Hosting a Virtual Summit with Brain Retraining Academy Experts: A Step-by-Step Guide

Virtual summits have become an increasingly popular way to bring together thought leaders, experts, and audiences from around the world. In the realm of brain retraining and neuroplasticity, organizing a virtual summit featuring experts like Deepak Chopra, Dr. Lara Boyd, and other renowned professionals can create an unforgettable event that offers real value to your audience. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, coach, or someone interested in expanding your knowledge on brain health, hosting a virtual summit can elevate your brand and provide actionable insights that attendees can implement immediately.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the key steps to successfully host a virtual summit, focusing on brain retraining and neuroplasticity experts, to help you create a high-impact event. From planning to promoting and engaging your audience, we’ve got you covered.

1. Planning Your Virtual Summit

The first step in hosting a successful virtual summit is ensuring that you have a solid plan. The planning phase is essential for creating a clear and focused event that meets the needs of your audience. Let’s break it down:

Define Your Objectives and Audience

• Purpose of the Summit: Is your summit focused on education, networking, or professional development? Having a clear objective helps you build a solid structure and attract the right speakers and audience.
• Target Audience: Knowing who you’re hosting the summit for is crucial. For a brain retraining summit, your audience may include healthcare professionals, trauma recovery specialists, coaches, or the general public. Understanding their interests, struggles, and needs will guide the direction of your event.

Consider conducting a brief survey or research on what your target audience would find most beneficial. For instance, are they more interested in learning about neuroplasticity, trauma healing, or enhancing cognitive performance? Once you have these insights, you can tailor the summit’s content to serve your audience better.

Choosing the Right Theme and Topics

For a summit focused on brain retraining, you want to ensure the topics covered resonate with your audience’s pain points and aspirations. Some ideas for your summit theme could include:

• Neuroplasticity and Healing – Exploring how the brain can change and heal through specific practices and exercises.
• Trauma Healing and Mindfulness – Focusing on how mindfulness techniques and neuroplasticity can aid in trauma recovery.
• Cognitive Performance and Mental Clarity – Teaching attendees strategies for improving cognitive functions and overall brain health.

By narrowing your focus to specific topics within the realm of brain retraining, you can attract a more engaged audience. You might want to invite speakers who specialize in these areas to add more value to your event.

Selecting the Best Platform

The platform you choose for your virtual summit is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. The right platform will ensure that your event runs smoothly and that your audience has an excellent experience. Some popular platforms for hosting virtual summits include:

• Zoom Events – Known for its reliability and interactive features, including breakout rooms and live Q&A.
• Livestorm – Offers user-friendly features with strong networking and audience interaction tools.
• Riverside – Best for high-quality streaming and easy integration with podcasting and content creation tools.

Each platform has its pros and cons, so choose one that aligns with your goals. Make sure the platform supports essential features such as live Q&A, interactive polls, and a smooth streaming experience for all attendees.

2. Securing and Coordinating Speakers

Now that your summit’s purpose, theme, and platform are set, the next step is securing your speakers. Your lineup will play a huge role in the success of your virtual summit, so choose speakers who are not only experts in their fields but also have the ability to engage and educate your audience.

Identify and Invite Speakers

When inviting speakers, reach out to thought leaders who specialize in brain retraining, neuroplasticity, and related fields. Consider inviting well-known experts like:

• Deepak Chopra – A leader in mind-body medicine and author of books on integrative health and consciousness.
• Dr. Lara Boyd – A renowned neuroplasticity researcher and TEDx speaker.
• Bessel van der Kolk, MD – A trauma expert and author of the book “The Body Keeps the Score.”
• Gabor Maté, MD – A physician specializing in addiction and trauma healing.
• Jim Kwik – A memory and learning expert, founder of Kwik Learning.

When reaching out to potential speakers, make sure to provide them with clear details about the event, including the purpose, target audience, and technical requirements. Also, let them know how they can contribute to the success of the summit by sharing their expertise.

Sample List of Brain Retraining Speakers

3. Structuring the Event

The next critical step is planning your event’s structure. How will you deliver value to your attendees and keep them engaged throughout the summit? Here are some best practices to follow:

Agenda and Format

The format of your summit will set the tone for the entire event. A successful virtual summit typically includes:

• Keynote speakers – Feature a few high-profile speakers to draw in attendees.
• Panel discussions – Gather experts to discuss relevant topics in a conversational format.
• Interactive workshops – Allow attendees to dive deeper into specific topics with hands-on learning experiences.

It’s essential to include a Q&A session after each presentation, as this gives your audience the chance to engage with the speaker and ask questions about the material covered. You can also schedule short breaks between sessions to keep the energy up and prevent attendee fatigue.

By providing a variety of formats—keynotes, panels, and workshops—you can create a well-rounded and engaging summit experience for all participants.

