2020 certainly didn’t end up as we had initially planned, thinking back to January, but we’re ending the year centering on positivity, pride, and a lot to look forward to in 2021. 

I was stretched and challenged in more ways than I’d like to admit this year. Here are five things I learned and will take with me in 2021 and beyond (and hope you can too!):

1. Communication is key. We didn’t wait for clients to come to us; we aimed to stay ahead of messaging and think through all anticipated questions, concerns, and hesitations, and address them. We also did the same with employees.

2. Believe in yourself, your purpose, and your ability to adapt. No one but ourselves was going to tell us we could do it. We constantly reminded each other of this and it gave us the confidence we needed to fight, persevere, and succeed.  

3. Be optimistic, but realistic. In our (virtual) team offsite, Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor reminded us that seeing things through a different lens can completely change our entire demeanor, attitude, and focus. We’re seeking to view things through a new angle, but also be realistic about it. Sometimes it’s OK to accept times are rough! 

4. We weren’t alone. I would lie awake at night stressed and racking my brain about what we were doing wrong or what else we could do differently. I had to constantly stop and remind myself everyone was experiencing hardship in some way—be it lack of budgets, engagement, motivation working from home, uncertainty, or others. 

5. Virtual is here to stay. The industry craved to grasp the ins and outs of virtual and the impact of virtual events, and we’ve made strides. There’s a lot of untapped potential to learn, but we’ll get more and more comfortable with these practices and incorporating them into our broader marketing strategies in 2021.  

Looking at our top posts from the year shows promise for virtual in 2021, and excitement around the opportunity for the industry to adapt. Beyond the below, we at cred are continually devoting resources to ensure we can educate clients and the entire industry around best practices for speaking and events—be it live, virtual, or hybrid—and all the challenges and opportunities that come along with it.  

We’re excited and ready. See you in 2021. 

cred’s Top Blog Posts from 2020

1. Virtual Events Made Easy: Our Top Software Picks

2. How to Curate a Virtual Event Swag Bag

3. COVID-19 Impact: Postponed, Canceled, and Virtual Events

4. How to Foster Networking at Your Virtual Event

5. Building Virtual Thought Leadership: How to Build a Brand From 6+ Feet Away

6. The Virtual Checklist: Tools and Resources to Level Up Your Podcasts and Webinars

7. Changing With the Times: 10 Virtual Conference Trends

8. 5 Ways Event Organizers Can Prep Virtual Speakers
   

What else are you looking to learn about events and speaking in the new year? Comment or let us know and we can write a post about it!