Zoom for Backstage: Hosting an online event

Hello everyone,

Today, virtual events appear to be the new norm. As more and more event organizers lean toward this mode of hosting events, we at Backstage are also keen to offer you as many options as possible to help you do just that. Earlier, we released Backstage OnAir as a webcast service to take your event sessions online. We also enabled you to integrate with Zoho Meeting and other third-party applications, offering more adaptability. Now we are adding Zoom to the list of webcast services you can use.

By simply configuring Zoom with Zoho Backstage, you can use their in-meeting tools to take your event online.

Integrate Zoom and create your online event

When you create your online event in Backstage, choose Zoom under Webcast service in the Event details tab of the Microsite Builder. Modify the preset settings for sessions by clicking the Webinar settings link in the Webcast service section. By default, anyone who is registered can enter the online session without you having to approve their request manually, and the Q&A tab in Zoom will automatically be enabled at the start of the meeting.

Switch on the Practice Webinar option for all sessions if you want to rehearse before your session. Sessions can also be auto-recorded when the meeting begins. Keep in mind that the settings you save will be updated for all the sessions that are hosted in Zoom via Backstage.

Prepare and present online sessions

Zoom allows you to share your screen with attendees in order to present your session. Ensure that your presentation is ready in your local system, and use the session tools provided, such as polls, to increase audience engagement during the session.

To set up polls for a session, go to the Sessions tab in the Manage Dashboard of the Event Console and click the Polls link associated with a session. You can add multiple questions relating to a similar topic for one poll and set up the answer format to either be single or multiple choice.

Start your session under the Present sessions tab in the Conduct Dashboard of the Event Console. During the session, you can also encourage attendees to post their questions in the Q&A tab, which you can answer in real time. Attendees also have a the option to chat with other participants, such as speakers or panelists, if they need to ask a question or share their thoughts. You can also record your screen during the meeting and access this in your Zoom account when your meeting is over.

If you'd like to collect feedback about the session from participants, create a custom form in Backstage. After the session is over, all participants will be redirected automatically to the Agenda page in the event microsite to fill out the feedback form you've created. Remember that only members who have a Zoom account and who are part of the Backstage portal can present sessions.

Gather feedback and analytics

Once the session is finished, go over to the session summary by clicking the View Details button for any session in the Sessions tab. You will see brief session analytics in the Summary tab. These include the duration of the session, the number of people who attended, the number of polls created for the session, and the number of questions answered during the session.

The results of polls that were posted can also be seen in the Polls tab in this view. To see more details about who attended, click the Attendees tab. Click the Questions tab to see the questions that were answered by a host, co-host, or a panelist during the session. Also, to see the feedback collected from your session participants, click the Feedback tab.

The Zoom integration is only available for members subscribed to the Enterprise and Ultimate plans and for events that use the Enterprise and Ultimate add-ons.

Take your event online with the Zoom integration for Backstage. Let us know what you think in the comments below. For product-related questions or suggestions, write to us at support@zohobackstage.com.

Happy organizing!

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