4. Promoting the Summit

Once you’ve structured your virtual summit and secured your speakers, the next vital step is to promote it. Proper promotion ensures that your event attracts the right audience and generates the desired level of engagement. Let’s take a closer look at effective promotion strategies:

Creating a Registration Page

Your registration page is where attendees will learn more about the summit and sign up. A well-designed registration page should include:

• Clear Event Information: Provide details about the summit’s purpose, key speakers, agenda, and the topics that will be covered.
• Compelling Call to Action: Make it easy for visitors to register with a clear and actionable button. Use persuasive language like “Reserve Your Spot Now” or “Join Us for an Unforgettable Summit!”
• Testimonials or Social Proof: If you’ve hosted previous events or have notable speakers, showcase their testimonials or quotes to build trust.

Ensure your registration page is optimized for both desktop and mobile views to make it accessible to a wider audience. Don’t forget to add engaging visuals from past summits or promotional images to boost excitement around your event.

To promote your summit, leverage multiple channels such as:

• Email Marketing: Send out email invitations to your existing subscribers with personalized invites and summit highlights.
• Social Media: Promote the summit on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Use catchy hashtags and visuals to make your posts stand out.
• Online Communities: Share your event in relevant groups or forums. For example, if you’re focusing on neuroplasticity or brain retraining, share the summit in neuroscience or wellness groups on Facebook or Reddit.

By using a combination of these methods, you can build anticipation for your summit and get more people registered to attend.

Sending Reminders

Leading up to the summit, send reminder emails to both speakers and attendees. Timing is crucial. Here’s a suggestion on when to send them:

• One Week Before: Send an email reminder with event details, a quick teaser about the speakers, and a “don’t miss it” call to action.
• One Day Before: A final reminder with a direct link to the summit and last-minute registration.
• One Hour Before: A quick reminder that the event is about to start, ensuring attendees are ready to log in.

These reminders are crucial for maximizing attendance and ensuring people show up on time!

5. Engaging Your Audience

Once the summit kicks off, maintaining attendee engagement is key to creating a memorable experience. Engagement goes beyond just showing up—it’s about making attendees feel connected and actively involved in the event.

Keeping Attendees Engaged

During the summit, use interactive features to keep your attendees engaged:

• Live Polls: Ask your audience questions about the topics being discussed, and share the results in real-time. This encourages participation and helps speakers tailor their content.
• Q&A Sessions: Allow for audience questions after each session. This helps attendees feel like they’re part of the conversation and gives them a chance to deepen their understanding.
• Virtual Networking: Enable networking through breakout rooms or virtual lounges. This allows participants to discuss key takeaways, ask questions, and build connections.

Engaging attendees is not just about keeping them interested; it’s about providing value that they can apply to their own lives. For instance, during a session on neuroplasticity, provide actionable exercises attendees can try after the event. Encourage them to share their experiences on social media with event-specific hashtags.

Creating a Sense of Community

Fostering a community feel throughout the summit can enhance engagement and make the event more memorable. Consider creating a private Facebook group or Slack channel where attendees can interact with one another, ask questions, and share resources. This creates an extended learning experience that goes beyond the summit itself.

6. Post-Event Follow-Up

Once the summit concludes, your job isn’t over. Following up with attendees is crucial for maintaining momentum and deepening relationships.

Sharing Resources

After the summit, send out emails to your attendees with recordings of the sessions, speaker slides, and any additional resources that were shared during the event. Not only does this add value, but it also serves as a great way to extend the summit’s impact.

Collecting Feedback

Ask for feedback from both speakers and attendees to evaluate the event’s success and gather ideas for improvement. You can do this via email surveys or a feedback form during the closing session. Some good questions to ask include:

• What topics were most helpful?
• Which speaker did you find most engaging?
• What could be improved for future events?

This feedback will be invaluable for improving future virtual summits and ensuring that you’re meeting your audience’s needs.

Best Practices for Hosting a Successful Virtual Summit

To ensure your summit goes off without a hitch, here’s a summary of best practices:

• Plan Early: Start planning your summit well in advance to ensure all logistics are in place.
• Choose the Right Platform: Make sure the platform you select is reliable, easy to use, and offers the features you need.
• Engage Your Audience: Use interactive features like Q&A, polls, and networking rooms to keep your audience engaged throughout the summit.
• Promote Widely: Use multiple channels, including social media, email, and online communities, to promote your event.
• Follow Up: Share session recordings, thank your speakers, and collect feedback for future improvement.

By following these steps, you can create a virtual summit that offers incredible value to your audience and positions your brand as an authority in the field of brain retraining and neuroplasticity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I choose the best platform for my virtual summit?

When choosing a platform, consider the features that matter most to your summit. If you need live streaming, breakout rooms, and interactive Q&A, platforms like Zoom Events and Livestorm are excellent options. Ensure the platform supports the level of interactivity you desire.

What should I do if a speaker cancels last minute?

If a speaker cancels, reach out to your other speakers and see if they can extend their sessions or participate in additional panel discussions. Alternatively, have a backup speaker or an engaging session ready to go on short notice. It’s always good to have contingency plans in place.

How can I measure the success of my virtual summit?

Success can be measured by several factors including attendee engagement, session feedback, and the number of people who interacted with your post-event content. Consider tracking metrics like registration numbers, attendee retention, and how many people participated in live polls or asked questions during the event.

By focusing on delivering value and following these steps, your virtual summit will be an event that attendees will talk about for months to come. Good luck, and remember, your summit is only the beginning of a lasting community focused on brain retraining and wellness!