Category Archives: Group Chat

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.

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.

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.

Vimeo OTT: How to Stream Video In 8 Steps

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Learning how to stream video online using Vimeo OTT is easy. Follow this guide to plan and execute a live video stream. By following these steps, you will run a video experience for your audience directly on your website. Running a live video stream from your website is powerful because you can offer an engaging experience free of social media distractions.

Why Use Vimeo for OTT?

Over the top (OTT) media is a popular way to share video content online without using a cable, satellite, and other traditional means. Many people know Vimeo as an online video platform. However, it is capable of much more than sharing videos. Vimeo OTT is an excellent choice for streaming because it is fully brandable and offers multiple monetization choices, including advertising and subscriptions. It is one of the best ways to add streaming video to your organization.

Online female vlogger creating podcast content with videoblog, recording live discussion to broadcast on social media channel. Happy lifestyle blogger using vlogging equipment.

1) Set Up Your Vimeo Account

Your starting point in streaming video with Vimeo is to create your account. Your first step is to choose a Vimeo OTT plan. The starter plan is suitable for organizations just getting started in live video streaming. The growth and enterprise plans are better suited to companies that need multiple streams and pay-per-view options.

2) Customize Vimeo OTT For Your Organization

Out of the box, Vimeo OTT has significant video streaming capabilities. That said, creating an immersive branded video experience requires some work on your part. Fortunately, customizing Vimeo for your organization is simple.

At a minimum, use the following tips to customize the Vimeo OTT platform.

  • Apply Your Branding To The Vimeo OTT Platform. Upload your branding to Vimeo OTT.
  • Create A Vimeo OTT Custom App. You can create a custom app for your video channel. Reach out to Vimeo to discuss this further.

3) Integrate Vimeo With Your Website

Your next step is to add a Vimeo OTT video to your website. Adding live streaming video to your website means you can create a more engaging video experience. For example, you might run a live stream video to promote a new product. When that video stream is displayed directly on your website, it is easier for customers to view and order products.

4) Plan Your Video Stream Content

With Vimeo OTT installed you are now ready to plan your video content. If you are already experienced in running online video events, skip ahead to the next step.

For organizations new to live stream video, take some time to brainstorm and plan your content. Fortunately, you don’t have to start from scratch. Instead, read our post: 9 Steps To Make Your Own Live Stream. You will learn about the audio and video equipment needed for an event.

5) Enhance Your Livestream With Live Chat

Creating a live stream video that grabs your audience’s attention is difficult. Your audience might get distracted by a notification, email, or text at any moment. There are two ways to solve the problem of maintaining high levels of engagement.

Reduce Distraction

Start by looking for ways to reduce distractions. Using Vimeo OTT, your video experience can be branded, and free of clutter found on other platforms. You can also encourage attendees to turn off other browsers and devices for the duration of the event.

Increase Engagement

Ultimately there is a limit to how far you can cut distractions – that’s why boosting engagement is critical. Adding live chat to your video event is one of the best ways to make your virtual event more engaging. For example, you can use Arena Live Chat to run quick polls during the event. Offering a poll is one of the fastest ways to gather feedback from your audience. In addition, you can take questions from the audience through live chat.

Live chat to encourage comments and questions transforms your live stream video into a social experience. People often feel uncomfortable abruptly leaving a social event. When attendees see your video event in social terms, they are more likely to stay engaged.

6) Staff Your Livestream Video Event

A successful live stream video experience is a team effort. At a minimum, we suggest having a team of two people: presenter and support. The presenter will be front and center on the screen, interviewing other people and delivering content. On the other hand, the support person can focus on the live chat session and help attendees with questions. In addition, the support person can share links and conversion cards to drive action. For more significant events with hundreds or thousands of participants, a larger team may be needed to maintain engagement with your audience.

Once you have your team, boost their confidence by equipping them with a live training session.

7) Complete a Vimeo OTT Video Trial Run

Learning to use new video technology can be difficult. If you are unfamiliar with Vimeo’s advanced features like pay-per-view, your team may feel overwhelmed. Plan a small-scale video streaming event with your team to build your team’s confidence. As the test event progresses, verify that the presenters and support staff can view the live chat.

8) Schedule and launch Your Vimeo OTT Event

You are now ready to launch your first live stream video event using Vimeo. To maximize attendance, schedule the event at least a week in the future and then promote it. Make sure you post about the event on social media and highlight the event on your website.

