Inland is designed to support thoughtful, well-run events that feel personal and intentional—for hosts and participants alike. This guide walks through best practices that consistently lead to successful events, from promotion to preparation to live support.
Whether this is your first event or your tenth, we recommend reading through this once before you go live.
1. Promoting your event effectively
Inland helps with discovery, but the strongest driver of attendance is your existing audience—and the audiences of anyone you’re collaborating with.
Email and newsletters
We recommend emailing your list:
When the event is first announced
Again 3–5 days before the event
Optionally, a short reminder on the day of the event
Newsletters such as Substack, Mailchimp, or similar tools work especially well. Messages that explain why the event matters tend to perform better than generic announcements.
Social media promotion
Use the platforms where you already have a presence:
Instagram
A feed post announcing the event
Stories with reminders and links
A short Reel speaking directly to camera about why you’re excited for the conversation
Facebook, X, Bluesky, and LinkedIn
A simple announcement post
A reminder post closer to the event date
Short, personal explanations consistently outperform polished marketing language.
Publisher, publicist, and co-host support
If applicable:
Ask your publisher or publicist to share the event with their mailing lists or social channels
Coordinate promotion with co-hosts, interviewers, or collaborators so the event reaches multiple audiences
Shared promotion often makes the biggest difference.
2. Preparing for your event
Even informal events benefit from light preparation.
We recommend:
Creating a short outline or list of key points
Writing down questions you want to be sure to cover
Preparing slides, excerpts, or visuals if helpful
Uploading any handouts or resources in advance
Preparation helps you stay present and confident during the event.
3. Joining early and checking your technology
Please plan to join your event 10–15 minutes early.
Before participants arrive:
Test your camera and microphone
Confirm your internet connection is stable
Make sure you’re in a quiet, well-lit space
Close unnecessary tabs and applications
Have slides or files ready if you plan to share them
A smooth technical start sets the tone for the entire event.
4. Video meeting best practices
You don’t need studio-level production—clarity and presence matter most.
Best practices include:
Looking at the camera when speaking
Muting your microphone when you’re not talking
Speaking slightly slower than you would in person
Wearing headphones if helpful to reduce echo
Encouraging participants to use chat or Q&A when appropriate
Small adjustments make a noticeable difference for attendees.
5. Setting expectations for participants
At the beginning of your event, it helps to briefly explain:
How questions will work (chat, Q&A, live discussion)
Whether participants will use audio or video
The overall structure and timing of the session
Clear expectations lead to smoother conversations and better engagement.
6. Managing participants during the event
As a host, you are responsible for the tone and quality of the experience.
If a participant:
Disrupts the conversation
Behaves inappropriately
Violates community expectations
You may remove them from the event. This is sometimes necessary to protect the experience for everyone else in the room.
7. Getting support during your event
Help is always close by.
Use the Messenger icon in the corner of your screen to contact Inland support in real time during your event
For general questions, troubleshooting, or follow-up support, visit support.inlandbooks.com
Our team actively monitors and supports live events whenever possible.
8. After your event
Following up thoughtfully helps build long-term relationships.
Good follow-ups include:
A thank-you message to attendees
Links to replays or shared resources
Information about related upcoming events
Keep follow-ups relevant and restrained—your audience will appreciate it.
Final thoughts
Great Inland events share a few things in common:
They are thoughtfully promoted, lightly prepared, technically smooth, and hosted with care.
When you invest a little time up front, participants feel it—and they’re far more likely to return.