9 Simple Tips for Hosting a Successful Virtual Conference

Before this global pandemic, we are all so comfortable living in a physical world. However, since we
can’t enjoy each other’s company as much as before, many of our activities moved to the digital sphere.
What is interesting is that the event industry, arguably the most affected by the current situation,
adapted to the change quickly and efficiently.
In-person conferences were and still are a great way to connect with people, share ideas and move
them forward, but until we get the green light to go back to them again, we all need to settle with
virtual conferences. Many organizers even prefer these sort of events, and they can be very fun and
successful. If you’re planning to host one of the virtual events, here’s what you need to keep in mind.

Create objectives
Firstly, settle on a clear goal. Do you want to reach a better audience? Generate more leads? Boost your
profits? A virtual conference can help with all of these points, but you need to make sure everyone in
your team is on the same page when it comes to your objectives.

Write down the agenda

 

If you have various sessions and topics during your event, make sure to list them so people can tune in
to the parts they want to hear. This way, you won’t have people stepping out just before their portion of
the evening starts and stay unsatisfied. Include the agenda of your conference on your landing page and
you’ll provide a lot of useful information to your attendees.

Provide tutorials
Even though virtual conferences are huge right now, many people still consider them alien technology.
That’s why you and your staff need to come up with a handy tutorial once you settle on an event
provider. Showing your users the ways to navigate the platform is very important for a smooth
experience.

Choose a good event provider

 

A successful conference needs to provide a way for users to engage with each other and interact with
the presenters. So, picking out a reliable live streaming software for conferences should be at the top of
your list. You want to choose a service that involves a full production crew, experienced presenters,
audio experts to remove audio feedback, and presentation and live broadcast graphics. You also want to
hire professional rigging installation services for live events, especially if you have an impressive venue
as your backdrop. Since your audience expects something special, make sure to surprise them with
rigging—it always looks professional and exclusive. Before your big day, have a test run to ensure
everything goes according to play.

Assign a moderator
If your provider doesn’t include a professional speaker, you will need to pick one out yourself. This
person will keep the event going forward, help guide the conversation and keep the audience engaged
and entertained. For the best effect, keep your sessions short and fun to retain a high level of
engagement throughout the conference.

Invite a special guest or speaker

 

Since your conference is completely virtual, now you can finally invite that one keynote speaker you
couldn’t afford to fly down to your location before. This can be a top industry professional from your
field, a minor celebrity or another interesting face. Virtual conferencing allows you to have the best
guests for minimal effort, so make sure to find someone willing to participate and your event will be a
hit among your audience.

Don’t forget about marketing

Just because your event is virtual, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to advertise it. You can practice social media marketing and use your company website to reach your audience. A great way to make your event viral is to create a dedicated hashtag for the conference so you can track posts, share activities 
and reach a wider audience. You may also want to buy IG likes or followers as a means to boost your posts quickly.

Send reminders

 

Since everyone’s routine is a little messed up right now, it’s very easy for your registered audience to
forget about the event. So, make sure to schedule reminders that include the date, time and a link to
your conference, so that the attendees don’t miss a session they’ve signed up for.

Keep the interaction going
It’s very easy to be lulled by the comfort of your home and completely forget about the fact that a
conference should be a two-way communication deal. Presentations can get boring, so make sure to
keep the interaction going with Q&As, propositions and other interesting things that will engage the
listeners. Feedback is also important for your future work, so make sure to gather as much information
as you can from your audience.

Creating a viral virtual conference requires a lot of work, but if you strike the right combination of
ingredients, you will have an event that will be on everyone’s lips for a long time.

Important Home Jobs You Should Complete In Winter '

 

Winter is a time where many of us hibernate in the house and stay cosy. It is also a time where our house and gardens both battle the elements in a way they don’t during summer. 

It is important as we approach winter each year that we take the time and effort to make changes to our home to better protect it from the weather. And there are also simple DIY jobs you can do to keep your house safe and secure in the cold season. 

Here are some of the simple house and garden jobs you should do this week to prepare your property for winter. 

Rid the driveway of weeds 

Now that weeds have started to die back, it is a good time for you to get rid of them for good so they don’t come back in full force in spring. If you have weeds between the pacing stones of your driveway, you can sprinkle down salt, wait for 24 hours, and they pull out the weeds from the root. Doing this now will hopefully save you tackling too many when the warm weather hits once more. 

Improve Insulation in Vulnerable Areas 

The roof is the most important element of your home - providing shelter against rain and snow. The roof is also where heat from your house can escape as you go through the cold days, and you need to try and prevent this from happening. Insulating your roof is a simple job but an effective one, and you’ll be able to make a huge difference to your home by doing this this week. 

It's also worth considering other areas where heat loss is common, such as poorly insulated windows, doors and attached spaces. For instance, if you have a conservatory, upgrading it with Panel X Conservatory Roof Panels could make a noticeable difference. These panels are designed to improve thermal efficiency, helping keep the space warm in winter and cool in summer, so you can enjoy your conservatory comfortably all year round.

Fix rendering 

Rendering is a barrier that stands between your brickwork and the weather outside - and it is important now and again to look at fixing cracks and chips to prevent water getting into your home. Take some cement out with you this weekend and fill in cracks or holes in your rendering, and give it a lick of paint to refresh it. This will take you a couple of afternoons and will allow you to protect your brickwork throughout the harsh winter. 

Image

Mow the lawn 

Most of your plants have likely died back for the winter, however the grass will still remain growing throughout this season. Now that winter is upon us, the rate your grass grows will slow by a lot and it is a good time to do one final mowing of the lawn before spring next year. It’s a job which will take you an hour and will keep the grass looking tidy all winter long. 

Insulate your water pipes 

When the temperature falls, our water pipes leading towards the house run the risk of freezing over. To avoid this happening to you, you can either call your local plumbers or buy some pipe insulation and wrap the pipes to keep them above freezing. The last thing you want on a cold day is no water supply to the house! 

Be ready for winter with these simple jobs, and prepare your home for a cold few months. 

Preparing Your Garden For Vegetables'

 

Image 

One of the dreams many of us has as a homeowner is growing our own produce in the garden. Being able to grow and eat our own fruit and vegetables is a great feeling, but it is a challenge to do. 

Today we want to show you how you can start to prepare your garden to be the perfect growing spot for vegetables - and with these easy steps you can start your journey towards growing your own food. 

Compost scraps 

If you don’t already have a compost bin - now is the time to invest in one. A compost bin sits in your garden and you can fill it with waste from food, old newspaper, grass cuttings, and other soft plant material. Creatures such as worms will break this down into rich compost which is full of essential nutrients for your plants. By making your own rich compost, you’ll be able to give your vegetables the most nutritious start and encourage both size and flavour of your crop. 

Build a greenhouse 

Every garden needs a greenhouse if it is to grow food. Many of the plants we like to eat such as tomatoes and chillies enjoy hot weather - and most of us have harsh winters which can kill a crop in one fell swoop. To protect your crop and grow amazing food, build a greenhouse with lots of windows, and hire metal roof contractors to build a sturdy shelter from the elements. Once you have a greenhouse at your disposal, growing food will be much easier. 

Create cuttings 

Cuttings can be created from vegetable scraps you buy at the supermarket, and it will save you from buying seeds or bulbs before you start growing. There are several ways you can use scraps in your kitchen: 

• Onion - cut off a small chunk where the roots are and place roots face down in a dish of water, keep moist and watch it start to grow before planting in soil

• Herbs - take a 2 inch piece of any herb, and take off all leaves apart from the top 2, place in water for a week and once roots show, transfer to soil 

• Carrots - cut off the top of your carrot and place the flesh side down in a dish of water. It will eventually root and you can transfer to soil 

Use copper wire 

To protect the part of your garden you intend to use as an allotment, a good idea is to create a border with copper wire. Copper wireis a deterrent for slugs and snails and will stop them from chowing down on your pumpkin or lettuce leaves. 

Clear a sunny spot 

It is important when clearing a space in your garden for vegetables that you choose a sunny spot. To grow large and produce ripe produce, your vegetables need a lot of sunlight, so be sure to find a sunny spot in your garden which has sunlight during the peak of the day. 

These small tips will prepare your garden for vegetables and allow you to finally eat your own crops! 

How To Improve The Air Quality In Your Home'

 Most of us don’t think much about the air quality in our homes but improving the quality of the air can help to reduce allergy symptoms and asthma flare-ups. It’s not possible to get rid of all the allergens in your home, but you can reduce them and your exposure to them with a few simple changes. Here are some easy ways to improve the air quality in your home, and say goodbye to some allergens. 

Image - free for commercial use 

Keep It Clean

A clean house is a healthy house. Regular cleaning cuts down on dust and animal dander from pets. Put your cleaning efforts in ways to stop pet dander, mold, and dust from building up or lingering in your home. The most important jobs to get done include:

• Vacuuming carpets and rugs. Do this once or twice a week with a vacuum cleaner (more if you have pets that shed) that is equipped with a HEPA filter. Hard-surface flooring instead of carpet in every room can also cut down on allergens if this is a problem for you. 

• Regular cleaning of bedding, drapes, and other soft furnishings that attract allergens, especially if you have pets. Wash these items in hot water, and consider using dust-mite proof covers on your pillows, mattresses, and box springs, if you can. 

• Clearing clutter. Clutter traps and holds dust that can trigger an allergic reaction. 

Keep Greenery Outdoors

This might sound strange, but indoor plants, while pretty, can actually collect and encourage the growth of mold. In indoor allergens are causing you a problem, you will need to cut back on your plants. 

Some plants are thought to help to improve the quality of the air indoors because they release oxygen, but they can trigger allergies for some people. They can create more problems than they help, so go easy with them. 

Change Your Filters

If you have a forced-air heating system in your home, make sure you change the filters on a regular basis. Electrostatic filters can help to make sure that dust and other irritants in the air get trapped instead of circulating through the house. Don’t forget your furnace air filters too. 

Think about having your ducts cleaned to remove any trapped dust. This isn’t always advisable, but in some cases, it can help. 

Invest In An Air Purifier

If you have allergies to indoor allergens and can’t control the source of the problem, for example, a family pet you aren’t willing to part with, it can help to use an air purifier. Put the air purifier in the most used parts of the house, and it can help to capture some of the irritants that can trigger your symptoms. You won’t be able to shift all the allergens completely, but you can reduce them, which might be enough to help you. 

For damp areas, like the basement, you might need a dehumidifier to stop mold from growing. Make sure that bathrooms are well ventilated, and scrub away any mold that you see gathering in the shower, on walls, or on your fixtures.