Virtual Summit Secrets Podcast: Virtual Summit Planning, Marketing, and Monetization Strategies for Online Entrepreneurs

Jenny Suneson + Lindsey Aleson | Virtual Summit Strategist for Coaches, Course Creators, and Service Providers
  • 5.0 (3)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Virtual Summit Secrets Podcast is your guide for #allthethings when it comes to hosting a killer virtual summit. If you want to grow your income, impact, and influence, through virtual summits, grab your headphones! You will find episodes on everything from planning your first virtual summit to speaker outreach + coordination to promotion and everything in between!Your hosts, Jenny Suneson + Lindsey Aleson, are extremely passionate about virtual summits and owner the summit support agency Summit Success Squad. Between the two of then, they've hosted over 6 virtual summits and helped countless others do the same.

  1. 1D AGO

    26. Behind the Scenes of Our Summit Tech Stack (What We Use + Why We Love It)

    If you’ve ever spiraled into tech comparison mode wondering, “What platform should I use? Do I need an all-in-one tool? Am I missing something?” — this episode is for you. In this behind-the-scenes conversation, we’re pulling back the curtain on our actual summit tech stack. We’re sharing exactly what we use to host profitable, high-impact virtual summits… what we’ve stopped using… and how we keep our systems simple even after hosting multiple events. Here’s the truth: summit tech overwhelm doesn’t come from a lack of options. It comes from too many. Inside this episode, we cover: Why we don’t use all-in-one summit platforms (and what we prefer instead)The tools we use for websites, registration, email delivery, session hosting, payments, and affiliatesWhy we moved away from hosting sessions directly on our websiteThe difference between marketing platforms and engagement platformsWhat beginners should actually focus on (hint: it’s probably what you already have)Optional add-ons like gamification, live chat, and advanced automations and when they make senseHow to choose tech without falling into decision fatigue If you’re planning your first summit or rethinking your current setup, this episode will give you clarity and permission to keep it simple. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss our next episode, where we’ll dive into why your summit doesn’t need fancy branding and what actually drives registrations, engagement, and conversions instead.

    10 min

  2. MAR 11

    25. The Truth About Attendee Drop-Off (And How to Dramatically Reduce It)

    If you’ve ever refreshed your summit dashboard and felt that sinking feeling — registrations are rolling in, but engagement feels… quiet — this episode is for you. In this honest and practical conversation, we’re unpacking one of the most misunderstood parts of hosting a virtual summit: attendee drop-off. And here’s the truth — it’s not a personal failure, and it’s not a sign your summit “isn’t working”. Inside this episode of Virtual Summit Secrets, we break down: What’s actually normal when it comes to summit attendanceWhy drop-off happens (hint: it’s usually cognitive overload, not lack of interest)The mindset shift that reduces stress instantlyThe biggest retention mistake most hosts makeHow to design your summit for re-entry instead of perfectionThe exact touchpoints that increase session watch ratesSimple tweaks to your welcome emails, daily emails, and replay messaging that dramatically boost engagementWe also share the subtle but powerful shifts we’ve made behind the scenes — from reframing expectations to adding more direction (not more content) and how those changes transformed the attendee experience. Because a healthy summit doesn’t aim for perfect attendance. It aims for meaningful engagement from the right people. If you’re hosting a summit (or planning one) and want to increase retention without burning yourself out, this episode will completely reframe how you think about engagement. 🎧 Tune in to learn how to design a summit experience that supports your audience and keeps them coming back.

