9. Managing The Live Platform
- Making Updates When Live: Video Tutorial
- Live Polls: Video Tutorial
- Q&A: Video Tutorial
- Managing Live Streaming
- Platform Comms: Video Tutorial
- Troubleshooting Users Accessing The CrowdComms Platform
- Analytics
Making Updates When Live: Video Tutorial
Before your event goes live, consider what updates you will need to make. Have a plan in place and make sure you are comfortable with making these updates.
Leverage the wider training guides and live chat support and practise before your event is live, so you are confident when it comes to making the required live updates.
Below is a video for some adhoc changes that regularly come up.
Live Polls: Video Tutorial
Live polling is best set up in advance of your event, as there are a variety of ways you can approach running them and they will require a CMS user to cue the appropriate question at the right time.
This section includes three training videos:
- Introduction to the live poll module
- Different setup options for showing polls in the agenda, direct linked, and multi-track polling + Customising the live poll display
- Managing live polls at your live event
Introduction to the live poll module
Setup options and customising the live display
Managing live polling at your event
Q&A: Video Tutorial
This section includes three training videos:
- Q&A setup options
- Customising Q&A display
- Managing Q&A at your live event
The Q&A response field is a valuable addition to the platform, providing users with a new level of longer-term interactivity and engagement. With this feature, users can ask specific questions related to the content and receive targeted responses that address their enquiries. We also simplified the 'Ask a Question' process down to one click!
Depending on how you wish to run your Q&A there are a variety of settings to enable you to tailor the function to your specific event. In the video below, we will take a look at how to approach this as well as exporting, moderation settings and more.
Q&A Setup Options
Q&A Customisation
Q&A Managing At Your Event
Managing Live Streaming
What's Covered
- Live stream options
- Setting up your live stream & testing
- Bulk downloading stream keys
- Important for AV / Production partners: Configure Broadcast Software
Further Reading
Live Stream Options
Setting Up Your Live Stream & Testing
Bulk Download Stream Keys
Once you have linked all the live streams to your agenda sessions, you can bulk export the stream keys along with Q&A and Live Polling links.
- Login to admin dashboard
- Go to modules
- Select the relevant agenda
- Select Import/Export tab along the top
- Select Master Export
- Repeat these steps if you have multiple agenda's
Platform Comms: Video Tutorial
The comms section allows you to send out notifications to your audience before, during and after an event. It is a great way to keep your attendees up to date with your event and drive engagement for live sessions, capturing feedback or promoting sponsors and networking opportunities.
Example alerts:
- Update your profile to gain 50 points!
- Session starts in 5 minutes
- Networking hour begins now
- Thank you to our sponsor
- Please provide feedback here
This feature has now been re-designed to be even more flexible. There are now three different types of in-app alerts, all with native push notification support, so delegates will never miss another message. You can opt for large pop-ups with or without embedded surveys, flash notifications or a persistent notification with a call-to-action.
This re-design includes the ability to embed surveys from the survey library into the large pop-up alert notification, enabling event surveys to be collected more swiftly and effectively.
To avoid bombarding your delegates with 'in-your-face' alerts, the more subtle flash notifications can be used, which will appear on the top right-hand corner of the Event App screen for five seconds. Alternatively, the persistent notification can be used, which is a similar design but continues to be displayed until the user dismisses it or performs the call-to-action.
Preparing alerts
- Firstly, you will need to log into your CrowdComms Content Management System (CMS) Dashboard and input your details.
- Upon successful login, select the Event App in which you would like to use the alerts.
- Then click on the ‘Alerts’ tab from the left-hand menu, and you will then see the Alerts page.
- To add an alert, click on the ‘+’ icon at the top of the page.
- On this page, you will see three different types of alerts to choose from. To pick the type of alert notification you wish to use, click on one of the top options. The options are:
a. Full-Screen Modal Notification – Rich media format alerts that must be acknowledged by the user
b. Fading Notification – Small, text-only notifications that disappear after five seconds without user interaction
c. Persistent Notification – Small, text-only notifications that remain until the user takes an action
Full-Screen Modal Notifications
- For this type of alert notification, you can also embed a survey within the notification for your delegates to complete. You can also make the completion mandatory if you wish.
- To set up your alert notification, there are several fields that you will need to populate.
- You first need to add the title for your alert in the Content section. You are allowed 128 characters in this field.
- Next, you can add the message or content for your alert in the rich-text editor’s field. This field will enable you to style your alert notification message including adding bold, italic, bullet points etc.
- In this field, you can also embed a video which you have uploaded to the CMS Dashboard Video Library.
- Next, is the Embed section where you can embed a survey which you have already created in your Survey Library. Click here to find out how to create a survey.
