So, hosting a telesummit, virtual trade show or virtual summit sounds like an awesome idea, huh? The list building and income potential are absolutely seductive.
So, you send an email to the best and brightest names in your industry asking them to speak at your virtual event. You Google “sponsorship agreements,” copy one and fire it off to companies who you think should sponsor your virtual event.
And since you’re not all thumbs when it comes to booking a conference bridge line or webinar service, this thing should be pretty easy, right?
Well, I have a message for you.
You suck. Epicly.
Because of you, sponsors, exhibitors and speakers are reluctant about participating in a virtual event. Your disorganization and unrealistic expectations are ruining it for those of us who know how to plan these things properly.
I heard that you pressured your speakers to promote your virtual event to their list 3 TIMES because you were freaking out about the low response. You called and emailed them endlessly, chastising them for not holding up their end of the bargain.
How unprofessional.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Your online information page for your virtual event looks like it was created using a magic marker. And the topic is on becoming a six figure marketer. Not with a sales page looking like that.
You left attendees scratching their heads wondering how to connect to the live sessions, all because you were so super focused on making the sale and totally ignored your paid attendees.
The day the live sessions took place, you consistently “forgot” the name of your presenters. You fumbled through their introductions, then you couldn’t remember the name of their book, program or website. You left too much dead air during the live session and sounded totally unconfident.
And I didn’t mention how you “forgot” to say thank you to all those who helped you pull off your virtual event, pathetic as it was. No wonder you’re having trouble hosting your 2nd one. Word gets around.
You’re spectacularly craptastic. A drive-by virtual event manager. Here today to make money, gone tomorrow when it doesn’t work out. All due to your amateurism.
I’m tired of hearing my colleagues who speak at virtual events complain about how horrible you were. I’m exhausted
seeing you commit the same mistakes over and over. I’m angry that you’re bossy to your speakers, unappreciative of your sponsors and just plain mean to your support staff.
I gave you tips, I shared with you in a gentle way the mistakes you’re making and I told you in private what you’re doing wrong. I was discreet about it because I didn’t want to embarrass you in public.
But no more!
Here’s what I’ve been doing…
- I’ve trained the best and brightest business owners on how to plan, promote and make money from virtual events.
- I’ve produced virtual events and helped my clients make money and become the “go to” person in their niches.
- I’ve attended conferences and trade shows to evangelize the benefits of virtual events and hiring a virtual event team.
- I’ve launched an association and 3 home study programs so I can get my message into as many hands as I can.
The umbilical cord of disorganization connecting you to virtual event mediocrity has to be cut. And I have the scissors.
Snip, snip.
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Leesa, you are not talking about me, Are you? Seriously though most persons jump to do a virtual events without sufficient thought to theme, sequencing and strategic partner selection. In the rush for results,they forget (or never learned) the business processes that best support this model. My crapstatic period was brief. Now I have a simple blueprint that works like a charm. Looking forward to sharing on virtualeventboom.
You summed up the issues and problems in a nutshell! Glad to know that there is someone out there on the web who knows her stuff we can point people to who are in need of your services and use you ourselves. Just became a fan of yours!
WOW. YOU went off of the peoples. Good for you. Glad you got that off your chest. LOL
Wow it sounds like somebody REALLY knows her stuff!!
Awesome job on this post/rant and website.
Keep it up Leesa.
Cheers,
Kevin
WOW. YOU went off of the peoples. Good for you. Glad you got that off your chest. LOL
What about those individuals who don't deliver what was promised?
For instance:
– Cancelling one of their “Live” sessions because the wanted to attend someone else's training session.
– Recorded sessions that are 1/4 the length of the actual live session.
– Posting the recordings 36 – 72 hours after the live session, instead of the 24 hours that was promised.
– Charging attendees full price to attend training that they is obviously still in the development stage.
People who do this leave a very bad taste in the attendees mouth and make attendess very reluctant to participate in virtual training again.