Tip: Plan to offer subscriptions to your live stream video event? Reach out to Vimeo for tips on how to set up your subscription options.

Launch Your First Vimeo Live Stream Today

Following these seven steps will guide you from start to finish in streaming video with Vimeo OTT. To enhance your streaming experience further, consider leveraging live chat to build a sense of community around your content.

Engaging with your audience in real-time using live chat not only boosts viewer interaction but also fosters a loyal community. Incorporating live chat into your Vimeo OTT streams can transform your video events into interactive experiences, keeping your audience engaged and coming back for more.

Enhance the E-learning Experience with Live Chat

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All eyes are on e-learning right now. Don’t be just another platform: improve your customers’ experience using Live Chat. Find out how you can do it.

Technological expansions stimulate the market and companies to put out their products and services. But when it comes to education and e-learning platforms, is just enough technology to reach revenue and success?

We can tell you it is not! But to answer, you need to achieve relevance, improve your services, and make money. We will present to you how Live Chat is the best solution you need right now, especially during this global scenario.

E-learning market evolution

Convenience, feasibility, and self-management are the main reasons digital studies have grown in the past years. Stiff methodologies and schedules complicate this generation’s ability to bend and adapt.

Personal routines do not follow a 9 to 5 structure anymore. Your audience demands options to build their agenda and keep on improving their technical skills and crave for better opportunities.

And that is the combination to birth e-learning: cyberspace that mixes distance, education, and digital resources. Through it, there are no more physical or geographical borders. Anytime and anywhere, the e-learner can join a digital classroom to study.

A fundamental factor in keeping e-learning fresh and updated is human interaction. Here is how you can get it!

Humanize with Live Chat

Live Chat is an add-on to a web page that allows users to interact with each other. Since an e-learning environment requires tutors, teachers, and students, Live Chat can offer multiple resources to establish more excellent communication.

Through text, voice, and video messages, users can create an enriched learning space. They can also share different types of file formats on chat.

Before the pandemic, e-learners could apply their new abilities at workplaces, exchange information with coworkers, engage at workshops, or face-to-face classes. Now, those options are limited.

Having a Live Chat and all of its features and possibilities is your best opportunity to keep on providing relevant experience to the users.

Pandemic times leading to new solutions

But now, amongst every other particularity, a student has in life to choose a more flexible way to learn, there is also COVID-19 and its repercussions. A healthy social interaction is now a must-have aspect that people consider in this “new normal” scenario.

Learning environments have softly evolved over time. Even though there were a few alterations here and there, its structure has remained the same, like the classroom space, for example.

Due to the pandemic, education’s core has been forced to remodel its shape, and e-learning is the only thing able to lead that change successfully.

Two groups of people you should pay close attention to during this are:

  1. The first group is the current customers. E-learners, they are already studying and should not feel that the absence of social interaction can compromise their learning process. These can not wait too long for better solutions to arrive. They want –– and need! –– them right now.
  2. And the other group are possible new customers. There are multiple unexplored niches to work with, like those who already know e-learning platforms and got caught up by your unique services, and those who do not know e-learning yet but saw in your company a reliable, complete, and humanized platform to kick off.

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More than ever, there is no place for halfway, lack of quality, or uncertain results.

Companies need to create this empathic and respectful environment to show that they are aware of the new challenges. But beyond that, present the best solution to keep the highest service and customer satisfaction on top. That’s called Customer Experience.

Improving experience through technology

The economic crisis mostly leads to desperate measures for many. Understandably, companies must do whatever they can to stay in the game, but when business actions arise from desperation and zero strategy planning, the result might be a failure.

That kind of outline calls for proper assistance, and because of the variety of possibilities, technology becomes the most capable one. Properly used, this powerful resource can meet the needs within the context of not having personal interactions on e-learning spaces.

Live Chat, as we mentioned before, integrates human management, relevant engagement, and a high level of support for the students in a single place. 

Following the users through the learning processes creates better engagements. The platform can compensate for the lack of physical relations with guidance programs, such as making a tutor or teacher available simultaneous to studying time on the same web page.

Live Chat bringing real-time interaction

Having a Live Chat on your e-learning platform can promote a sense of community. With a professional content moderator, students can go through paths that will enhance their experience. If you like a good benchmarking, you should check out how Pecege Institute is leveraging Live Chat to enhance the digital learning experience.

