Live Question and Answer Session: Tips and Tricks
By: Siena Romes
Tags: Question And Answer, Live Chat, Q And A, Tips And Tricks, QA

Including a question and answer session is always a good idea for your online events.

A question and answer session is powerful because it gives your audience a voice. In turn, you listen to their voices and make them heard.

In an online event with a question and answer session, they can ask whatever they want. However, addressing the questions will be hectic, especially when it’s online.

Therefore, how can you hold a live question and answer session without it failing?

Increasing your question and answer session success rate

When holding an online event, it’s done on a website or a social media page. These two channels will have the following:

A group chat where anyone can send their messages and everyone immediately sees them.

A live chat where the audience is continuously chatting, leading to a barrage of messages.

This is good for some online events like team meetings or small conferences. However, if you’re holding a larger event, then you’d need a chat that allows you to moderate your chat.

For example, at large events, there are thousands of people watching. Messages are coming fast, and you cannot keep up. How can you address all the questions?

This is hectic for both the speakers and the audience.

So, these are the best options you can choose from:

Use a downloadable live chat software to ask questions Use a moderated chat that you can embed and use as a question and answer platform

With the RumbleTalk chat platform, you can create your own moderated chat that you can use as a Q&A mode. No download required.

Using a separate chat platform for your live events is even recommended by event pros. Here’s how you can add a moderated chat for your event.

How to add a moderated chat and use it for your question and answer session

One of the chat types that RumbleTalk offers is moderated chat. The moderated chat is a chat type that makes admins approve messages before they appear in the chat room.

To choose moderated chat as your chat type, here are the steps that you need to follow.

Firstly, go to Settings > General & Logins .

> . Next, you will see all the chat types available. Choose Moderated chat.

From here on, all messages need to be approved by an admin. Therefore, the next step is to add admins (moderators) to your chat.

To add admins, follow these steps.

Go to Settings > Users .

> . Then, click Add new user and input all the necessary details such as username and password.

After that, choose if your admins will have room-only access or global access.

When everything’s in place, you can start your question and answer session with your moderated chat next to your live stream.

Here’s an example of the moderated chat in action.

Unless one of the admins approve a message, it won’t appear in the non-admin users’ chat room. What’s more, only admins can approve or delete messages as they see fit.

Therefore, the chat stays clean and easy on the eyes. No clutter, no unnecessary messages, and organized. This is why the moderated chat is the best chat type for large events.

Know more about using Q&A mode for online events: Step-by-Step Guide for Organizing a Q&A Live Session

Advantages of using a separate question and answer platform

1. Let your audience know that there’s a chat

Before you start your event, let your audience know that there’s a separate chat where they can communicate. Let them know that it’s being monitored by admins and they can send in their questions whenever they want.

As long as it’s on topic, then their question will have a chance to be answered.

2. Engage your audience

Before, during, and after the event, don’t forget to ask your audience for questions. It makes them heard. This keeps the energy of the chat alive.

If you keep on addressing their questions, then they will send more.

By being a good speaker and moderator, you give your audience the experience they came for.

3. Great Q&A experience

By using the moderated chat, you have a dedicated chat for Q&A. You get full control of your chat.

Also, your appointed moderators are there to help you. With their help, questions will not pile up and you’re sure to have necessary messages only.

No spam or trolls, and no hate speech.

If you want to share the questions with your audience for future reference, you can easily export the chat transcript.

Then, share it as a downloadable file through email, social media, or directly in the chat room.

Level up your online event

By sharing with you these tips and tricks, have you made your decision to switch to a dedicated chat platform for your next online event? I hope this helps you set-up a moderated chat on your event.

Engage your audience with a question and answer session. Sign up today.