[Please click on the link to return to the OMTAC EventChanneler Homepage.]

EVENTCHANNELER EVENT 'BACKCHANNEL' SERVICES [OMTAC EVENT SERVICES]

THE EVENT 'BACKCHANNEL' IS THE NEW WILD WEST FOR EVENT & MEETING PLANNERS!

Welcome to the new 'Wild West' for Event & Meeting Organisers. The ‘backchannel’ is a relatively new, unexplored 'virtual territory' at Events; it is often ungoverned, lawless and full of risk for an Event organiser... but it is also a virtual 'land of opportunity' for Event & Meeting 'prospectors' seeking to manage and exploit it to develop, improve and expand their Event.

EventChanneler provides Event & Meeting Planners with consultancy and training services for understanding the Event backchannel and for devising and implementing a strategic approach to using the backchannel at any Event (whether a Meeting, Conference, Trade Show, Exhibition, Expo/Exposition or other Event).

Please scroll down to read more about the backchannel and EventChanneler's backchannel services. (If you are ready to enquire about our services please click here.)

Return To Top

MANAGING YOUR EVENT BACKCHANNEL

WHAT IS THE BACKCHANNEL?

The backchannel is the informal real-time electronic communication taking place during an Event between members of the audience and also those participating in the backchannel from outside the Event. It is usually unofficial and unmoderated. (The ‘frontchannel’ comprises the official, formal presentations and associated communications at an Event.)

The backchannel is important because it is relevant - relevant to your Delegates/attendees, to your Sponsors, to your Exhibitors, to your Speakers, to your Suppliers… and ultimately to your bottom line and the future of your Event.

Every Event now has a backchannel, whether sanctioned and facilitated by the Event or not, due to the popularity of electronic devices (laptops, mobile devices etc) and online communication and networking platforms and applications such as Twitter, Meebo, Skype, LinkedIn, Facebook etc. A number of specialist backchannel systems are also available.

[This is an excerpt from a longer article about the backchannel, please click on the link to read the full article about: Managing Your Event Backchannel.]

Return To Top

IS THE BACKCHANNEL RELEVANT TO EVENT ORGANISERS?

Without a backchannel members of an audience who are unhappy with a presentation or some other aspect of an Event are relatively isolated and may not have the confidence to voice their concerns widely, and even if they do so with other delegates or with the Speaker(s) and Event organisers, their comments may not be shared with the majority of other delegates.

However with the backchannel enabling members of an audience to share their opinions, ideas and insights with each other in real-time, and also with non-attendees following the Event online, those attending an Event can soon discover if their views are popular and if their satisfaction or dissatisfaction is commonly held.

Of course it should be remembered that not all the members of an audience are necessarily able to participate in the backchannel, or choose to do so. Those engaged in both the front and back channels will inevitably have a different experience and perspective on an Event to those who are focussed on the frontchannel only.

A Speaker’s experience in giving a presentation can also be greatly affected by the extent to which the audience are engaged in the backchannel, or simply taking notes and doing research on their laptops and other devices. Inevitably a growing number of Speakers are attempting to interact with and use the backchannel during their presentations - the methodology and process they employ for this (whether for polling, to collate comments or information, to ask and answer questions etc), the help they receive from the Event organisers and what people are saying in the backchannel will all have a considerable impact on their presentation, for better or worse.

[This is an excerpt from a longer article about the backchannel, please click on the link to read the full article about: Managing Your Event Backchannel.]

Return To Top

HOW CAN EVENT & MEETING PLANNERS MANAGE & EXPLOIT THE BACKCHANNEL?

The backchannel is evolving. These are still early days but there is no question, the backchannel is not going away and the potential impact on Events, both positive and negative, is huge.

There will be some form of backchannel at every type of Event, large and small.

Whether a few delegates at a Conference... or audience members at a sales launch... or attendees at a Trade Show… there will be people sharing their experiences, their ideas, their opinions etc in real-time with each other within the Event and with others not present.

Your attendees may be blogging, Tweeting, updating their status, emailing, texting or Instant Messaging.

Their comments may be read by a few or by many, their readers and followers may be existing delegates and attendees, prospective delegates and attendees for future events, the media/press, other opinion leaders etc.

Event and Meeting Planners (and their Sponsors, Exhibitors and Speakers) who continue to ignore the backchannel do so at their peril.

To leave the backchannel at your Event as an ungoverned and lawless 'Wild West' is to risk trouble and to miss considerable opportunity. There are rich gold seams to be mined, there is huge potential to enrich and extend your Event through an overt, strategic approach to the backchannel.

At the very least you will need to monitor the backchannel, you will need to provide support and advice to your Sponsors, Exhibitors, Suppliers and Speakers in how to deal with it, you will need to collect information (comments, insights, content etc) from it. However you could go much much further and really exploit the backchannel for the benefit of all parties involved...

(We will further consider the positive benefits of the backchannel and how you can exploit them for your next Event below.)

[This is an excerpt from a longer article about the backchannel, please click on the link to read the full article about: Managing Your Event Backchannel.]

Return To Top

EVENTCHANNELER'S EVENT BACKCHANNEL SERVICES

EventChanneler can provide you with consultancy and training services for using the backchannel in collaboration with the frontchannel at your next Event(s) for maximum effect:

• to provide Sponsors and Exhibitors with added value;
• to support Speakers and ensure they give the best possible presentation, protecting them from the risk of being "roasted" in the backchannel;
• to help Speakers to understand and work with the backchannel effectively and appropriately during their presentation;
• to support communications and networking between those attending your Event and also those participating through Webcasting or following the Event externally;
• to utilise the backchannel for polling and collecting feedback of interest to all parties participating in the Event including Suppliers (the Venue etc);
• to enrich the Event content and enhance the Event experience for all;
• to manage Public Relations (PR) for the Event;
• to increase revenue and registrations for future Events;
• to improve future Events.

On meeting with you, as part of our initial consultancy, we will take you through a range of questions, issues and themes to consider, including:

• How is the Event backchannel relevant to your next Event(s)?
• As well as Twitter what are the other technologies and applications available for supporting, managing and integrating the backchannel with the 'frontchannel' at your Event?
• How can the backchannel enrich your Event content and enhance the Event experience for your Sponsors, Exhibitors, Suppliers, Speakers and Delegates/attendees?

• What advice and support will you need to give to your Speakers/Exhibitors regarding the backchannel, prior to your Event?
• Once the Event is underway how do you manage the minute by minute, hour by hour communications in the front and back channels?
• Should you moderate the backchannel at your Event and how will you resource and implement this?
• How can the backchannel be used for polling, questions and answers (Q&A), collecting feedback and criticism etc?
• Should you project the backchannel onto screens during presentations?
• How do you integrate the frontchannel content and delivery by Speakers, Exhibitors etc with the backchannel communications, information, content etc?
• How can backchannel applications and systems help to reduce costs and increase revenue?
• Etc etc...

Having undertaken a review of the current relevancy of the backchannel to your Event(s) and considered with you the potential for the backchannel for future Events (including strategic issues, objectives etc) EventChanneler can provide on-going consultancy and training for the selection and implementation, management and exploitation of backchannel technologies at your next Event(s).

This includes on-site support before, during and after Events if required, including Sponsor / Exhibitor / Supplier support, Speaker/Presenter training and assistance, in-event moderation, backchannel streaming and projection, Question & Answer (Q&A) facilitation, polling, feedback, review and analysis.

To discuss how EventChanneler can work with you to help you understand, manage and exploit your Event's backchannel please email us by clicking here or call us on 0845 058 39 85 (Local Rate Call), providing brief information about your Event etc, we will then contact you to discuss how we can be of assistance.

Return To Top

[Please click on the link to return to the OMTAC EventChanneler Homepage.]

ANY QUESTIONS? CONTACT EVENTCHANNELER

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email us by clicking here or call us on 0845 058 39 85 (Local Rate Call).

Thank you for your interest in EventChanneler and our Events Services, we look forward to hearing from you and to meeting you soon.

Return To Top