As a result, your brand’s status of authority gets stronger, customers can have better experiences, and they may consider making other purchases. They may also put relevant referrals out there since your services amazed them throughout the entire process.

Real-time engagements create live environments, with a sense of fresh curation and professional domain. It means the content is updated continuously and new, systematically watched by the teachers, tutors, and the platform itself.

Have a Live Chat solution now For Free

A well-managed Live Chat solution for e-learning spaces can aggregate more value to your services. You can increase revenue by showing your customers how much they can earn by studying your platform, highlighting the teacher’s role, and adding better experiences during the course.

You can also capture new customer’s attention, letting them know how exclusive, personalized, and complete your products are. Not to mention all the great references made by satisfied users.

Arena can give you a Live Chat solution right now. It will be fully operating within minutes on your platform.

Employee Engagement with Live Streaming

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A corporate live stream is an excellent way to engage your employees, minimize expenses, and create a more unified organization. With the technology available to companies, almost any in-person experience can be transitioned to virtual. This guide is for companies looking for creative ways to engage their employees using a corporate live stream. 

How to Engage Employees with Live Streaming

Consider the following ways to engage employees using a corporate live stream. 

Conferences

Conferences are a great way to learn valuable information about your industry, it’s consumers, and your competitors. However, you can’t send everyone in your organization to attend them. Therefore, most companies send a small handful of employees to attend. 

If the conference permits it, have the attendees from your company live stream important speakers and topics. This allows all of your employees to benefit from the conference without having to be there physically. If your company runs its own conference, make sure to set up a live stream so employees can watch and rewatch it online.

Check out these virtual conference platforms you and your team can use to stream awesome events.

Announcements

Create a corporate live stream for big company announcements. For example, a startup has scheduled an IPO and needs to announce it to its employees. Instead of sending a wordy email, the CEO can set up a corporate live stream that connects with employees in an exciting and personable way. Allow employees to view the live stream, ask questions, and engage with each other. 

Nubank went further: the bank hired award-winning singer Anita for its IPO live streaming event.

Training

A corporate live stream is one of the best ways to train employees. It eliminates the need to gather employees at one physical location, and it can save your company on training costs. Use live streaming for sales training, onboarding, compliance training, and more. 

During live stream training, let employees engage by asking and answering questions. Live stream training is especially useful for roleplays that require employees and trainers to interact with each other. If you have employees spread throughout the country, a live stream training allows them all to hop on from the convenience of their desktop or mobile device. 

By recording your training, you give employees the ability to rewatch training on-demand at their own pace. Once a training is recorded, there’s no need to spend time recreating it. If a clip needs to be updated, you can always go back and make the necessary changes.

Adding Live Chat is also a great way to enhance the e-learning experience.

Q&A Sessions

Question and answer (Q&A) sessions, also known as “ask me anything” sessions, give employees the chance to speak with someone higher up in the company. For example, you could host a virtual Q&A session with the company’s CEO. This gives employees the opportunity to ask important questions regarding where the company is headed, why he or she started the company, and more. 

To prepare for Q&A sessions in advance, you can create employee polls to collect votes on most important questions. Questions that get the most votes can be prioritized and answered first. Let employees watch the stream live, submit anonymous questions, give feedback, and watch Q&A recordings. 

Product Demos

If your company is constantly releasing innovative products, it can be hard for employees to keep up. By hosting a virtual product demo, you can engage your employees and share all the details of your new product. Allow them to ask questions, rewatch the demo, and see visual representations of the product in action. 

Town Halls

Virtual town halls are organization-wide meetings in which all employees attend and receive important updates, share ideas, and ask pressing questions. By hosting a town hall virtually, you can connect employees in several different branches, and you allow them to connect with colleagues that they don’t see on a regular basis. 

Town halls are typically conducted on a quarterly basis, and virtual ones cut expensive accommodation, travel, and venue costs. They also make employees feel more united and appreciated, and they can have tremendous benefits on company culture. 

Employee Parties

A great way to improve employee engagement and retention is by creating a culture that makes them feel appreciated. One way to do this is by hosting a virtual party. This can take the form of a virtual happy hour, employee recognition meeting, or team party. 

While most would prefer these to be in person, this isn’t always possible. Team members can be scattered around the country and have busy schedules. By hosting an employee party online, you can allow them to connect without needing to travel or take time off work. 

