RISE Virtual Event
The Hollis Company’s first virtual conference - a one-day event with 57K attendees.
Photos by: Vanessa Todd
Overview
In 2020, The Hollis Company faced the challenge of transforming their traditional in-person event into a dynamic virtual conference, attracting an impressive 57,000 attendees. This case study delves into the role I played in making this transition seamless and successful.
Role
Content manager, project manager, writer, designer, LMS SME
Source, Negotiate, and Design the Hosting Platform:
Tasked with finding a suitable hosting platform, I ventured into the relatively unfamiliar terrain of live-streaming technology during the pandemic's early days. We decided to utilize our Learning Management System (LMS) to host the event, and the journey began.
Collaborating with the Thinkific team and the CEO, we designed and set up the backend infrastructure to accommodate the massive number of expected attendees. Ensuring the logistical backend operations were well-executed, including payment tracking, email confirmations, and day-of communications, became a significant part of this role.
Design All Content and Programming Timeline:
Our goal was to infuse a fresh perspective into the virtual conference, ensuring that it retained its uniqueness despite the shift to an online format. To achieve this, I closely collaborated with the events team to understand the time allocations for each session.
Working alongside the CEO, we outlined the content she intended to impart, and I meticulously assigned and iterated each talking point to align with the individual style and tone of guest speakers.
Once the content was finalized, I organized it with the events team to ensure a smooth flow throughout the event.
Simultaneously, I worked with the design team to create a digital workbook that complemented and supported the content, adding to the interactive aspect of the conference.
Design Helpdesk Format and Articles:
Recognizing that any event requires a robust support system, I took on the responsibility of training our internal team to provide assistance to attendees. This encompassed sharing my expertise on our LMS, Thinkific, ensuring our team could effectively troubleshoot issues and guide participants.
Work with Marketing to Support Onboarding:
Wearing two key hats, as the Events Programming Manager and the Coaching Director, I collaborated with the marketing team to ensure they had the right assets to promote the event and its content.
In addition to facilitating onboarding, I worked on offering special deals to event guests for our coaching program, strengthening the overall value proposition for attendees.
Conclusion
The RISE Virtual Event marked a pivotal moment in The Hollis Company's journey, as we successfully adapted to the changing times and embraced the virtual space.