If you've ever typed "best virtual summit platform" into a Google search at 11pm while simultaneously spiraling about your tech choices... this episode is for you!
Summit tech is one of the most common sticking points for hosts - whether it's your first event or your fifth. And the question everyone wants answered is: which platform should I use? Today's guest, Sharee Collier of thesummithost.com, has hosted summits on Kajabi, ThriveCart, and HeySummit - and her take on the whole "best platform" debate might just change the way you approach this decision entirely.
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Episode at a glance:
[00:00:48] How a road trip, an unexpected job loss, and a blog about full-time RVing launched Sharee's summit career
What happens when you get fired on a family road trip through the Avenue of the Giants, with all your kids in the car? If you're Sharee, you use the extra windshield time to figure out your next move. She shares how she turned a tiny niche blog about full-time RVing into a 5,000-person summit that made over $10,000 on day one - complete with major sponsors like RV Trader and a Discovery Channel TV show. Not a bad pivot from a "humiliating" moment she almost never talks about!
"I put that event together, and we ended up having over 5,000 people register. We made over $10,000 by the first day. We had huge sponsors. It was crazy. And then it was just like, we had hundreds of people tuning in for these sessions... and I was like, 'Jeez, this is the power of virtual events.'"
[00:05:05] Why Sharee refuses to commit to just one platform
Sharee's philosophy is simple: one size fits no one. She meets clients where they are - if they're already on Kajabi, they use Kajabi. If they have ThriveCart and want to avoid monthly subscriptions, great. If they want all the bells and whistles, HeySummit enters the chat. The best platform isn't a universal answer - it's whatever makes the most sense for this person at this point in their business.
"There is no best tool. There are some really great tools, but if you know the strategy and structure behind how to do a virtual summit, any tool can actually deliver it. You can do the thing with a Facebook group if you want. Most people are not there for the bells and whistles. They're there for the promise - that goal that you're helping them reach."
[00:07:09] What HeySummit does well (and why you can't just log in and wing it)
HeySummit has come a long way since its early days. Sharee is a power user who has literally had features built for her mid-event, just because she asked. Attendees get a true event experience - chat boxes, sponsor booths, an attendee meeting area. Speakers get their own dashboards. It feels like an event, not just videos getting dripped out.
But here's the catch: if you log in and use their standard template without customizing anything, it's going to fall flat - and Sharee has watched even experienced hosts make this mistake.
"You have to customize it. You can't just use their standard template because it is going to look like the template, and it's not gonna convert, and people aren't gonna get the event experience... You can't expect to log in, toss in your videos, toss in your speakers, and call it a day. There is still strategy, there is still planning, there is still branding that has to go into the event."
[00:19:14] The #1 mistake Sharee sees hosts make with summit tech
It comes down to two things: overbuilding and overcomplicating. She's seen hosts run their registration through HeySummit, sell tickets through ThriveCart, host content back in HeySummit, and string it all together with a dozen Zaps - only to end up with delayed emails and a broken attendee experience. Instead, make a list of what you actually need, take inventory of what you already have, and fill in the gaps. Starting simple is almost always the smarter move.
"Event marketing is so powerful. You're touching these people in a way that you just can't with a text email. So you don't wanna lose that momentum. You wanna lean into it."
[00:22:21] So... which platform should YOU use?
Start with what you have. If you're already on Kajabi, use Kajabi. If you have ThriveCart, use ThriveCart. If you have nothing and need a starting point, ThriveCart is her go-to recommendation - it's affordable, easy to learn, and it works. Once you've got a summit or two under your belt and want to level up the experience? That's when something like HeySummit is worth considering.
"There is no perfect tech. There are great tech options, and each one is gonna depend on what you're doing and where you're at, what you have. Like, every event is gonna be different."
About Sharee Collier
Author of The Virtual Summit Planner and founder of TheSummitHost.com, your all-inclusive resource for planning and hosting virtual summits. Sharee helps you simplify the summit process with proven strategies, time-saving templates, and step-by-step support, so they can grow your audience, build authority, and boost your sales without the overwhelm.
With her expertise in event planning and marketing, Sharee knows exactly how to create engaging experiences that leave lasting impressions. Whether you're planning to host a virtual summit, or full online conference, Sharee will help you go from idea to execution with her step-by-step process to guide you along the way.
Get the free Virtual Summit Planner | Sharee's HeySummit affiliate link
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