For example, your HR team could host a virtual happy hour in which employees in North America have the chance to meet employees in Europe. You can promote casual conversations, recognize employee achievements, and boost the overall morale of your employees. 

Interviews

The first way to engage employees is by live streaming interviews. You can interview customers, employees, suppliers, industry leaders, and partners. Ask them important questions on how they interact with your company and its products and services. This engages employees by allowing them to learn more about your company and its challenges from someone else’s point of view. 

When you live stream your interview, make sure to record it so people can rewatch it if they missed out. It also helps to generate a transcript so employees can highlight important points. By sharing video interviews, you’ll be able to help onboarding employees gain a better understanding of your company’s mission and strategies. 

Conclusion

Many people think of live streams as a way for companies to connect with their customers. However, this guide reveals that live streams are a great way to connect and engage with employees too. A corporate live stream can be used for interviews, conferences, announcements, training, Q&A sessions, product demos, town halls, and casual employee parties. 

How Arena Can Help

If you need a tool that lets you create group live chats, send instant messages, ask questions, and create polls, consider downloading Arena Live Chat. You can also share important written updates during your announcement with Arena Live Blog. If you enjoy using these tools, check out Arena Customer Data Platform (CDP) to help you understand your customers’ preferences and interests. 

Arena has been used by thousands of companies in over one hundred countries to improve their live events. Arena customer TV1;, a company focused on live experiences, began creating virtual business conferences as a way to keep attendees and employees engaged online. Arena has also been trusted by companies like Facebook and VTEX; to run live events. 

For help planning a virtual event, download our free eBook for creating highly engaging live event scripts. For more information on enhancing your live stream, click the link below to download our free eBook. 

Agency Reporting: all you need to know

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It’s common for agencies to create reports to improve communication with their clients, help them identify and achieve their goals, and attract new business. By learning how to create effective agency reports, you can build a better relationship with your clients and scale your agency by attracting new prospects. This guide is designed to help you understand what agency reports are, why they are important, and what to include in an agency report.

What is an Agency Report?

Agency reports are detailed reports showing data that’s been collected from reporting and monitoring tools. This lets agencies see what’s working and what’s not working and take actionable steps to improve their business. A common purpose of creating agency reports is to show investors and clients how well an agency’s strategy is working. 

Why are Agency Reports Important?

A report conducted by HubSpot indicates that 23% of agencies fail to meet client expectations and goals. One way to solve this is through effective reporting. It’s important to create reports that use data to tell a story to communicate opportunities, strengths, and your agency’s value. It should give you an overview of what you’ve done over the past week, month, or year. 

Agency reports help you evaluate and optimize your own strategies, but they also help you sell your agency’s services. By achieving and demonstrating results through an agency report, you can show them off to scale your agency and attract new clients. It can also facilitate transparent communication with existing clients by showing them exactly what results you’re getting for them. 

What to Include in an Agency Report?

An agency report should include sections for goals, key metrics, and value added.

Goals

Start by working with your client to identify your shared goals. Set both short-term and long-term goals and be specific. Goals should be clear and achievable, and they should always include trackable metrics. In this section, you can also include which digital agency tools you’ll be using to achieve these goals. If you need more information on goals-based reporting, check out this helpful article. 

Key Metrics

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When adding key metrics to your agency report, consider which statistics your client values most. If your metrics aren’t important to your client, it’s unnecessary to include them. You should also add metrics that align with your set goals. For example, include statistics relevant to customer engagement if your goal is to get the client’s audience more involved. 

Examples of important metrics you can include are listed below. 

It can also help to include non-qualitative metrics like social media reviews and customer feedback. 

Value Added

In addition to key metrics, make sure to include the value provided for your client. This is your chance to demonstrate how you positively impacted your client, and you should include everything you think is relevant. Show how your actions led to the desired outcome and how you will continue getting results for clients going forward. 

For example, if you helped a client run a successful online virtual event, demonstrate how you helped them prepare, manage, and achieve their desired outcome. You could mention how you helped them prepare a virtual events script, advertise their event on social media, and convert viewers during the live event.

By sharing these details, your current clients will see the value you provide and will be more likely to continue working with you. It also allows you to scale your agency by attracting new clients once they see the impact you’re having on other clients. 

Additional Tips for Agency Reporting

Once you’ve included goals, key metrics, and value added on your report, consider the following tips for better agency reporting. 