- You can also make this survey compulsory, just check on the ‘Mandatory completion’ checkbox to enable this function. Please note that if you check this box, this means your delegates will not be able to navigate away from the alert notification pop-up until they have completed the survey. Therefore, it may be a good idea to inform your delegates about this in the alert’s text.
- In the next section, Time, you can decide when you would like the alert notification to appear on your Event App for your delegate to see.
- If you would like the alert notification to be sent immediately, check on the ‘Send now’ check box.
- If you want to send it in the future, select the date and time when you would like the alert notification to be sent out.
- This next section is the Recipients to whom you want the alert notification to go to. If it’s a targeted alert that you are sending, use the relevant group(s) you wish to target. Select the 'Everyone' group if you want everyone on your Event App to see the alert notification.
- The final section is other Delivery methods which you can include on top of the in-app notification that you’re sending.
- Check on the ‘Send email notification’ check box if you want the email version of the alert to be sent to your delegate’s inbox.
- Check on the ‘Send native notification’ check box if you want your delegate to receive a Push Notification on their mobile device.
- If you opt for the native notification option, you will see the Push Notification section where you can add a notification message and embed a deep link to direct your delegates to a specific part of your Event App.
- Once you’re happy with your alert notification set up, either click ‘Send’ if you have checked ‘Send now’ or click ‘Save’ to schedule it to go out on the date and time set.
Fading & Persistent Alert Notifications
- The Fading and Persistent alert notifications are very similar in design. Both are small, text-only notifications which will appear on the top right-hand corner of your screen.
- The two differences are that for Persistent alert notifications, you can add a Call-to-Action button to direct the user to a specific page within your Event App. The message will also remain until the user takes an action. When Fading alert notifications are used, the message will disappear after 5 seconds.
- To set up both types of notifications, you will need to add the Alert title and message. You have up to 128 characters in both fields.
- For the Persistent alert notification Call-to-Action button, you can personalise your text with up to 30 characters in this field.
- You can then add a deep link to your Call-to-Action button by selecting an action from the dropdown option. For example, if you select ‘Session’ you will then be prompted by another dropdown where you can select the specific Session you want to guide your delegates to. Please note that if you choose not to add a deep link, the Call-to-Action button will take your delegate to the Alerts page of the App.
- In the next section, you can decide when you would like the alert notification to appear on your Event App for your delegate to see.
- If you would like the alert notification to be sent immediately, click on the ‘Send now’ check box.
- If you want to send it in the future, select the date and time when you would like the alert notification to be sent out.
- This next section is the Recipients to whom you want the alert notification to go to.
- If it’s a targeted alert that you are sending, use the relevant group(s) you wish to target. Select the' Everyone' group if you want everyone on your Event App to see the alert notification.
- The final section is other Delivery methods which you can include on top of the in-app notification that you’re sending.
- Check on the ‘Send email notification’ check box if you want the email version of the alert to be sent to your delegate’s inbox.
- Check on the ‘Send native notification’ check box if you want your delegates to receive Push Notifications on their mobile device.
- If you opt for the native notification option, you will see the Push Notification section where you can add a notification message and embed a deep link to direct your delegates to a specific part of your Event App.
- Please note, that when creating a persistent alert notification, the Push Notification deep link will be bound to the same action as the alert Call-to-Action button.
- Once you’re happy with your alert notification set up, either click ‘Send’ if you have checked ‘Send now’ or click ‘Save’ to schedule it to go out on the date and time set.
Troubleshooting Users Accessing The CrowdComms Platform
Important: Make sure you complete these Essential Tasks before you promote your platform to avoid challenges whilst live.
We recommend promoting the platform at least one week pre event. Promoting early ensures users are logged in and comfortable navigating the platform before the event begins.
Issues accessing the platform are rare and in most cases, quick to troubleshoot. Below you will find the most common challenges and solutions to help your users quickly get onto the platform.
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WiFi
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- Advise the user to check other sites are working and if WiFi isn't the issue attempt refresh or failing that clear cache and try again.
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User is unable to login with their email: 'You are not registered to access this event, please contact an event organiser.'
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- Check users are entering the correct email listed on the CMS, Libraries, People
- Recommend using the correct email listed on the CMS
- If user is not listed on the CMS, add the user to give them access. To do so, go to the CMS, Libraries, People, Add New Person
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User has forgotten their password
- Recommend using the 'Reset password' option on the login page
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Unsupported browser
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For any user who has issues accessing it is always worth sending supported browsers to ensure they are using a compatible browse - https://docs.crowdcomms.com/books/platform-docs/page/device-compatibility-and-browser-requirements
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Firewall stopping users from accessing the platform
- Some internal firewalls block unrecognised platforms. CrowdComms mitigate the request by ensuring all event URL's are https. In the event of the URL being blocked, the only solution is to get the relevant IT team to white list / approve the platform URL.
