2022 online? It’s one of the most significant media, entertainment, and technology industry events. There’s just one problem with SXSW 2022 – picking the suitable events. Our team went through the event schedule and picked out these must-attend events. It’s a broad selection of documentaries, panels, and keynotes on many topics. Use this guide as your starting point to build your agenda.

The One Trap You Must Avoid As An Online Attendee

Before diving into our recommendations, there is one trap you need to know about. Forgetting this trap is a recipe for missing much of the value of the event. As an online attendee, you might fall into the trap of viewing SXSW 2022 as “more content.” That’s a mistake. SXSW 2022 is a major online event where you have the opportunity to connect with world-class experts and interesting people. 

You can avoid the trap of seeing SXSW 2022 as “more content” by focusing your attention on the live chat opportunity. Most, if not all, of the online events, include a live chat room. Pay attention to the discussion there and ask good questions. Participating in the chat is one of the best ways to deepen your experience. For more tips on how to make the most of the event, see our post.

1) Scott Galloway Keynote

  • Who: Scott Galloway, author, and entrepreneur
  • When: Mar 11, 2022 11:30am – 12:30pm CT

As the founder of nine companies, Galloway offers a rare combination of industry expertise and academic analysis. This keynote address is likely to draw on his new book: “Post Corona: From Crisis to Opportunity,” published in November 2020. For those interested in the future of the media and tech industries, Galloway’s event is essential.

2) Welcome to Your Digital Afterlife (Featured Session)

  • Who: Greg Daniels (Amazon Studios) and Amy Webb (Future Today Institute)
  • When: Mar 11, 2022 2:30pm – 3:30pm CT

Curious to learn more about the metaverse? Join Daniels and Webb to explore the new Amazon series “Upload,” which explores a future where people can upload their consciousness to a digital world after death. The fireside chat experience gives you a rare opportunity to connect directly with the creator of a hit science fiction comedy series.

3) Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart

  • Who: Brené Brown, author and researcher with expertise in courage, vulnerability, and shame.
  • When: Mar 12, 2022 at 9:00am

Starting your day with an episode of a new HBO Max Series documentary dedicated to storytelling and connection is a beautiful way to ease into the day. The session includes an extended question and answer session with some of the series cast and crew. 

4) All About Games. Data, Trends, and What’s Next (Featured Session)

  • Who: Hosted by Joost van Dreunen, a leading writer and researcher focused on the video game industry.
  • When: Mar 12, 2022 10:00am – 11:00am CT

The video game industry is worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Attend this beginner-friendly event to learn the latest data and predictions for the future. Even if you have no interest in the gaming or entertainment industry, attending this session is worth seeing what’s next in blockchain and web 3.

5) Podcasts and the Art of Adaptation (Featured Session)

  • Who: James Ellroy and Jimmy Jellinek from Audio Up
  • When: Mar 13, 2022 11:30am – 12:30pm CT

There’s so much more to the world of podcasts than Serial and Joe Rogan. In this one-hour session, you will hear about how Audio Up is breaking new ground with adaptations of Stephen King and other writers. If you are interested in the art and business of creating engaging audio, this session is for you.

6) Meet the Women Dominating Sports Media (Featured Session)

  • Who: Sara Fischer (Axios), Stephanie McMahon (WWE), and Erika Nardini (Barstool Sports)
  • When: Mar 14, 2022 4:00pm – 5:00pm CT

The sports industry is changing rapidly with the rise of digital content, live TV, and other formats. Find out what viewers want from sports media from these three highly accomplished sports personalities. Whether you’re interested in sports or the media industry’s evolution, this session is worth your time.

7) TikTok, Boom (Documentary)

  • Who: Multiple TikTok influencers including Feroza Aziz
  • When: Mar 15, 2022 9:00am

TikTok has boomed in popularity over the past few years. This documentary, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, takes you inside the platform and the people making it successful. You’ll meet up-and-coming influencers like Spencer X and Deja Foxx. 

8) Blockchain Philanthropy: Discovering Emerging Filmmakers (Featured Session)

  • Who: Barbara Bruni, Roman Coppola (American Zoetrope), Tiffany Lin (Decentralized Pictures), and Leo Matchett (Decentralized Pictures Foundation)
  • When: Mar 16, 2022 11:00am – 12:00pm CT

Think blockchain is just about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies? Think again. This panel explores how blockchain technology is changing the film industry. Specifically, the panel explores new ways to discover and support tomorrow’s filmmaking talent with blockchain platforms like the Decentralized Pictures Foundation.

