Virtual Event Engagement Tools That Keeps Audience Connected

Virtual events have become essential for businesses, educators, and organizations worldwide. Yet keeping remote audiences engaged remains one of the biggest challenges event planners face.

When attendees join from their homes or offices, it’s easy for them to multitask, check email, or simply tune out. The solution? Virtual event engagement tools that transform passive viewers into active participants—and social walls lead the pack as one of the most effective options available today.

What Makes Social Walls Essential for Virtual Events

Social walls aggregate real-time social media content from multiple platforms into a single, dynamic display. During virtual events, they serve as a central hub where attendees can see and share posts, photos, and reactions from across Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other networks.

Think of a virtual product launch where attendees share their excitement on social media. Instead of those posts disappearing into the void, they appear on a live social wall visible to all participants. This creates a shared experience that bridges the gap between physical and virtual attendance.

The power lies in visibility. When attendees see their posts featured during the event, they’re more likely to continue engaging. When they see others participating, they want to join the conversation. This snowball effect turns quiet virtual rooms into bustling digital venues.

Practical Applications Across Different Event Types

Virtual Conferences

Multi-day virtual conferences use social walls to maintain energy between sessions. Attendees share key takeaways from presentations, network with other participants, and continue discussions long after speakers finish.

Conference organizers display social walls during breaks, keeping attendees engaged instead of losing them to other tasks. They also use them to:

• Highlight speaker quotes and insights
• Share session recordings and resources
• Announce schedule changes or important updates
• Feature sponsor content and special offers

Webinars

Webinars often struggle with one-way communication. Social walls change this dynamic by giving attendees a voice throughout the presentation.

During a recent marketing webinar with over 500 attendees, the host displayed a social wall alongside their slides. Participants shared their own tips and experiences related to the topic, creating a knowledge-sharing environment that extended far beyond the presenter’s content. The result? A 73% increase in attendee engagement compared to previous webinars without engagement tools.

Product Launches

Virtual product launches need excitement and buzz. Social walls capture and amplify that energy by showcasing customer reactions, unboxing videos, and first impressions in real-time.

When a tech company launched their new software platform virtually, they encouraged attendees to share the features they were most excited about. These posts appeared on the social wall throughout the demo, creating social proof and building anticipation among potential customers watching the stream.

Building Connection in Virtual Spaces

Virtual event engagement tools like social walls address the isolation that often comes with remote attendance. They create multiple touchpoints for interaction:

Peer-to-peer connection: Attendees discover others with similar interests through shared posts and hashtags. A simple tweet about a session can lead to valuable professional connections.

Speaker-audience dialogue: Presenters reference social wall posts during their talks, making attendees feel heard and valued. This two-way communication keeps audiences alert and involved.

Community building: Regular contributors become familiar faces (or handles) throughout the event. This familiarity breeds comfort and encourages continued participation.

Extended reach: Social walls display content from people who couldn’t attend live, bringing their voices into the conversation and extending the event’s impact.

Real-Time Features That Drive Participation

The immediacy of social walls transforms how audiences experience virtual events. Here’s what happens when you implement real-time social media displays:

Instant Gratification

Attendees post a comment and see it appear within seconds. This immediate feedback satisfies our need for recognition and encourages continued sharing.

Live Polling and Q&A Integration

Combined with other virtual event engagement tools, social walls can display poll results and featured questions, creating a comprehensive interaction hub.

Momentum Building

As more people participate, the social wall becomes increasingly active. This visible activity draws in hesitant participants who might otherwise remain silent.

Trending Topics

Event hashtags and themes emerge organically as attendees post. Organizers can identify hot topics and adjust their content accordingly.

Customization for Maximum Impact

Every virtual event has unique goals and audiences. Social walls adapt to these needs through extensive customization options:

Visual branding: Match the social wall’s appearance to your event theme, incorporating colors, logos, and fonts that reinforce your message.

Content curation: Choose which platforms to include and set up filters for relevant hashtags and keywords. This ensures the social wall stays on-topic and valuable.

Layout selection: Everwall offers 12 different layouts for their self-service platform, from classic grid views to dynamic slideshow formats. Each layout serves different event styles and audience preferences.

Moderation controls: Set up automatic filters and assign moderators to ensure appropriate content while maintaining authentic conversation flow.

Measuring Success with Engagement Metrics

Virtual event engagement tools provide valuable data about audience participation. Social walls track:

• Number of posts shared
• Engagement rate per attendee
• Most active time periods
• Popular hashtags and topics
• Reach beyond registered attendees

These metrics help event planners understand what resonates with their audience and improve future events. They also provide concrete ROI data for sponsors and stakeholders.

Implementation Best Practices

Before the Event

Set clear guidelines for social media participation. Create an event hashtag and promote it in registration confirmations and reminder emails. Test your social wall setup and ensure moderators understand their roles.

Consider creating sample posts to seed the conversation. These initial posts set the tone and show attendees what kind of content you’re looking for.

During the Event

Start displaying the social wall before the official program begins. Early arrivals can introduce themselves and start networking while waiting.

Reference the social wall regularly throughout the event:

• Presenters can highlight interesting posts
• Moderators can pose questions to spark discussion
• Break times can feature social wall highlights
• Closing sessions can showcase the best moments

After the Event

Keep the social wall active for 24-48 hours post-event. Attendees often share final thoughts, photos, and connections made during the event. This extended engagement maintains momentum and provides additional content for future marketing.

Archive social wall content for testimonials, case studies, and promotional materials for next year’s event.

Overcoming Common Challenges

Low initial participation: Start with your team and speakers posting to create initial content. Once attendees see activity, they’re more likely to join.

Off-topic posts: Use keyword filters and hashtag requirements to keep content relevant. Assign moderators to remove inappropriate content quickly.

Technical difficulties: Choose reliable virtual event engagement tools with strong support teams. Have backup plans for displaying content if technical issues arise.

Platform overwhelm: Start with 2-3 key social platforms rather than trying to aggregate everything. Quality trumps quantity in social wall content.

The Future of Virtual Event Engagement

As virtual and hybrid events become permanent fixtures in our professional landscape, engagement tools continue evolving. Social walls now integrate with event apps, streaming platforms, and virtual networking spaces to create comprehensive engagement ecosystems.

Artificial intelligence helps identify trending topics and surface the most relevant content. Advanced moderation tools maintain content quality while reducing manual oversight. Website embeds allow events to extend their reach beyond the primary platform.

Virtual event engagement tools like social walls have moved from nice-to-have features to essential components of successful online gatherings. They solve the fundamental challenge of remote events: making hundreds or thousands of individual viewers feel like part of a connected community.