4 Months in the Pandemic as an Online Events Manager.  I see this trend grow until the next two years or might become one of the regular fixtures in creating an event.

I would like to share with you the 5 lessons that I have learned up until now.

1. Be Brave

Be Brave is more of you need to adapt to the changing conditions that the pandemic brought.

As the MICE Industry and Tourism Industry were completely shut down and frozen. We in our organization ask the question what now?

What now leads you to try different paths, mostly dead ends. But if you keep on trying, you will find better places that you can navigate and work on.

Be Brave is being more of a solution finder. Rather than give up, we choose to get up. Make something from this very difficult condition.

Robert Frost said, “ The Best Way Out is Through.” That is what Bravery can do for you.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes.

Nobody expected this pandemic. There are no playbooks available to guide you in this type of situation.

We are a 20-year-old event organizer, I am in the events industry for more than 25 years. This is the first time that I am experiencing a pandemic.

There are no readymade answers. This is the reason why you have to venture into the trial and error phase.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

It is by making mistakes that we become closer to success. This is best said by John Maxwell, we always Fail Forward.

And it is not a win or lose the game but a win or learn the game.

3. Listen to the Needs and Expectations of Your Clients

We exist because of our clients. They are the WHY of our organization. The reason why we have an organization.

Before pandemic, we are already tuned-in to their needs and expectations.

Now that we are inside a pandemic, the more that we should listen to them.

Bigger brands try to gain Brand Love. I think we should also try to emulate them and use them as an example.

If we do, we will achieve better results as online event managers.

Again, listen more to your clients. Usually, they are afraid and unsure about bringing their events online. You must assure them and work hard to deliver what you promise.

4. Communicate, Collaborate, Coordinate

As a team, now more than ever you must communicate, collaborate, and coordinate tighter.

Work From Home is difficult but the more we communicate we can have better collaboration and ensure that completion of tasks are achieved because of better coordination.

5. Never Settle

When you are one of the first, others will follow, not only MICE Organizers but technology providers and other organizations that are looking to pivot.

After 4 months, we now have a bigger competition.  Andrew Grove’s dictum of ” Only the Be Paranoid Survive” is your best friend.

While They are trying to copy you or using your organization as an inspiration. You should be making 3 to 5 steps forward so they cannot catch-up.

You already offered your Minimum Viable Product. It is time to improve it.

Never Settle. True before the pandemic truer during this pandemic.

We are in the new normal where the conditions are very fluid.

These are the 5 lessons that I have learned as an Online Events Manager or Online MICE Planner during this pandemic.

I hope you learn and gain insights.

After four months, the Philippines is still in quarantine. Most people are still staying at home. The coming months point to a future where the status quo will prevail. Only after a vaccine is discovered that bigger changes will happen.

This backdraft should convince you that your brand must maximize the digital space. One of the best ways available is creating an online event where you can consistently communicate with your customers.

The more you communicate, the better it is for your brand.

There are other available digital platforms, but online events or shows that run weekly gives your brand an upper hand versus your competition.

The loss of a major network makes your online event a necessity.

The benefits of online events are numerous: from effectivity to affordability. The impact on sales is automatic and evident. Best of all, the increase of Brand Love is high.

If the past four months is an indicator, more online events will happen. Will you allow your brand to be left behind?