Virtual speaker programs have now established themselves as a regular part of a brand’s peer-to-peer strategies mix. Healthcare professional (HCP) audiences are now more accustomed to the ease and simplicity of joining a virtual program and have come to expect a certain level of professional production value along with engagement meant to immerse them in the content being presented. Even though virtual meetings have become quite ubiquitous within BioPharma, it’s often easy to see the difference between a production that is simply a speaker on a webcam sharing a slide deck and one that is thoughtfully put together by an experienced team. At its core, the focus of virtual speaker programs is to provide all of the hallmarks of a live, in-person event virtually.
But how do you achieve this? Is it simply a matter of platform selection, or are there ways to incorporate adult learning principles, interactivity, and memory retention tactics into all virtual HCP programs? The truth is, with the help of the right partners, companies now have several options to scale these programs to fit their brand’s needs and deliver their message in a way that resonates with their audience. There is no “one-size-fits-all” formula because each brand has unique requirements.
So, let’s break down three common levels of production for virtual HCP programs:
1. Standard Production
This is a traditional virtual program broadcasted over a virtual meeting platform (such as Zoom, Teams, or GoToMeeting) and typically features the speakers on camera and a presentation of a slide deck. This is often the least expensive option that also provides a reliably stable and hassle-free experience for both the speakers and attendees. Other benefits include the speed, ease, and quantity of programs that can be deployed at this level, typically in as little as 2 weeks with the right med comm partner guiding the way.
A standard production is often best when you:
- Need a cost-effective solution to deploy a large number of virtual programs where budget is a driving factor in execution
- Are hosting a quick event with only a few participants
- Have an in-person program that needs to be converted to a virtual program at the last minute, perhaps because the speaker’s flight was cancelled
2. Advanced Platform
This type of program provides a more customizable virtual platform that can include your brand’s logos and colors. In addition to all of the standard features, this more advanced platform is built for larger-scale virtual presentations. There are more layout customization options so audience views can be changed during the presentation, and a content library is provided to upload and host presentation materials as opposed to simply sharing a screen. Cloud sharing is important as multiple speakers can control the same presentations. This allows for greater flexibility, especially when sharing a video. Finally, many of these platforms offer dedicated operators to sit in on the program and offer support should the need arise. For this, and any other level, you can rely on an agency partner to provide technical support.
An advanced platform is often best when you:
- Seek to enhance the attendee experience
- Want more control over the look and feel of your virtual platform layout
- Plan on sharing content outside of a standard slide deck such as videos or other resources including white papers, etc
- Need dedicated support from platform operators
3. Cloud-Switching Production
Cloud-based virtual event programs aim to offer the greatest possible platform stability and production value short of a studio broadcast. At this level, a production team handles the broadcast from the back-end, allowing for professional broadcast graphic packages, live switching between various webcam feeds, and complete layout and branding customization. This format is ideal when looking to have a top-tier production without having to travel to a studio.
A clould-switcher production is often best when you:
- Want the most professional production value possible
- Desire maximum control over branding
- Have greater broadcast control over the program
Improve Learning through Interactivity
In many cases, finding a stable platform that can reliably host speakers and attendees while also displaying the deck is the only major consideration made for the audience experience. Little thought is often given to how the audience will receive and absorb the information. At every level, finding ways to incorporate interactive elements such as polling, gamification (either through the platform itself or integrated via third-party applications), and providing a Q&A session at the end goes a long way toward increasing retention. Discover how HCPs learn in virtual environments here.
Whatever your upcoming peer-to-peer events, Virtual SpeakerCast® programs from Vision2Voice ensure that all of your objectives are met in a virtual setting. We can create a custom plan for your brand team to quickly deploy programming so that HCPs get the critical information they need to make the best decisions for their patients.
Want to learn more?
Check out our white paper which delivers practical insights into conducting virtual speaker programs, ranging from what to look for in a virtual platform, how your speakers should present themselves on camera, and which strategies promote optimal audience engagement and memory recall.