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User isn't receiving automated email alerts, reset password email or verification email
- Email communications sent from the CrowdComms platform are delivered from 'appconcierge@m.crowdcomms.com'. If you intend to use this functionality, please ensure this email address is white listed by relevant IT team to avoid emails being blocked or going to spam.
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Reporting an issue you can't resolve by checking off the above FAQ's
- If you have issues outside of the above and require further assistance, your allocated support contact or the wider support team at CrowdComms are contactable on below options:
- CrowdComms UK (+44) 01258 863812
- CrowdComms Ireland 00353 (0)65 6828919
- Monday to Friday between 9am to 5.30pm
- In order to quickly replicate the issue and provide a solution, we will need the below information. Please provide this in the first communication of any issue where possible to speed up how quickly we can provide a solution.
- User(s) email who is experiencing the problem
- Browser & version
- Device used
- Screenshots
- Steps taken to replicate the issue
- If you have issues outside of the above and require further assistance, your allocated support contact or the wider support team at CrowdComms are contactable on below options:
Please note: CrowdComms provide support to organisers however CrowdComms do not manage the communications directly with end users unless show day allocated support is included with event package.
Analytics
Introduction
Welcome to the Analytics Dashboard and Reporting feature! This formidable tool within the CMS empowers you to effortlessly acquire high-level insights into your events. From monitoring adoption rates to pinpointing the most-viewed modules and beyond, this feature provides a comprehensive overview to enhance your understanding of event dynamics.
For those seeking more in-depth analysis, the capability to export reports into a spreadsheet is readily available. These detailed reports, conveniently sent directly to your email, offer a closer examination of crucial metrics. Moreover, you will have the flexibility to analyse and seamlessly integrate these spreadsheets into your preferred reporting visualisation tools, ensuring a tailored and insightful approach to event analytics. Immerse yourself in the capabilities of our Analytics Dashboard and Reporting feature, unlocking a new level of precision and control for your event management.
When you log in to your CMS Dashboard, the latest addition awaits you – the Analytics tab! This tab opens up a world of insights, featuring both the Dashboard and the Exports functionalities.
Starting with the Dashboard, your default view includes data from your event date. However, flexibility is at your fingertips – you have the power to adjust the date range. Whether you wish to broaden or narrow the timeframe, this feature allows for a tailored analysis of your event data.
It's worth noting that although you may only intend to review a single day's worth of data, it is recommended to select a date range spanning 24 hours. This ensures comprehensive coverage and accuracy in your analytics. All of the data that you see on the Dashboard and the Reports is representative of the date parameter.
So, let's dive into the Analytics tab and explore how to leverage these features to gain valuable insights into your events!
Dashboard
Now, let's explore the key measures available on the Dashboard:
- Viewing Stats:
- The stats encompass total page views, highest daily views, and average session time. - Adoption Breakdown and Ratio:
- This breakdown details the total logged-in users, users yet to log in, and the corresponding percentage.
- The percentage is derived by dividing the total number of logged-in users by the overall count of users granted access to the event app. - Page views over time:
- A line graph illustrating the cumulative number of page views across the selected date parameter in the report. - Popular Devices Breakdown:
- A breakdown showcasing the percentage of users accessing the platform via various devices during your event. - Top Modules Views:
- A bar chart displaying the total number of times modules within the app have been viewed. - Activity Feed Stats:
- Stats displaying the total number of posts and comments captured in the Activity Feed Module. - Agenda Stats:
- Stats showcasing the total number of sessions created, along with the count of times they've been favourited and added to users' schedules. - Live Polls Stats:
- Stats reveal the total number of users completing live polls and the overall number of responses to live poll questions. - Q&A Stats:
- Stats indicating the total number of users posing questions and the aggregate likes or vote-ups received. - Survey Stats:
- Stats revealing the total number of users completing surveys and the overall number of survey questions responded to. - Documents:
- Stats reflecting the total number of documents uploaded to the platform. - People Views:
- A bar chart showcasing the top 10 most popular users on the platform and the number of times their profiles have been viewed by other users. - Company Views:
- A bar chart highlighting the top 10 most popular companies on the platform and the number of times their profiles have been viewed by other users.
Reporting Exports
In the Analytics tab, navigate to the secondary tab to explore the Reporting Exports feature, providing comprehensive insights into your event. For detailed information, simply click the "Email Report" button, and the report will be promptly sent to your email.
Exporting data from Surveys, Polls and Q&A's
User responses to surveys, live polls and Q&A's can all be downloaded from the 'Libraries' tab in the left hand menu, under the 'Engagement' section .
Simply click the Export button in relevant section to download your report, at which point, if applicable, there will be checkbox options to include names in the data and to include custom fields. This allows you to keep the report anonymous or not as desired: