You've probably heard of the Metaverse, but you may not know exactly what it is or how to plan an event in it. The Metaverse is a shared, virtual space where people can meet and interact with each other. It's similar to the internet, but it's three-dimensional and interactive. Think of it as a cross between the internet and a video game.
Metaverse events are becoming increasingly popular as more people are spending time in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). These events can be used for marketing, training, conferences, and more.
If you're interested in hosting a Metaverse event, Virbela can help. Our team is here to help get you started. Email sales@virbela.com
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Use this Countdown Guide to develop your Metaverse event, get everyone at your organization onboard, and begin inviting attendees. As you continue the countdown to your virtual event, you can check out the rest of this series, exclusively from Virbela, for more instructions and inspiration:
Countdown Guide: 1 Month Before Your Metaverse Event (Part 2)
Countdown Guide: The Week of Your Metaverse Event (Part 3)
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Create a Winning Event Agenda
Creating an effective event agenda doesn't have to be complicated. Start thinking about who you want to invite to speak at your event. Metaverse panels can blend the best of virtual and physical events. You can invite speakers from anywhere, because Virbela is accessible from anywhere via wifi on a laptop or desktop—and attendees can mingle like in real life, because the Metaverse offers a shared space for movement and conversation.
An added bonus: With the lower costs of virtual events versus in-person events, you may be able to attract more esteemed speakers and panelists, because you can reallocate budget for speakers fees.
When making your selections, be sure to keep your audience and goals in mind. For example, if you're looking to build brand awareness, invite industry thought leaders who are well-known and respected in your field. If you're looking to drive sales, on the other hand, you may want to consider inviting customers or clients who can speak to the results they've achieved by working with your company.
Once you've selected your speakers, reach out and confirm their participation as soon as possible, so that you can begin working on their talk tracks, biographies for event marketing, and other content. If panelists have minimal experience in the Metaverse, you can sweeten the deal by helping them add a new platform to their pedigree. Virbela is easy and intuitive to use for everyone, so you can invite them to join you in Open Campus for a tour to get acquainted. Anyone can download Open Campus and explore 24/7.
Plan Interactive Activities
Plan additional activities that take advantage of what the Metaverse has to offer. In virtual reality platforms, you can enjoy things that wouldn’t be possible at other online events.
- Create networking opportunities in some of Virbela’s engaging common spaces. Let people chat and trade experiences by the waterfall, on the rooftop, at the beach or other spots.
- Play games that require the presence of spatial technology. For example, have people share how they rank themselves in certain skills and line up in order. Do this for a number of skills and see how you can learn from each other.
- Check out Virbela’s expo booths to add an additional way to monetize your event with partners and give guests a reason to mingle and interact with the environment and each other.
Once your plan is in place, create the official agenda. List out all the talks, workshops, and activities that will take place during your event, then start filling in the details like speaker names, talk topics, and start/end times. As you're creating your agenda, be sure to keep an eye on the overall flow and pacing of the day so that attendees have time to digest everything they're taking in.
Design Unforgettable Metaverse Scenes
The Metaverse can be a new and exciting way for people from all over the world to connect. When planning your virtual event, make sure the scenes you choose inspire people to engage with your content. Here are some tips on how to design a scene that will wow your guests and leave them wanting more long after your event is over.
Created to look and feel like a modern city, the new Virbela Open Campus features expansive spaces where attendees can walk, run, teleport, or enter a subway station to travel throughout the world. Subway station names are configurable for users with upgraded permissions, so you can brand your event down to the train signs if you’re a Private Campus owner.
An outdoor cityscape, backed by mountains, connects buildings with paved and nature-inspired paths, dotted with trees that you can hear rustling in the breeze. Even the grass crunches when you walk on it, and a waterfall cascades by the high mountain. Light moves naturally, flickering or casting shadows, and can be configured for nighttime.
An amphitheater can host large meetings, concerts, DJ events, movies on a lawn, and other presentations or entertainment. Additional outdoor scenes include a campsite, a hiking trail, a mountaintop vista to look at the span of the Open Campus.
Within each scene, you can use web boards just as you would use web browsers, only with a consistent look and feel within your virtual event space. These are easy to use, can be changed quickly throughout the course of the event, and feature any content you choose.
For specialized scene content, bring your Virbela environment to life with help from our experts. Virbela can help you personalize each space with multimedia content for branded appeal. Unique decor lets you create depth and dimension and allow you to build the decor vibe that means something to you and your guests.
Assign and Prepare Staff to Work at Your Event
When you host an event in the Metaverse, you can skip a lot of the traditional (and expensive) set up and break down, but you still need a solid staff to help you pull off your plans. If your organization runs lean, you can count on Virbela to help you make the most of your planning process and support you on the day of your event.
- The first step in staff planning is understanding your numbers. How many people are attending and how long is your event?
- Once you have a handle on your numbers, you can work with Virbela so we can provide you with the appropriate support staff. Support staff is part of our event packages.
- Virbela event advisors and support staff help you get set up for success. The Metaverse is new to many people, so we dive in to make sure your event runs smoothly.
Assign staff based on their skillset, like applying creative staff to event content, technical staff to content delivery across your virtual campus, and concierge to act as campus guides and general event help. In the Metaverse, that might mean your staff is expanding their skills as your organization grows its virtual footprint.
Invite and Onboard Your Attendees
Most event planners are experienced in the digital aspect of event marketing: event landing pages, registration links, email campaigns, ticketing platforms, and social media are must-dos for any event. Metaverse events come with another step: getting your guests onboard in your virtual campus.
Virbela makes it simple for anyone to enter. Just download the app and personalize your avatar, so you can network easily.
- Send out invitations early. This will give people plenty of time to mark the date and time in their calendars.
- Follow up with reminders. A week before the event, send out reminders to all of the invitees.
- Make it easy to join. Provide step-by-step instructions on how to join the event so people can follow along easily.
- Encourage guests to try out Virbela early. You can hold pre-event gatherings, including games or networking, to entice people to engage more thoroughly and develop confidence in their Metaverse skills.
Planning a virtual event doesn't have to be stressful. Following these simple tips will help you create an event that is both informative and engaging. By starting with a bang, making time for networking, and keeping your guests entertained, you can ensure that your next corporate event is a success. Get started with your event planning by reaching out to sales@virbela.com.
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