# What do you find is the best way to keep guests engaged in a virtual event , using your platform?

Which elements work better, the chat, or seperate rooms?

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: about 5 years ago
- Author title: Development Manager, Fundraising and Special Events
- Net upvotes: 2


## Comments
### Comment 1

Hey Lauren - sorry for the delay in replying. While this may be moot for your event, I want to allow other G2 users to maybe take some inspiration for their event.

From our data, it becomes apparent there is no single answer. The main important element here is: every component you use should have a clear goal. So opening up an Interactive Breakout Room, just because you can, will not bring your event any value. Instead, think about what you want to achieve.

Allowing the chat to happen besides a live session is, in my humble opinion, almost non-negotiable. Remote events can be a lonely affair for event attendees, and the chat, quite often, keeps a feeling of belonging and connection. Some of our clients are worried the chat may distract the attendees. That fear is justified, but the negative of not having a chat outweighs that. Instead, we recommend having a person from your team on chat who not only interacts with your attendees but can also highlight cool things that have been said in your sessions as a way of stimulating a meaningful exchange when the interaction is low. This is totally common and not cheating, I promise :-)

This brings me to our breakout rooms: in live events, there is no escaping from the interaction. Attendees cannot disappear in thin air. Traditionally, people would go to the washroom or smoke break to get some quiet, but as you may have learned yourself, even then, there is a reasonable likelihood of interaction. This doesn't work for virtual events. I can literally disappear as an attendee, and subsequently, I will if I don't have any interest in exchange. So this is why you need to give talks a purpose. Schedule them, provide attendees with a task or theme the rooms. That way, you make it more attractive for the attendees to partake in exchanges. If you want to go all-in, feel free to have a member of your team or a member of your company or association be the host of a room and get people involved.

TL;DR: Chat is essential for live events. Separate rooms provide a more valuable exchange, but only if you set them up for success.

Hope that helps,
Thorben with EventMobi

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: almost 5 years ago
- Author title: Hiring sales people in Berlin. Speak German? Join me!




## Related Product
[EventMobi](https://www.g2.com/products/eventmobi/reviews)

## Related Category
[Mobile Event Apps](https://www.g2.com/categories/mobile-event-apps)

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