Virtual events opened new doors for accessibility, flexibility and reach, but as the novelty wears off, expectations have shifted. Audiences no longer settle for passive screens and generic broadcasts. They want presence, not just access. Platforms like Brown Paper Tickets, a ticketing service offering digital tools for seamless and accessible event planning, help organizers simplify registration and communication allowing them to focus on delivering meaningful engagement for virtual attendees.

For planners, this shift requires more than polished livestreams. It means designing digital experiences that feel connected, purposeful and interactive. Whether it’s a workshop, fundraiser or hybrid conference, virtual attendees want to be more than just spectators, they want to actively engage.

Moving Past the Broadcast Model

In the early stages of virtual events, livestreaming was the baseline. The idea was to replicate the live experience as closely as possible, one stream, one camera, one timeline. But this model often left digital attendees feeling like spectators, not guests. The experience becomes more powerful when it’s designed specifically for a virtual format. It doesn’t mean building a second event. It means thinking through how digital participants move through the experience, how they connect to others and what touchpoints invite them to engage in real time.

For instance, a virtual-only moderator can lead attendees through the event, handle common tech questions, and encourage conversation in the chat. Behind-the-scenes Q&As, chat-based breakout rooms, or pre-recorded segments, paired with live discussions, add structure tailored to the virtual format. These elements help move the experience from passive watching to active participation.

Designing for Presence, Not Just Attendance

Presence is harder to measure than attendance, but it’s easy to feel. A virtual attendee who speaks up in chat, responds to a prompt or shares feedback after a session is far more connected than someone who logs in and tunes out. Designing for this kind of engagement means giving virtual guests clear signals that they’re part of the room. Interactive polls, live reactions and chat shoutouts from facilitators can foster this sense of inclusion. Attendees notice when their presence is acknowledged, especially when it’s done with intention, rather than obligation.

It’s also important to balance input with ease. Not every guest wants to be on camera or post in the chat. Offering multiple paths for participation, anonymous surveys, reaction buttons and private messages lets people engage in ways that feel comfortable. Platforms like Brown Paper Tickets facilitate these interactions by streamlining ticket options, access controls and targeted communication. When the logistics are straightforward, guests can focus on enjoying the experience, instead of wrestling with login details.

Creating Connection in Digital Space

Virtual attendees aren’t just looking for content. They’re looking for a connection. That could mean finding like-minded peers, getting time with a speaker or exploring new ideas in small groups. Without hallways or networking breaks, planners must intentionally design these connection points into the digital format. Some events use breakout rooms guided by a facilitator or supported by prompts to kickstart conversation. Others create persistent chat threads based on interest or role, allowing people to drop in and out as the event progresses. These small gestures help people feel seen, even in a crowded digital space.

Follow-up opportunities also matter. When planners send recap emails, post-event discussions or recordings with additional commentary, it tells guests that their experience matters beyond the moment. These afterthoughts become anchors, reminders that the event was meant to spark something lasting. Tools that enable real-time data tracking, ticket-linked content and easy guest messaging help keep these threads consistent and manageable, especially when teams are working across multiple formats.

Making Virtual Feel Intentional, Not Optional

One reason virtual guests disengage is that the experience feels like a downgraded version of the live event. A low-resolution stream, ignored chat or poor audio sends a clear message, even if it’s unintentional. To keep virtual audiences engaged, the experience needs to feel purposeful.

That might mean offering something exclusive to digital attendees, such as bonus content, early access to a speaker Q&A or virtual-only networking. These don’t have to be expensive or complex. A five-minute behind-the-scenes tour or live Ask Me Anything sessions (AMAs) can go a long way in creating value. Even visual design plays a role. An event-branded chat room, personalized agenda or moderated welcome screen helps reinforce that someone thought through the digital experience, not just as a mirror of the in-person version, but as its channel, with its voice.

Supporting Access, Not Just Engagement

A meaningful virtual event also respects the range of access needs. Captions, screen-reader-friendly materials and recordings for different time zones aren’t extras, but they’re part of what makes the event work for everyone. Virtual formats have the power to include audiences who may not have had access to in-person events. That opportunity comes with responsibility.

In chat-driven sessions, it helps to assign a community manager who can answer questions, reinforce expectations and support those who need extra guidance. When planners design the tech and timing around real people, not ideal users, they create space for more inclusive participation.

Listening to Virtual Attendees Like They’re in the Room

The best virtual events are shaped by feedback, not just from surveys, but from quiet signals during the experience. Where did chat engagement spike? When did people start logging off? Which moments prompted organic comments or emoji reactions? Planners who listen to these cues often find ways to improve not just the tech, but the tone. A moderator who greets returning guests by name, a speaker who reads chat questions aloud or a host who pauses for digital applause all reinforce that the audience is real and present.

After the event, closing the loop matters. A quick message that says, “Here’s what we heard, and what we’re doing with it,” helps virtual attendees feel part of the event’s future, not just its past. Platforms that make it easy to follow up, support this continuity by housing communication, ticketing and reporting in one place, helping planners stay responsive, without adding burden.

Reimagining the Virtual Guest Experience

Virtual attendance is here to stay. But the real question is how to make it matter. When planners shift from asking “how do we stream this?” to “how do we connect here?” the answers become more human, more creative and more sustainable. Virtual guests don’t need spectacles. They need thoughtfulness. They need space to contribute, tools to stay present and signals that they were part of something worth showing up for.

By listening closely and planning intentionally, organizers can create virtual events that aren’t just watchable but worth remembering. Platforms help support that work by simplifying the logistics, so teams can focus on designing experiences that engage, wherever guests choose to attend.