Online meetings have become an essential part of our daily work life. Whether it’s one-on-one conversations, team briefing, or large group discussions, they’ve become the go-to for most of our work interactions. This is not necessarily because they’re always the best option, but because, until now, they have been the only option. Don’t get me wrong, meetings do their job really well when it comes to smaller groups. In fact, Zoho Cliq meetings can handle up to 1,000 participants with ease, which is fantastic for most scenarios.
However, when it comes to large-scale events in the thousands, regular meetings just aren’t built to handle that kind of load. That’s where things start to fall apart. The limitations become clear, and no matter how good the platform is, it struggles to keep up. That’s why, at Zoho Cliq, we have introduced Live Events, a new way to host and broadcast to large audiences virtually. It's designed specifically to handle the scale and engagement that traditional online meetings just can’t manage.
What makes Live Events different?
Live Events take the basic idea of online meetings but levels it up for a bigger stage. It’s not just a meeting; it’s an experience designed for broadcasting to large audiences with ease and clarity. Here’s why it stands out.
Scalability: Whether you’re hosting a town hall for your entire company or broadcasting to thousands of people across the globe, Live Events can handle the load. You don’t have to worry about the platform crashing when the attendance exceeds your expectations. Live Events has the capacity to stream to up to 10,000 users on a global scale.
Smooth streaming: No one likes buffering in the middle of an important session. Live Events are optimized for video and audio clarity, making sure everyone has a smooth experience, whether they’re the host or an attendee.
Backstage controls: Organizers and producers have elaborate backstage controls with which they can control the flow of the event so it goes smoothly without the need for any technical glitches. Whether it's muting and unmuting participants, managing transitions, or adding fillers between segments, backstage producers can maintain the entire event.
The magic of backstage and front-stage
In Live Events, the roles are divided into three key categories, which are all connected by a system of backstage and front-stage management:
- Producers
- Presenters
- Participants
Backstage: This is where all the behind-the-scenes magic happens. Organizers and producers can hold private meetings in the backstage area to discuss the next segment or adjust the flow without interrupting the live event. There’s a separate audio/video room here where producers can coordinate with presenters. Organizers also have control over the stage, ensuring only the right people are front and center at the right time. They can switch between presenters, queue up filler media, and manage transitions seamlessly.
Front-stage: On the other hand, the audience experiences the polished, well-coordinated presentation. They won’t see the backstage work—it’s all about giving them a professional, uninterrupted broadcast.
With controls over who is “on stage,” when fillers are added between segments, and muting participants, Live Events ensure a flawless show every time.
Power of broadcasting from Zoho Cliq
Since Live Events are built into Zoho Cliq, you have access to the platform’s familiar features. This includes file sharing, sidebar chat, and seamless integration with your existing workflows. You can also schedule the event, add producers and presenters, and share pre-event materials such as brochures with attendees.
Available on all devices: Live Events can be viewed across a variety of devices—whether on a PC, mobile phone, or even through the Cliq TV app—making it easy for participants to tune in from anywhere.
Scheduling made simple
Setting up a Live Event is as simple as scheduling a regular meeting, but with more robust controls and features. Using an intuitive interface, you can easily schedule the event, add producers and co-producers, and upload any supporting media.
You can invite people based on specific conversations, teams, or even your entire organization. If the event needs to reach a wider audience, you can make it public and invite people outside the organization via a shared link. The scalability of Zoho’s infrastructure ensures your event remains secure and reliable from start to finish.
Real-time engagement, real results
Audience engagement doesn’t have to stop with a one-way broadcast. While many traditional webinars allow for limited interaction, live events in Zoho Cliq provide an interactive experience where attendees can react, participate in Q&As, and engage in real-time conversations using the sidebar chat feature. Although Live Events don’t support native polling, integrations with poll bots or using the chat functionality make gathering feedback or real-time responses easy.
With real-time interaction, you can adjust the flow of your event on the spot. If attendees seem particularly interested in a certain topic, you can dive deeper. If there’s a question buzzing around, you can address it right then and there. The ability to adapt and respond makes Live Events a powerful tool for creating memorable and effective virtual experiences.
Where do Live Events fit in?
Live Events are best suited for scenarios where you need to broadcast to a larger audience, such as:
- Company-wide townhalls
- Streaming in-house festivals and celebrations
- Product launches
For example, imagine hosting an internal music festival with thousands of employees tuning in remotely. In a traditional online meeting setup, things would start to get chaotic: unmuted mics, overlapping chatter, and the never ending “Can you hear me?” moments.
With Live Events, producers can ensure only the presenters are heard, while participants enjoy the celebration without distractions. Employees can react to major announcements or send in questions via the chat, which the presenters can address live. This allows for a dynamic flow where the audience remains actively engaged.
The future of large-scale virtual events
As work becomes more hybrid and global, the need for reliable, engaging, and scalable virtual events has never been greater. Zoho Cliq’s Live Events are designed for this future.
So, the next time you need to host a large-scale online event, don’t settle for a meeting tool that’s out of its depth. Step into the world of Live Events with Zoho Cliq and give your audience the experience they deserve.
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