Create Frequent Reports

If you only provide your clients with an agency report once or twice per year, you’re missing the point. By publishing weekly reports, you’ll keep your client informed with the most up-to-date information. This gives you the opportunity to collaborate more often as new challenges arise, and it can make each client meeting shorter and less stressful. 

Use Reporting Templates

If you have multiple clients to generate reports for, use agency reporting templates to make the process more streamlined. Templates can be customized for each client, but they eliminate the need to recreate reports from scratch. This lets you focus on the important aspects of reporting while saving time on tedious tasks. 

Create Multiple Reports

Trying to include all reporting metrics on one document can create a tangled mess. Instead of cramming all your data, create multiple reports that categorize data by channel. While this step isn’t mandatory, it can make complex reports more readable, and it can prevent your clients from becoming overwhelmed. 

Include Future Plans

By including a section for next steps, you can show your clients how you plan to improve results in the future. This section is important because it allows you to connect the dots between previous results and future outcomes. This is especially true if your previous results fall short and you want to demonstrate how you can turn them around going forward. 

How Arena Can Help Your Agency

Before you focus on generating reports for your clients, you need to make sure you can deliver them results. Arena has software tools that will allow you to satisfy your clients and scale your agency. 

Arena Live Chat can be added to a website or live stream to improve engagement through surveys, polls, Q&As, and instant messages. Agencies can personalize live chats with GIFs, reactions, and emojis and add conversion cards to sell products and services. 

To post quick updates as a live event unfolds, agencies can download Arena Live Blog. This tool can share images, videos, text, and social media to viewers, and it comes with more than 15 customization options. 

Finally, Arena Customer Data Platform (CDP) can be paired with the Live Chat and Live Blog tools to collect user data from multiple touchpoints. With it, you can build unique customer profiles to understand their brand preferences, purchase history, interests, and live events engagement activity. 

Conclusion

Agency reports are a great way to keep clients informed and to attract new business. If you need help creating one for your agency, consider implementing the steps covered in this guide. Always include goals, key metrics, and value added in your reports. 


It’s also important to build reports frequently, use reporting templates, break up reports, and include next steps. If you need help getting results for your clients, consider adding one of Arena’s software tools. To learn more about Arena, click the link below to speak with an expert. 

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Most common mistakes with Virtual Events

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Hosting a virtual event presents its own unique challenges. Some apply to in-person ones, while some mistakes are specific to hosting an event online. This guide was created to show organizers the most common mistakes when hosting virtual events and how to avoid them. By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll be able to create a virtual event experience that’s purposeful, engaging, and effective. 

Virtual Event mistakes

The following are the five most common mistakes virtual events organizers make. 

Lacking structure

Developing and executing a structured plan is a virtual event key to success. Without this, your event can experience awkward pauses, overlapping speakers, miscommunication with attendees, and more.

To make sure your event is structured, start by creating a schedule. Add time slots for each speaker, segment, and meal break. It’s smart to include Q&A sessions throughout your event so attendees can have their questions answered, and you can also survey your audience with a live chat tool. 

The next step to improving your virtual event structure is to post your agenda before the event starts. By doing this, your audience will know exactly what to expect, and it eliminates the need to go over the agenda during the event introduction. 

Finally, incorporate some flexibility in your agenda and create backup plans in case things go wrong. Technical difficulties, speaker absences, and late entrances are common problems that can arise. By having a little flexibility and a solid “plan B”, you’ll be able to tackle these challenges with ease. 

Wasting time on irrelevant topics

Another one of the most common mistakes virtual events suffer from is time wasted on irrelevant topics. If the purpose of hosting the virtual event is to build relationships with attendees, it’s not a great idea to spend half of the event trying to sell products. By straying away from your goal, your event will lack a targeted direction. 

To avoid this mistake, create a clear goal for your event. Once you have a goal in mind, ask the following three questions. 

  • “What do I want my attendees to take away from this event?”
  • “What content can I share to help me achieve my goal?”
  • “What parts of my agenda do not serve the purpose of my virtual event?”

By eliminating parts of your event that aren’t important, you’ll be able to create a more concise and engaging virtual event. Create a purposeful and engaging virtual events script, only add content that’s relevant to your goal, determine which metrics are most important to you, and focus on adding value to your attendees. 

Trying to mimic an in-person event

Virtual events aren’t meant to be structured like an in-person event. This is one of the biggest mistakes virtual events organizers make. At an in-person event, networking is more natural, attention spans are greater, and distractions are minimal. With an online event, people can’t meet each other face-to-face, leaving the event early is much easier, and distractions are unrestrained. 