    8 min

  3. MAR 4

    24. What We’d Do If We Were Hosting a Summit With Only 30 Days to Prepare

    If you’ve ever told yourself, “I can’t host a summit yet — I need more time, more systems, more experience…” this episode is your permission slip to stop waiting. In today’s episode of Virtual Summit Secrets, we’re breaking down exactly how to host a virtual summit in just 30 days without panicking, overcomplicating it, or burning yourself out. Now, let’s be clear: this fast-track plan is best for experienced hosts who already understand the basics of summit flow, tech, and speaker communication. If this is your first summit, we still recommend giving yourself 3–4 months. But if you’ve hosted before and you’re ready to move with speed and strategy? This is your playbook. We walk you through a week-by-week breakdown of what actually matters: Week 1: Decisions and Direction (clarity over chaos)Week 2: Speaker Outreach + Core Asset CreationWeek 3: Promotion and Prep (simplicity wins every time)Week 4: Execution and LeadershipYou’ll also learn: What to cut, keep, or outsource on a tight timelineThe scrappy systems that create speedWhy clarity beats creativity when time is limitedHow to lead with confidence even if things aren’t perfectA 30-day summit isn’t about mastery. It’s about momentum. It’s about doing the right things in the right order and trusting that imperfect action creates clarity. Because your summit doesn’t need to be flawless to be powerful. It just needs to be intentional. And in the next episode, we’re tackling one of the biggest fears summit hosts have: attendee drop-off — what’s normal, what’s not, and how to dramatically improve watch rates. If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start executing, this episode is for you.

    9 min

  4. FEB 25

    23. Should You Run Your Summit Live, Evergreen, or Hybrid? (Let’s Break It Down)

    If you’ve been stuck overthinking the “right” way to run your virtual summit, this episode is going to save you a ton of time (and probably a few stress headaches too). Because here’s the truth: there is no universally “best” summit format. The best format is the one that fits your current season of business, your capacity, and your goals. In this episode, we break down the real pros and cons of live, evergreen, and hybrid summits and help you decide which one makes sense for you without getting caught up in what sounds impressive or what everyone else is doing. Inside this episode, we cover: Why most people choose the wrong summit formatThe pros and cons of live summits (and when they shine)The real truth about evergreen summits and why they’re not always the shortcut they seemHow hybrid summits can combine urgency with longevityWhy beginners should almost always start liveA simple 4-question framework to help you decide in under 10 minutesThe biggest mistake that stalls summit momentumWhether you're planning your very first summit or you're ready to optimize your next one, this episode will help you choose the format that supports your business — not your ego. 🎧 Tune in and get clear on the smartest way to structure your next virtual summit.

    8 min

  5. FEB 18

    22. The Collaboration Flywheel: How Summits Create Partnerships That Grow Your Biz All Year

    If you think the biggest win from hosting a summit is the email list you grow during launch week… think again. In this episode of Virtual Summit Secrets, we’re breaking down one of the most underrated (and most profitable) benefits of hosting a virtual summit: how it becomes a year-round collaboration engine for your business We’re diving into what we call the Collaboration Flywheel and why the real ROI of your summit doesn’t just happen during event week. It happens in the relationships you build, the trust you create, and the partnerships that quietly compound long after the final session ends. If you’ve been treating your summit like a one-time visibility spike, this episode will completely reframe how you think about its long-term strategic power. Inside this episode, we cover: Why summits are relationship accelerators (not just list-building machines)The hidden ROI most hosts overlookReal examples of collaborations born from past summitsPodcast guest swapsOngoing referral partnershipsCo-hosted workshops and eventsGuest expert opportunitiesLong-term visibility partnershipsHow to show up during your event to build trust and credibilityThe biggest post-summit mistake hosts make (and how to avoid it)A simple system for nurturing collaborators long after the event endsHow to create a “Collaboration Flywheel” that compounds year after yearBy the end of this episode, you’ll start seeing your summit not as a heavy lift but as one of the smartest, most strategic networking tools you can design into your business. And in the next episode, we’re tackling another big decision point: whether to run your summit live, evergreen, or hybrid and how to choose the right format without overthinking it.

