virtual roundtable discussions promote collaboration
When done well, virtual roundtable discussions can help you drive business value. By creating a conversation that engages and educates your audience, you can establish yourself as an expert in your industry, showcase your product or service, and build relationships with prospective clients. But it’s important to understand the best practices for hosting a successful virtual roundtable discussion so that you can maximize the benefits of this powerful event type.
One of the most common reasons for a virtual roundtable discussion is to generate new ideas or brainstorm solutions for a specific problem or opportunity. If you are planning a brainstorming session, the most effective way to collect ideas is by soliciting feedback from your attendees in advance of the meeting. This can be done through surveys, social media, or focus groups. Getting this input will not only increase participation, but it will also ensure that your roundtable is focused on the most relevant topic for your audience.
If you are looking to establish your brand as an expert in a particular field, consider including experts with diverse backgrounds and experience. This will add to the overall diversity of your event and allow for a more productive conversation that will lead to greater insight and innovation. For example, if you are hosting a roundtable discussion about the future of the travel industry, it would be beneficial to include experts in marketing, technology, the hospitality industry as a whole, and even climate change or sustainability.
How do virtual roundtable discussions promote collaboration?
While the key to a productive and engaging virtual roundtable is inclusion, the goal of the event should be to drive results. To do this, you will want to establish your audience’s interest in the subject matter and keep them engaged throughout the duration of the event. One way to do this is by asking participants to participate in an audience question and answer session. Depending on the format of your event, you can either collect questions in advance and use them as discussion starters, or you can provide guests with the ability to call in live during the session to ask their questions.
Moderation is another important element of a virtual roundtable discussion, and it can be difficult to do effectively without the physical presence of your audience. A moderator can help you keep the conversation focused on your chosen topic, and they can also help to guide the discussion when it does veer off on a tangent. In addition to using internal staff as moderators, you can also find a moderator from the guest list of your virtual roundtable discussion or other relevant community.
Finally, when it comes to getting senior decision-makers to attend your virtual roundtable discussion, the most important thing is to avoid a sales pitch or marketing story at all costs. This is especially important when dealing with high-level executives, as these people have very little time to spare for events that are not delivering value for their business. The slightest hint of a sales pitch will turn them off and send them running.