b'Differentiating Yourself inGARRY HAMILTONTECHNICAL SERVICES a Saturated Virtual World MANAGER, NEXEEDghamilton@nexeed.canexeed.ca @NexeeedIncSOCIAL DISTANCING is here to stay for the time being. Businesses have adapted to survive and even thrive, people have mastered the art of working from home, and your inbox is full of invites toTheres 2 Kinds of After-yet another virtual event. Youve been to a several of them, hoping to feel just like youre there in person at the event. Sales Support, and Theyre In reality, they simply dont feel that way, and we shouldnt expect them to if we dont want to get discouraged. How do youEqually Importantcreate a virtual event that people actually want to attend?Embrace digital. You are hosting an online virtual event, plainWE TAKE PRIDE in providing quality machinery. Its and simple. If you want me to come check out your event, I needkey to success in the colour sorter sphere and in to be sold on it. Instead of masking the fact that the event is digi- seed processing. But theres another key compo-tal, embrace it and brag about it. The live sessions offer real timenent that comes after a sale is made, and thats language translation so an international audience can tune in toafter-sales service and support.learn in their own language? Thats truly amazing, when you thinkIve learned there are two kinds of after-about it. Translating at a live event can be very difficult. Muchsales support and both are equally as integral easier virtually. You provide on-demand video playback of yourto ensuring customers are well supported when guest speakers so if I miss part of their talk, I can tune in later tothey need help. catch the whole thing? This is a value add for your busy attendees. Immediate after-sales support. This is where Look professional but be informal. Design is crucial. Theseequipment is delivered, installed, and they are virtual events have been around for a while now, so look is every- trained to use it. Theres a well-managed flow to thing. Attendees will have a better experience in clean platformsthe sales process which I typically get involved that are easy to navigate. With that in mind, the event shouldin after a customer makes a purchase. After also be unique and fun. Get creative with the features and comethe equipment is ordered is when I come in. I up with new naming schemes. Create a casual atmosphere thatmake contact with the customer and get ready to is inviting for your audience and gets them excited. When givenensure the equipment works for them in the real the choice between Virtual Networking Event and Cocktails &world and all the kinks are worked out.Conversations, I bet the majority will choose the latter. Theres a series of documents weve devel-Play up the interactive. Get your people engaged. The best take- oped over the years based on experience, featur-away from a successful virtual event is audience interaction anding assembly guidelines and checklists that both engagement with the platform. Incentivize attendance and createwe and the customer use to install and fine-tune an interactive leaderboard that rewards yourthings prior to beginning the training process.most engaged attendees. Generate alertsLong-term after-sales support. Preventative or notifications that remind people tomaintenance is key and something we focus visit other features of the platformon carefully: we advise customers to regularly that dont see as much traffic.check belts, bearings, retorque fasteners, and Utilize games to get the audiencemore. Having a wide range of parts available in involved and participating. our warehouse is crucial to this second kind of People already have a choicesupport.of many virtual events to takePutting this into action can come in a number part in, so it is up to you toof forms. We can remotely guide customers motivate them to attend yours. on what to do, or we can come out and show them so they can learn to do it independently. Or, we can come out and do it for them, if they prefer. Taking that proactive step really helps find LAURA BURTNYK potential issues before they cause downtime.PROJECT COORDINATOR, Theres no script for long-term support, but SEED WORLD CREATE with our teams dozens of years of collective lburtnyk@seedworldgroup.com experience, weve created an intuitive process seedworldgroup.com that weve become known for. @SeedWorldGroup34GERMINATION.CAMARCH 2021'