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EventsComplete Guide 9 min read

How to Run a Successful Online Event: The Complete Guide

Online events have lower barriers to attendance than in-person events — but they also have lower barriers to dropping out. Here's how to plan, promote, and run an online event that people actually show up to and remember.

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Event creation
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Registration tracking
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Event type
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Post-event insights

The Online Event Checklist

4+ Weeks Before

Define your event goal and target audience
Choose your format: webinar, workshop, panel, networking, AMA
Set the date, time, and duration
Create your event page with a compelling description
Set up registration with the right fields

2–4 Weeks Before

Share the event link on social media with pre-written posts
Email your existing audience with a personal invitation
Set up reminder emails for registered attendees
Prepare your content, slides, or agenda
Test your video/audio setup and platform

1 Week Before

Send a reminder to all registered attendees
Share the event again on social media
Confirm all speakers and panellists
Prepare a backup plan for technical issues
Create your post-event survey in advance

Day of Event

Send a "starting soon" reminder 1 hour before
Test all technology 30 minutes before start
Start on time — respect your attendees' schedules
Engage the audience with live polls during the event
Record the session for those who couldn't attend

After the Event

Send a thank-you email within 24 hours
Include the post-event survey link in the thank-you email
Share the recording with all registered attendees
Analyse feedback with AI to identify key themes
Share a summary of what you learned and what you'll improve
Quick Poll — Vote & See Results

What type of online event do you run most often?

268 votes so far · Click an option to vote

How to Reduce No-Shows at Online Events

No-show rates for free online events average 50–70%. That means if 100 people register, only 30–50 will actually attend. Here's how to beat that average:

Send 3 reminder emails: 1 week before, 1 day before, and 1 hour before.

Add a calendar invite to your confirmation email — people who add it to their calendar are 3x more likely to attend.

Create urgency with a capacity limit: "Only 50 spots available" increases show rates.

Offer something exclusive to live attendees: a Q&A session, a resource, or early access to something.

Make registration feel like a commitment — a short pre-event question increases psychological investment.

Follow up with no-shows: send the recording and invite them to the next event.

Create your online event free

Registration page, attendee management, and post-event surveys — all in one free platform.

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