Sure, sure. There are no set rules when joining virtual events. However, manners maketh man, so if you want everything going smoothly when you attend a virtual conference, it will help if you keep certain virtual events etiquette in mind.
No, it doesn’t seem like virtual events are going away if that’s your reason for not caring about virtual events etiquette. The data will tell you that virtual events will remain even after the pandemic passes. Hybrid events — a type of event that combines in one way or another in-person and virtual components — might very well be the new norm.
Virtual Events: Here to Stay
One of the things the COVID-19 pandemic did was force businesses and professionals into trying virtual events. In fact, according to The State of Virtual Events 2021 by AnyRoad, a survey of 100 companies that collectively put up around 20,000 annual virtual events, revealed that 51% of the respondents ran their first virtual experiences in 2020.
More than two years into the pandemic, people have become more accustomed to virtual events. Adjustment to virtual events tech should be more of a minor concern at this point, so you shouldn’t expect businesses to abandon virtual events anytime soon.
In fact, according to Statista, a global survey of marketers indicates that 40% of respondents expect to hold their events online in 2022. Additionally, 58% of the respondents in The State of Virtual Events 2021 expect their virtual experiences spending to grow in the coming year. Grand View Research also predicts that the virtual events industry will grow to almost USD 505 billion by 2028, logging an impressive compound annual growth rate of 23.7%.
In short, virtual events are here to stay. Now, if they’re staying for the long-term anyway, wouldn’t you rather be ahead of the curve by learning proper virtual events etiquette?
4 “Rules” to Live by When Joining Virtual Events
Again, these are not rules in the strictest sense of the term since you will not get penalized for breaking them. However, at the very least, if you don’t abide by them, you could end up with egg on your face or an embarrassment you’ll find it hard to live with or live down.
If you need the extra motivation, search for Zoom’s most embarrassing moments on Google or YouTube. You’ll laugh so hard you’ll tear up, but you might be crying for entirely different reasons if those things happened to you, too.
1. Dress Appropriately
This is seriously a rule that deserves the top spot on this list. If you’re attending a professional event, say a C-suite executives conference or a round table on mitochondria, do take the time and effort to change from your comfortable lounge-around-the-home clothes to something more appropriate.
Ask yourself this question when deciding on your outfit for the event. What would you wear if the event were to be held in person? Now pick your clothes according to your answer.
Can you dress for business only on the top half? You can do that, of course. To be safe, however, it would be best to dress fully for the part.
What will happen if you suddenly stand up to get a cup of coffee? You might forget you’re not wearing anything but boxers below the waist, and you might end up displaying your choice of undergarments to the rest of the world.
Oh, yes, the rest of the world is right. Events are typically recorded, and some attendees are quick to take screenshots. The embarrassment might not end with the people at the conference.
2. Mute Your Microphone
Now, this is something you should make a habit of doing. Whenever you’re joining a virtual event, always join with your microphone on mute. Unless you have something to say to the speaker and the participants, and unless you have permission from the host, you should be as quiet as a mouse.
It’s a different matter if it’s an event where everybody is expected to have their mic on, and everybody is expected to talk, say, a focused group chat or a roundtable discussion. In that case, you can unmute your mic.
Even so, always join with your mic on mute. The mic on mute must be your default. This will save you a ton of embarrassment when somebody in your household, unaware you’re in a conference, blurts out something inappropriate.
3. Find a Quiet, Plain Corner
Sometimes, you forget that virtual events don’t only transport you into a virtual space where you can listen to speakers and mingle with other participants. They also let other people take a peek into your personal space.
Yes, in virtual events, the camera serves as other people’s window to your life. Preferably, you should keep your camera off. However, virtual events are more engaging when you can see the people you’re talking to and when you can get cues from their facial expressions. Indeed, cameras should be on, if that’s at all possible.
However, to mitigate potential privacy issues, it would be best to find yourself a quiet corner with a backdrop of a plain, neutral-color painted wall and attend virtual events from there. This will also ensure somebody in your family cannot accidentally barge in on your conference.
4. Pay Attention
In in-person events, you would probably look askance at people who wouldn’t stop chatting and laughing and doing all sorts of distracting things while a speaker has the stage. That’s probably still how you would feel and react when you see someone disrespecting the speaker and other people in virtual events.
Therefore, make sure to be polite yourself. You can do this by being truly immersed in the event. Pay attention to what the speakers, the moderators, and other event attendees are saying. Frankly speaking, if you’re not planning to give the event your full attention, you have no business attending.
Stop working on your computer, tapping on your keyboard, or swiping on your phone when you’re in an online event. It can be awfully distracting and disheartening for a speaker to see participants who are not listening.
The Right Conduct in Virtual Events
In virtual events, you are expected to comport the way you would in in-person events. Thus, it’s best to dress appropriately, not talk unless given permission and be polite by paying attention and keeping distractions to a minimum.