You don't even know me like that……o.k. you got me…who told you!
fix me up Lisa…put me on the right track…help! Help. Can waist another
dime/time.
Herb
Leesa – Great information! Those who do Virtual Events poorly do have a role to play in making all Virtual Events better. They have been a great motivator for me to get it right!
Perhaps you could also talk about working with difficult experts…
To your success!
Leesa, have you been sneaking into my brain again and publishing my thoughts? LOL!
First of all, thank you for spinning the word “crap” so beautifully. I hope to use “craptastic” in a day to day conversation at least once in the next 24 hours.
Next, saying aloud what you said… brave, bold, and very necessary. You can lump in any JV to this too… basically people so hell bent on making a dime on your efforts, then they totally flog you for not sending out a zillion emails. yuck!!
You broke the unspoken bubble here. Craptastic (oh, I used that word!!) events must wither and go away.
I adore you Leesa Barnes!!!
I first heard “craptastic” from a singer in a band. We were on a road trip together (no, I wasn't in the band and we were travelling to a conference) and she used that word. Stuck with me ever since, including, our singing the tune to Littlest Hobo for about 3-hours outta of 9-hr trip.
But I digress…
I was trying to think about who's the bad guy in this virtual event story. It wasn't until I attended Andrea's workshop in Vancouver that I finally figured out who it is – it's the person who manages virtual events so poorly. Then bingo! The open letter came pouring out.
So true! There are so many details involved in putting on all events, not just virtual! As with most major projects, requires lots of lead time, lots of help…and yes lots of marketing and promotion! I have attended many where they have been very professional and recognize the name of people commenting-all very professional! Keep up the good work Leesa..snip snip
snip!
Elizabeth, yes, this frustration can be applied to non-virtual events as well. I know that I've been guilty of performing these very mistakes when I hosted seminars and workshops. I'd definitely hire help the next time I plan a workshop in a city because I see how much work goes into it.
Thank you for being so honest Leesa. This is one of the best open letters I have read in a long time. Not only do I agree with everything you've splashed here, but so do most Virtual Assistants regardless of their specialty. Keep rocking it girl!
Managing a virtual event is like managing any project, huh? Why do it yourself when there's capable people out there to do it for you. Now I know how virtual assistants feel. Should make me a better client to my own, methinks.
Having dealt with Leesa as a subscriber and as a professional client on virtual projects over the years I can only say Leesa always over delivers the message or product being promoted. Her competent team of virtual assistants ensure whatever webinar, tele-seminar or live event format being used runs flawless by providing quick support to any overwhelmed speaker or participant.
My favourite Peter in the whole wide world. Thanks for popping in here and leaving your wonderful comments. So glad that after 4-years (wow!), you're still sticking around to find out what this big city Canadian gal has left up her sleeve. You're the best 🙂
Thank You!!! I thought I was the only person who got upset by people doing this type of thing. They do make the rest of us look bad!!!
Glad you resonated with my open letter. I too am tired of seeing people do these things so poorly.
Leesa,
What's sad is you are so right! I own a transcription company and we specialize in big events- telesummits, seminars, etc. I have watched (and silently slapped myself in the head) while more than a few of clients have ruined what could have been an outstanding opportunity. Even worse, I've had more than one client try to push me into taking on responsibilities or being the event manager.
You wouldn't host a seminar or convention without an event manager, why would you try to host a telesummit or series without one? If it's out of cheapness, people need to understand that it's going to look-just that- cheap.
Ah, you took the words right out of my mouth. That's a primary reason why virtual events fail – no investment in it. They book free conference bridge lines, they only rely on email and they fail to pay for really good virtual help. I'm surprised anyone would try to do this alone.
Good for you for pushing back on taking on such a HUGE responsibility. Stick with what you're good at, but also let your clients know that I'm here to help 😉
WOW! Thanks for sharing I'm begining the journey. I know everyone says landline phones no cordless. I have been on the hunt, they are made so cheap now days. What are the basic things that I will need for a teleseminar or a virtual event. I think I will start with me as the speaker first and move to inviting guest to speak in the future. This will develop confidence and workout any bugs.
L
And London, you can always start with a small scale virtual event, for example, a mid-afternoon summit featuring 4 speakers. Start small for your first one, then feature more speakers for your next summit. I believe that's the key to making you successful hosting a virtual event.
And to be honest, for my first virtual event, I participated as an attendee, then a speaker and only after doing that was I able to feel confident enough about hosting my own. My 1st one had 36 speakers over 33 sessions, but I only felt I could do it after watching others from the sidelines.
Hear, HEAR! And if you can't do it right all by yourself then outsource the work to a virtual event specialist!
I know you're a huge believer in outsourcing, Tawnya (as am I). Of course (and I have to make a plug), you can outsource to a Virtual Event Manager who can manage the bigger picture, in addition to having a Virtual Event Specialist on the team who can manage the technical setup.
Exactly! Why not outsource this work to a VEM (catchy acronym) so then you can the time doing what you love doing in your business be it marketing, sales or product creation 🙂
Lady, I love your style. Snip, snip!
And let me tell you, amyhoy, the scissors are super sharp.
You rock! Thanks for sharing the unvarnished truth. Wow!
The truth. It's too bad that that isn't shared often, huh?
Thank you for your thumbs up. I'm thankful I can unload and have such wonderful people like you appreciate my advice as it was meant – to help.
God THIS ROCKS!! I LOVE the Transparency – the authenticity and the NERVE that you have struck here – Having been a speaker at several of these “virtual summits” I know the feelings you've described really well – there is a HUGE Difference between a summit like I did last year with @suzannefalterbarns that was PUT TOGETHER and PROFESSIONAL and a TOTAL WIN WIN WIN for her, me and the people we are all serving and several other – “drive by shooting” so called events – I'm right there with you on getting out the scissors! Thanks for your forthright and wonderful words! I hope THEY are listening!! I sure am – and you betcha I'm not going to do an event unless and until I'm really clear on how to do it like a PRO – have and idea that brewing and now I see that there is help in this area that I can access – would love to chat with you when the time is right!
Love lights us!! Peace is in you….
Amethyst Wyldfyre
First, you get the gold star for the most interesting name I've come across today. Second, if you'd like to chat about your virtual event needs, fill out the form at http://virtualeventhelp.com when you're ready.
Poorly executed virtual and non-virtual events are based on a number of different reasons. But when you don't focus a good chunk of time on marketing and marketing to a rabid tribe (not I didn't say audience), then you get one where only mom, dad and few close friends show up (and there's nothing wrong with mom, dad or a few close friends, it's just that they won't buy).
Man, I feel a teleclass coming on. I think I'll organize one very soon on this very topic. Thanks for the inspiration Amethyst!
Can't wait for the T-Class!! Will definitely keep you on/in the radar for a chat when the time is right – now is not quite it – but will know who to call when the “upstairs team” gives the signal and that would be YOU! Happy to INSPIRE – One of my gifts of grace 🙂 Will RECEIVE the Gold Star thank you very much! Love lights us…. Peace is in you! Amethyst
WOW…well I heard that one loud and clear but you are so right. That is why I am so meticulous about any virtual event I plan. But I also feel we never stop learning.
Thanks!
Agreed, even I learn a new thing or two about virtual events. However, as Suzanne pointed out, the key is taking enough time to plan.
Rock on, sister … may this help us fire up the engines of those who would help so they actually do get the job done better. I find it's all about timing, which is why we started planning my own telesummit, The Spiritual Marketing Telesummit, several weeks ago even though it's in May. Thanks for this!
Yes, Yes, Yes, that's one secret to planning a virtual event successfully – lots of lead time. And I'm looking fwd to participating in your telesummit later this year. Woohoo!
Talk about taking a big stand. As a speaker who had suffered through some of these “bad” events, I applaud you!
Michele PW
You and I chatted about this a while back, so I heard your thoughts ringing in my ears as I wrote this up. I hear your applause 😉