Why are Moderators Necessary During Online Conferences?

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Although online conferences are somewhat easier to plan than live, in-person events, they do require some thought and careful organization in order to go smoothly. There are technical [tag]aspects to think about, registration to be taken care of, and presenters to prepare for their presentations. And there is one more thing that is worth considering: should you have a moderator?

What Is a Moderator?

If you have participated in an online conference or conference call, you have probably seen or heard a moderator even if you didn't realize it at the time. The moderator is the person who introduces the speakers, but that is only a small portion of his duties. A moderator's function is to keep everything going smoothly.

The moderator may help with technical checks before the conference starts, making sure everyone is logged in and there are no audio or video problems. He can make sure that everyone has the notes they need and there is no undesirable background noise. He may also greet participants as they call or log in and tell them anything they need to know.

Once the conference has begun, the moderator does an introduction and then hands the reins over to the first speaker. If there are other speakers, he will usually introduce them as well. And once the speakers are finished, the moderator can maintain order during a question and answer session.

Do I Need a Moderator for a Small Conference?

It is up to the conference holder to determine whether a moderator should be used or not, but with large conferences with multiple speakers it is almost a necessity. Smaller conferences may or may not really need a moderator, but they can certainly benefit from having one. The moderator can smooth transitions between segments of the conference and assist participants with any technical difficulties they may have during the presentations.

If there is just one speaker, even at a small conference, having a moderator is probably a good idea. The speaker won't be able to attend to technical issues while speaking. If you have two or more speakers and are not expecting a large audience, however, a moderator might not be necessary. If both speakers can handle technical issues and one would like to take on the question and answer session, they may do fine on their own.

In most cases, a moderator is essential to keeping your conference on track and free of problems and distractions. If you don't have someone in your company who can serve as a moderator, you can hire someone you know or post an ad online. While it is possible to have a conference without a moderator, having one gives you the peace of mind of knowing that things will likely go much more smoothly.