9) Elevating Communities That Created Pop Music (Featured Session)

  • Who: Gina Chavez (award-winning artist), Henry Donahue (Save The Music Foundation), Kelefa Sanneh (The New Yorker), and Noelle Scaggs (Diversify The Stage)
  • When: Mar 19, 2022 11:30am – 12:30pm CT

This panel session will explore the future of the pop music world and open it to new voices. If you are interested in encouraging new opportunities for youth in music, this event is a must-attend. 

How To Make Your SXSW 2022 Experience Memorable

SXSW 2022 offers a range of documentaries, performances, keynotes, and other fascinating sessions. You can do much more than sitting back and ingwatching as an online attendee. By joining the live chat session, you can meet other people who share your passion for film, the future of technology, and much more. Look out for sessions that give you the option to connect with others and ask questions.

7 Ways Live Chat Makes The Most out of SXSW Online

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SXSW 2022 is coming up soon! It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with leaders, authors, and creatives across industries. And Arena Live Chat will be there as Online Exhibitors: that means online attendees have plenty of ways to engage at SXSW and meet new people!

Use this guide as your cheat sheet to help you make the most of the event using live chat. Before we dive in deeper, there are two essential points to cover

Two Ways To Benefit From SXSW 2022 As A Virtual Attendee 

Attending SXSW 2022 online is a different experience than attending the event live in Austin, Texas. As an online attendee, you have two main ways to benefit from the event. First, you can discover new insights from the keynotes, panels, and other online events. Second, you can interact with other event participants digitally.

Making the most of the event starts with pacing yourself. SXSW 2022 runs from March 11-20, so it is easy to burn yourself out with too much activity. That’s why it pays to be selective in choosing which activities to join. To help you select the best events, check out our guide. Once you choose your events, come prepared to take notes so that you can capture key points and quotes.

Of course, discovering new information is just one part of the value of participating in SXSW 2022. Instead, the social context of SXSW Online is a big part of the value. Given that the last SXSW event was held in 2019 with more than 100,000 attendees, you can expect a lot of excitement at the festival’s 2022 return. As an online attendee, you can meet new people – including celebrities and artists – by taking a strategic approach to the event. Use the techniques below to make the most of SXSW 2022 from a networking perspective.

7 Tips To Make The Most of SXSW 2022

At this point, you’re probably used to attending online events and meetings that last a few hours or even a full day. A multi-day event like SXSW 2022 takes a different approach. 

1) Define Your SXSW 2022 Goals

Participating in SXSW 2022 is not cheap in the ticket price (the most affordable option is around $500) or time (over seven days). You’re likely to waste your time and money. Fortunately, setting a goal or two for SXSW 2022 online is easy. 

Write out your goal in one or two sentences. For inspiration, use the following:

  • I am attending SXSW 2022 online to meet 20 people in the technology industry interested in marketing collaborations.
  • I am attending SXSW 2022 for inspiration and fun – discovering new music and ideas matters. My goal is to attend five performances or keynotes from people I have never heard before.

2) Create Your Schedule With Some Slack

Your personal SXSW 2022 schedule should strike a balance between structure and flexibility. If you are most excited about the networking potential of the event, give yourself spare time each day to arrange 1-on-1 meetings or send quick follow-up notes. As a general rule, plan to attend a maximum of three sessions per day, so you have time to follow up and avoid event burnout. 

3) Optimize Your SXSW 2022 Profile

When you attend an SXSW 2022 online event, put your best virtual foot forward. That means connecting your live chat persona to your social media accounts or a personal website. At the very least, make sure you have a professional-style photo that clearly shows your face. This setup should only take a few minutes, and it will help you connect with more people in the live chat sessions. 

4) Join Each Virtual Event Early

When possible, make an effort to join each SXSW 2022 online event early. Joining on time or slightly early is beneficial in two ways. First, you have the chance to introduce yourself by posting a short message in the live chat room. By posting early, your live chat introduction message is more likely to be read by other attendees. Second, arriving early means you’ll quickly learn any critical ground rules for the session such as how and when to ask questions.

5) Ask Good Questions In The Live Chat

Assuming the event has a formal question-and-answer portion, asking an effective question in the live chat is a major opportunity to shine and connect with others. 

To give your question the best chance of being answered by an SXSW 2022 panelist, keep these few guidelines in mind.

  • Relate your question to the event’s content. Asking a question based on something one of the speakers said in the events shows you are paying attention.
  • Keep the question brief. As a rule of thumb, avoid questions with a long preamble or that require significant context to answer. For example, asking a panelist for a resource recommendation might make sense, while asking for advice on how to solve a strategic problem in your business would not be appropriate. Keep your question to 10-20 words, and you stand a better chance of getting an answer.
  • Avoid yes or no questions. Asking this kind of question can make the panelist feel uncomfortable. 

6) Interact With Other Online Attendees 

While it is exciting to interact with the celebrity speakers at events, there is a downside to focusing exclusively on the speakers. It is relatively hard to get their attention, and there is a good chance that your question might not get answered if you are in a more significant event.

Fortunately, there are plenty of interesting people you can interact with through the live chat session. Start by looking for attendees who share common interests with you (e.g., maybe you are both from New York). In addition, attendees might ask simple questions that you can answer (e.g., what’s the title of that Seth Godin book that the speaker just mentioned?). 

7) Follow Up After The Virtual Event

In the final few minutes of each session you attend, reach out to a few interesting people. Click on their profile and follow them on social media. If the person does not have social profiles, send them a direct message through the live chat. Your initial outreach message should be short and include your contact details (e.g., email address and LinkedIn profile URL). Take your time with these messages – aim to send a handful of thoughtful messages, and you stand a better chance of getting a reply.

Build Your SXSW 2022 Schedule

Save time planning your SXSW 2022 experience by checking out our curated list of the best online events.

Arena Live Chat at SXSW 2022 Online Conference

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SXSW 2022 is just around the corner, and we’re very proud to announce that Arena Live Chat will be part of the online event. 

How did that happen?, you might ask.

This year, the SXSW Conference will be in a hybrid format for ten days (11 – 20 March 2022). 

In the online edition, Arena Live Chat will be there making it easier for thousands of attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors to connect with each other, as well as to engage the audience in real-time.

As you know, South By Southwest (SXSW) connects companies from promising startups to established industries, leaders, authors, and creatives across industries all over the world from their home in Austin, Texas.

Therefore, Live Chat will be an important part of SXSW by enabling participants to:

  • Exchange ideas and comments during keynote presentations
  • Submit questions to panelists using the Q&A native Live Chat feature
  • Express emotions with GIFs and Emojis
  • Participate in Polls that are part of the program

Arena is an Online Exhibitor at SXSW 2022.

How Arena Enhances Virtual Events

Arena’s software is trusted by thousands of companies to improve their virtual events. Consider adding one of Arena’s tools to enhance your own virtual event. 

Live chat is a tool that lets attendees respond to polls, ask questions, and interact with your brand and other attendees during virtual events. By adding Arena Live Chat, brands can seamlessly integrate live chat capabilities in their virtual events. This feature lets online attendees provide feedback and share ideas virtually instead of needing to be physically present at the event.

Live blogs let virtual event organizers share quick updates like images, text, video, live scores, maps, and more as an event unfolds. Live blogs can provide important event updates, share ideas, present interviews, and keep attendees informed about speakers. Organizers can use Arena Live Blog to quickly improve their virtual event experience. 

Arena Customer Data Platform (CDP) can be integrated with Arena Live Chat and Live Blog to help understand customer behavior and interests. Companies are finding it harder to understand their customers because of the heightened restrictions from cookies and data privacy. Arena’s CDP can solve this problem by building customer profiles and collecting data from different touchpoints. 

SXSW 2022 and Arena

SXSW 2022 will gather some of the most important tech players and contemporary trendsetters on the planet from March 11-20 in Austin, Texas, and also via live streaming. Arena will be doubly there: with Arena Live Chat to connect and engage the audience in real-time, and as an Online Exhibitor.

Vimeo vs Uscreen: Facts To Consider

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Choosing between several video streaming platforms isn’t always that clear, specially when you are not familiarized with the existing options out there. This decision can profoundly influence user experience, engagement, and potential revenue streams. This article dives deep into two popular contenders in the video streaming arena: Vimeo OTT and Uscreen, exploring key aspects that can guide businesses in making an informed selection.

Let’s dissect Vimeo OTT and Uscreen on six key fronts:

1) Branding Consistency

  • Vimeo OTT: Offers an integrated experience. It provides not only the streaming service but also the tools to design mobile and smart TV apps aligned with your brand aesthetics.
  • Uscreen: While it allows you to produce branded apps, the onus falls on your team to manage the entire app development lifecycle.

2) Monetization Strategy

  • Vimeo OTT: Provides a flexible revenue model, catering to advertising, direct sales, subscriptions, and registrations. Additionally, it gives total control over subscriber data, aiding in decision-making.
  • Uscreen: Offers a range of monetization strategies such as royalties and in-app purchases. However, its advertising support remains ambiguous.

3) Playback Versatility

  • Vimeo OTT: Boasts extensive compatibility, supporting iOS, Android, intelligent TV platforms, and even the Xbox ecosystem.
  • Uscreen: Offers compatibility with platforms like Chromecast and Apple Airplay, yet its reach isn’t as expansive as Vimeo.

