As we slowly emerge from our homes and venture into the big wide world, virtual events and meetings might start to lose their spark. But before you abandon the virtual meeting room altogether, let’s take a moment to acknowledge that virtual events are here to stay.
In fact, they offer many advantages, such as increased accessibility and reduced costs. But virtual meetings also present unique challenges that can hinder productivity and collaboration. Let’s dive into these common obstacles and offer a few practical tips and best practices for overcoming them, so you can ensure your virtual meetings are productive and effective.

Lack of engagement
and distractions
Attending a virtual event or meeting can be a great way to connect with people from all over the world, without even leaving your sofa.
But let’s be honest, it’s easy to get distracted when you’re not in a
physical room with other people.
When it comes to virtual events and meetings, lack of engagement is a real buzzkill. It can be tough to keep attendees tuned in when there are more distractions than you can shake a stick at.
From that new episode of your favourite show on Netflix to your furry friend begging for a belly rub, it’s easy to lose focus. Distraction can be a click away and there’s always the temptation to check your phone, answer emails, or finish that crossword puzzle. Half the time, it’s totally discreet to click on another tab and occupy your brain with something more entertaining.

Lack of the
human touch
When you’re not able to meet face-to-face, it can be more difficult to establish a personal connection and build relationships with others.
Without those casual conversations in the hallway or over coffee, it can be challenging to get to know people beyond their job titles. This lack of personal interaction and the human touch can also make it harder to establish trust and rapport, which can be crucial for successful collaboration.


Zoom fatigue
Virtual events and meetings were all the rage during the pandemic, keeping us connected and our businesses running smoothly. But now, we’re in the midst of a “Zoom fatigue” epidemic, where endless virtual events and meetings are draining us mentally and physically. It’s like a never-ending cycle of clicking links and staring at screens, leaving us feeling like we need a week-long nap.
It’s clear that virtual events and meetings are losing their touch, and we need to find ways to spice things up and keep things interesting. Because let’s face it, we don’t want to be snoozing our way through another video conference.
Here are a few ways we can help bring productivity back into your virtual events
and meetings:
1. Bring a live illustrator into your VIRTUAL event and provide a “good” distraction to the attendees

By creating a real-time mind map of the discussion and key points, the illustrator can help attendees visualize the ideas and concepts being presented. It’s like watching a magic trick unfold before your very eyes. Plus, it’s a welcome distraction from the usual screen time and can help keep attendees focused and engaged. The live illustration creates a sense of excitement and anticipation, as attendees watch the mind map come to life, and can even spark new ideas and discussion points.
2. Use live sketchnotes to add a human touch to the attendee’s discussions

With a live illustrator at your virtual event or meeting, you can create unique and personal sketchnotes and mind maps that capture all the discussions and insights from your attendees. It’s like having a one-of-a-kind tailored piece of artwork for your group and event. This not only adds a human touch to the session but also makes it more engaging and memorable for everyone involved. Plus, it’s a great way to break up the monotony of staring at a screen all day!
3. Make virtual more fun and engaging through the live sketchnotes

By incorporating eye-catching graphics and a skilled illustrator, virtual events can be transformed into something fun and engaging. Attendees will be able to see the discussion come to life in real time, making it easier to follow and understand. Plus, it adds a personal touch to the event, making it feel less like a boring meeting and more like a fun collaboration. So, if you want to add some spark to your virtual events, consider bringing in a live illustrator to work their magic!

CONTACT US now!
Want to see how we can make it work? Why not have Ortus Draws listen in on your next virtual event or virtual conference? With a live illustrator present, you’ll have a concise, coherent, and colourful visual representation of the discussion ready to catch the eyes and engage viewers.
Ortus Draws is a live sketchnoting company specialising in bringing ideas to life with creative and informative mind maps. Our sketchnotes capture the key points of virtual events, roundtables, webinars, discussions, conferences, presentations, pitches, interviews, and internal meetings. Are you looking for an illustrator for your event? Contact us now!