    6 min

  6. FEB 11

    21. Time to Level Up: What Makes a Summit “High-End” (Without Spending More Money)

    Ever joined a virtual summit that felt calm, polished, and high-end… without flashy tech or a massive budget?  In this episode of Virtual Summit Secrets, we’re busting the myth that premium events require fancy platforms, expensive branding, or celebrity speakers. Because the truth is, high-end isn’t about spending more — it’s about making better, more intentional decisions. We’re breaking down what actually makes a summit feel elevated, professional, and memorable for attendees and speakers. From clarity and consistency to the small, often-overlooked moments that shape the overall experience, this episode will completely shift how you think about creating a premium summit without adding more stress, tech, or overwhelm. In this episode, you’ll learn: What truly makes a virtual summit feel high-end (and what doesn’t)The role clarity and consistency play in elevating the attendee experienceWhy the “in-between moments” matter more than adding more speakers or bonusesThe 80/20 upgrades that create the biggest impact with the least effortSimple, actionable ways to make your summit feel polished, intentional, and well-ledIf you want your summit to feel premium without overcomplicating it, this episode is your new roadmap.

    6 min

  7. FEB 4

    20. The Real Reason Speakers Promote (And It’s Not Your List Size)

    If you’ve ever thought, “Once my list is bigger, speakers will finally promote my summit,” this episode is for you. In this episode of Virtual Summit Secrets, we’re busting one of the most discouraging myths in the virtual event world: that speakers only care about your list size. Spoiler alert—they don’t. What actually drives speaker promotion has far more to do with trust, clarity, and how you show up as a host than how many subscribers you have. We break down what high-quality speakers are really asking themselves before they decide to promote your event—and why brand-new hosts land incredible experts every single day. You’ll learn the four key things speakers care about most, how to position your summit as a true collaboration (not a favor), and what to do when speakers don’t promote without spiraling or taking it personally. In this episode, we cover: Why list size is not the deciding factor for speaker promotionWhat high-quality speakers actually care about before saying yesThe 4 elements speakers look for in a well-run summitHow to position your event so speakers want to promote itWhy lack of promotion is usually a systems issue—not a personal oneA simple pre-event speaker experience checklist to boost promotionIf you want speakers who feel confident sharing your event with their audience—and you want to host a summit that feels organized, intentional, and professional—this episode is a must-listen.

    7 min

  8. JAN 28

    19. Nobody Reads Long Summit Pages (Myth… Totally Busted!)

    You've probably heard it before: "Nobody reads long summit registration pages."  And if you're hosting a virtual summit, that advice might have made you second-guess every word on your page. In this episode of Virtual Summit Secrets, we're busting that myth wide open. The truth? People don't avoid long summit pages — they avoid confusing ones. We're breaking down what actually drives summit signups, why clarity always beats clever copy, and how to design a registration page that helps the right people confidently say yes without overwhelm. If you've ever worried that your page is "too long," "too wordy," or not converting the way you hoped, this episode will completely shift how you think about your summit copy. In this episode, you'll learn: Why "nobody reads long pages" is one of the biggest myths in the summit spaceThe real questions your audience is subconsciously asking when they land on your registration pageBefore-and-after examples that show how clarity instantly improves conversionsThe 5 essential elements every high-converting summit registration page needsWhat not to focus on when writing your summit page (and what actually matters instead)Whether your registration page is short or long, the goal is the same: help the right person quickly understand what the event is, who it's for, and why it's worth their time. And that's exactly what we're unpacking in this episode. 🎧 Tune in and stop stressing about page length and start focusing on what really moves people to sign up.

    7 min
See All (26)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Virtual Summit Secrets Podcast is your guide for #allthethings when it comes to hosting a killer virtual summit. If you want to grow your income, impact, and influence, through virtual summits, grab your headphones! You will find episodes on everything from planning your first virtual summit to speaker outreach + coordination to promotion and everything in between!Your hosts, Jenny Suneson + Lindsey Aleson, are extremely passionate about virtual summits and owner the summit support agency Summit Success Squad. Between the two of then, they've hosted over 6 virtual summits and helped countless others do the same.

Information