4) Industry Tenure

  • Vimeo OTT: With a legacy since 2004, Vimeo has been a trusted companion for streamers across various genres.
  • Uscreen: Launched in 2015, Uscreen, while competent, doesn’t share the same historical depth.

5) User Testimonials

  • Vimeo OTT: G2 ratings highlight its user-friendliness and support quality, although some users desire better pricing options.
  • Uscreen: Users laud its ease of use and exemplary customer service but do yearn for improved analytics and customization.

6) Integration Capabilities

  • Vimeo OTT: Exhibits a vast integration landscape, spanning Google Drive to Zoom, facilitating streamlined operations.
  • Uscreen: Prioritizes analytics and e-commerce with integrations like Google Tag Manager and Mailchimp, but appears limited in video distribution.

‍See our post, which highlights ten different Vimeo OTT examples for more details.

Amplifying Vimeo with Arena’s Touch

Our verdict tilts towards Vimeo OTT for contemporary video streaming requirements. Yet, regardless of platform selection, to genuinely enhance audience engagement, embedding interactivity is crucial.

Arena’s capabilities seamlessly marry with Vimeo OTT, infusing live chat and live blogs, enriching the passive video experience. With the introduction of Arena Personas, you can also deep dive into your audience’s behaviors and preferences, ensuring your streaming content is not just viewed but experienced.

For those steering their company’s digital footprint, understanding these nuances and integrating tools like Arena’s live blogs can be the game-changer in achieving your marketing objectives. Dive deeper, make informed choices, and watch your virtual engagement landscape transform.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uMMuAV0I9Y

What if you’re not sure what’s working in your video streaming? There’s no need to guess anymore. Use Arena Personas to understand what interactions and content drive your audience to engage, convert and buy.

7 video streaming alternatives to Vimeo OTT

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While Vimeo OTT is a solid video streaming service, it may not be the best option in all circumstances. That’s why it’s important to be aware of Vimeo’s OTT rivals. Learn how to reach your audience with video streaming using this comprehensive tutorial. You may test out the functionality of most OTT video platforms with a free trial period.

1) Dacast

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A platform that shines for those prioritizing setup simplicity and cross-platform playability.

  • Advantages: Celebrated for its user-friendly setup and top-notch support. Offers secure video hosting and an adaptable HTML5 video player.
  • Disadvantages: Encoding limitations for larger streams and some API glitches.
  • Pricing: Starts at $39/month. A 30-day free trial is available.

2) Kaltura Video Cloud

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A hub for higher education video streaming, Kaltura is also a haven for media brands looking to dive into OTT.

  • Advantages: Features like automatic transcription and video editing set it apart.
  • Disadvantages: A steeper learning curve and some iPad compatibility issues have been noted.
  • Pricing: Quote-based, but they offer free trials for varied functionalities.

3) Uscreen

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A platform designed for monetization through live streaming, mobile apps, and more.

  • Advantages: Stands out for its intuitive interface and commendable support.
  • Disadvantages: Some users found its analytics and customization a tad restrictive.
  • Pricing: Starts at $79/month + $0.50/subscriber. A 14-day free trial is available.

4) Telebreeze

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Crafted for media and broadcast brands, it offers rich media management capabilities.

  • Advantages: User-friendliness, support, and easy setup earn it praise.
  • Disadvantages: Playback delays and mobile app challenges have been flagged.
  • Pricing: Quote-based, complemented by a 30-day money-back assurance.

5) Ventuno

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A platform known for versatile streaming options, from mobile to TV apps.

  • Advantages: Acclaimed for its stellar customer service and streamlined interface.
  • Disadvantages: Some reservations about payment and playlist configurations.
  • Pricing: Plans start at $299/month, with discounts for annual commitments.

6) Contus VPlayed

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A self-hosted OTT platform catering to diverse streaming needs, from live video to audio.

  • Advantages: Customizable video players, affordability, and diverse monetization avenues.
  • Disadvantages: Some concerns over its analytics and tracking prowess.
  • Pricing: Details are undisclosed.

7) IBM Video Cloud

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Tailored for large-scale enterprises, offering extensive integration and robust security measures.

  • Advantages: Seamless integration with platforms like Facebook, Twitter, SAP, and Salesforce.
  • Disadvantages: Monetization leans on third parties, potentially raising reliability queries.
  • Pricing: Plans range between $99 to $999/month.

Supercharging Your OTT Experience

Selecting the optimal OTT video platform isn’t just about broadcasting; it’s about curating experiences. As you weigh storage, encoding, and viewer support, remember that the future of video is interactive. Arena’s Live Chat bridges the gap between content and community, fostering loyalty and engagement.

Ready to elevate your OTT journey? Dive into the Arena experience and sign up for a free trial today.