Technology allowed events to seamlessly transition from in-person to online, but the strategy for running each is different. To create an effective live stream event, host one that has the excitement of an in-person event without trying to completely replicate an in-person event. 

Start by tightening your agenda. Because attention spans are shorter online, virtual events should typically be shorter than comparable in-person ones. Long content blocks and drawn out speeches don’t translate as well online as they do in-person. 

Next, provide guidance when it comes to attendee networking. Casual conversations are more natural in-person than they are online. Therefore, assign discussion topics when sending attendees into breakout rooms. This gives your audience a talking point and can prevent awkward conversations. 

Finally, make your virtual events as easy to access as possible. A huge advantage of virtual events is the ease of packaging and accessibility. When deciding between different software tools, choose those that let users access content in multiple ways and from different devices. You can also provide content libraries, summary posts, and quick video-clips to your attendees. 

Not having a moderator

Having an assigned moderator is a great way to improve your live event. Without a moderator, virtual events can lack direction and smooth transitions. A moderator is a great person to provide an introduction, introduce new speakers, and guide the event through its stages.

When deciding on a moderator, pick someone who is enthusiastic and who understands your audience. Your moderator is likely the first impression for your event, so choose someone who’s excited about it. By selecting someone who understands your audience, you’ll be able to build better relationships with them. 

Forgetting to practice

Not practicing before hosting your live stream event is an easily avoidable mistake. Your speakers, moderator, and behind-the-scenes crew should all be familiar with the agenda, the virtual event platform, and their individual duties when hosting an event. 

As with anything, practice makes perfect, and conducting just one practice run will allow your team to spot potential issues and overcome them. Speakers should have a rough set of notes and script for their speeches. The practice run allows them to see if they’re taking too long, finishing too early, or are right on time. 

Make sure everyone is comfortable with the virtual event software. Test internet connection, get everyone logged in, and double check their camera and microphone. Once these are set up, the practice run will ensure that everything is working properly. 

How Arena can help

Arena has powerful software tools that event organizers can use to improve their virtual events. To improve attendee engagement through instant messaging, group chat, polls, surveys, and Q&As, consider adding Arena Live Chat to your event. This tool can be paired with Arena Live Blog to share relevant updates as your event unfolds. 

To collect user data from different touchpoints, build customer profiles, and understand your audience’s interests, you can also add the Arena Personas (beta) for CDPs. This tool keeps track of attendee information, engagement history, brand preferences, purchase history, and more. 

Conclusion

When hosting an event, it’s critical to avoid these five common mistakes virtual events organizers make. Create a structured event, focus on the event goal, use online strategies for your event, assign an event moderator, and don’t forget to practice. By doing this, you’ll be able to create an event that gets results and provides a positive experience for your audience. 

One way to improve your event structure, stay on topic, and engage your audience is by creating an effective virtual events script. A script can be used by speakers to guide them through their speaking points, remind them of what to say next, and keep them organized and focused on the goal. To discover how you can create highly engaging scripts for live coverages and virtual events, download our free eBook by clicking the link below.

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What 5 Virtual Event Producers Learned in 2021

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The outbreak of the recent pandemic forced event producers to transition from in-person events to virtual events. While there were many roadblocks, successful event organizers were able to overcome the obstacles and continue hosting events virtually. This guide covers what five companies learned about the transition from in-person to virtual events. 

What Event Producers Learned

Event organizers need to keep learning how to optimize their virtual and hybrid events. The quick shift to virtual forced organizers to learn how to adapt quickly. Below are the most important lessons that Arena customers learned from making the transition to virtual. 

Hybrid is a Strategy, not an Event Type

Grip published a webinar that positioned “hybrid” as a strategy instead of just an event type. Its research indicated that interest in hybrid events is declining, and that 63 percent of event producers lack a clear strategy for hybrid events. 

The company emphasizes that, “Hybrid is not an event type, it’s a strategy and the best hybrid strategy is omni-channel, where organizers use different channels to engage attendees in different ways.” It stresses the importance of completing an objective at every touchpoint instead of completing all objectives at every touchpoint. 

It suggests that instead of creating hybrid events, organizers should create a combination of in-person and virtual events. It suggests that on-site events should focus on creating and building relationships, while virtual events should be short and focused on building brand awareness and educating attendees. 

Virtual Events can Improve Employee and Customer Connections

TV1, a company focused on live experiences, engagement strategies, and brand activation, has adapted to hosting virtual events. It learned that virtual business conventions can be created in a way to keep employees and attendees connected and engaged. 


While in-person events bring people to a physical location and make networking seamless, virtual events can do this too when set up properly. While helping Bayer host its first virtual convention for its pharmaceutical unit, TV1 was able to keep attendees and organizers engaged online. 

It emphasized it was important that “the experience did not overlook the dynamism and connections that are so common in the presence and that it engaged employees so that everyone was ‘on the same page’.”

It did this by integrating with Zoom and using augmented reality to facilitate training and using interactivity features to keep attendees engaged. It also enhanced the virtual event by using television logic, gamification features, enhanced scenography, and content transmission strategies. 

Virtual Events are Great for Training Employees

WorkCast discovered virtual events can be used to effectively train employees. The company writes on its blog, “Gone are the days of full-day staff training, complete with awkward icebreakers and trust falls. Instead, more and more businesses are using webinars for training purposes.”

Webinars allow employees to take ownership of their own career development, they improve efficiency, and they give companies more flexibility. They can be used to onboard new employees, provide continuing education for teams and individuals, and provide external training. 

WorkCast identified that training webinars are more accessible than traditional training methods. Employees can customize their training and complete it at their own pace. Webinars also let employees use voice-to-text software for taking notes, download transcripts for recordkeeping, and add subtitles to eliminate language barriers. 

Virtual training can be completed faster because it doesn’t require traveling to a physical location. It’s more cost effective than hosting an in-person training. It can also use Q&As, surveys, and polls to increase engagement. 

Cloud Engagement Platforms Enable Much More than Virtual Events

Cloud Conventions recognizes the scope of cloud engagement platforms (CEPs). CEPs don’t simply enable virtual events; they combine state-of-the-art digital marketing technology with collaboration features that encourage networking and interaction between attendees. 

Cloud Conventions used a report by Wainhouse Research to break down CEPs into three primary use cases. The report titles them “Webcasts”, “Interactive Events”, and “Virtual Hubs”. Webcasts require the least amount of technological complexity and costs, while virtual hubs require the most. 

Webcasts are used as an “online megaphone” to broadcast content. They offer limited attendee engagement options, maximum presenter control, and they’re best used for product launches and lead-generation webinars. 

Interactive events are used to combine collaboration and content streams. They’re typically one to two hours in duration, they enable sponsor promotion on-screen, and they’re used to increase attendee engagement and networking. 

Virtual hubs are online destinations that let attendees engage in multiple ways. They serve as the gateway for hybrid events, and they offer distinct online communities and can be used for online conferences. 

Virtual Events can Enhance Live Sporting Events

Sotic has learned that digital channels and virtual events are great ways to engage live sporting event attendees. Sotic has a video solution that lets brands tell their story, link to specific athletes and events, integrate with their video provider, and monetize their content. 

The company recently partnered with a rowing website to enhance the experience of their audience. It introduced its “Live Boat Tracker” to let fans follow live rowing races from the website. It also let viewers track insightful data like distance from leader, stroke rate, and speed. 

How Arena can Enhance Virtual Events

Arena’s software is trusted by thousands of companies including Swoogo, Grip, TV1, WorkCast, Cloud Conventions, and Sotic to improve their virtual events. Consider adding one of Arena’s tools for enhancing your own virtual event. 

Arena Live Chat

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 with their virtual events. The feature lets online attendees provide feedback and share ideas virtually instead of needing to be physically present.

Arena Live Blog

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

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

Other Resources

For those who want to learn how to create a superior virtual event experience, check out our guide. 

For more information on what to say during a live event, we have an eBook with live event scripts. 

If you want a comprehensive guide on how to get the best results using live ecommerce, check out our free eBook. 

Conclusion

The recent shift from on-site to online events has caused event producers to adapt quickly. Grip learned that “hybrid” is a strategy not an event type. TV1 learned that virtual events can improve both employee and customer engagement. WorkCast capitalized on the benefits of training employees virtually. 

Cloud Conventions recognized the several benefits of CEPs, and Sotic used virtual live streams to assist in the sports niche. For assistance with your virtual events, consider adding Arena Live Chat, Live Blog, or CDP. If you want to learn more about virtual event trends in the upcoming year, click the link below.