Hey there, fellow Google Meet hosts! Let’s face it, when you're hosting sales training for the food and beverage industry, keeping your audience engaged is a game-changer. We all know that sales folks can miss critical info if they're not paying attention, and that can be seriously costly for any company. That’s why keeping your audience engaged and helping them retain knowledge is super important. When you grab their attention, they not only enjoy your session more, but they also walk away with the info they need to rock their sales game.

Map Out Your Audience

Alright, let’s talk Magic Maps. Picture this: you kick off your session with the classic question, 'Where are you joining us from today?' But instead of the usual awkward silence or one-word answers, your audience starts typing away, and boom—you've got those locations popping up on a real-time world map! During sales training, you could ask attendees to share the best sales experience they've had in a particular location, or how they handled customers from different regions. This way, you're encouraging everyone to share their stories while getting some practical insights, all with a cool visual aid on Google Meet.

Gather Insight with Opinion Polls

Want to hear what your team really thinks? Fire up the Opinion Polls. Let's say you're discussing the pros and cons of a particular sales strategy. Ask your audience to chip in their views or rate different strategies. Maybe during a session, you'd ask what challenges they face the most with seasonal sales. This feedback is golden as it gives you direct insight into their concerns, allowing for a more tailored session that hits all the right notes.

Engage with Power Polls

Power Polls are a must-have in your engagement toolbox. These allow you to take the pulse of your audience in real-time. For instance, if you're teaching different sales techniques, you can poll your attendees on which technique they find most challenging or effective. Another idea is to ask about their preferred method of handling customer complaints. This not only opens the floor for interactive discussion but also helps you tailor the rest of your session to address these pain points.

Spin to Win Participation

Introducing the Winner Wheel! When you notice a lull in your session, it’s a great way to get everyone participating again. Let’s say you've just discussed a big sales tip or strategy. Now, tell your attendees they can spin the wheel to win a small prize (could be a bonus study material or a discount voucher). You could also spin the wheel after a role play to decide who gets to share their thoughts first. It’s engaging, fun, and keeps everybody on their toes, waiting for their chance to win or contribute.

Capture Thoughts with Wonder Words

Wonder Words can truly reflect what’s on your team's minds. During your session, ask something like, 'What's one word that describes your biggest challenge in sales?' As they start typing these words in the chat, a vivid word cloud forms before their eyes in real-time, highlighting common challenges. This can lead to a deeper dive into those areas needing attention. It could also be used to gather one-word feedback about the session itself, like 'useful', 'engaging', or 'mind-blowing'. This visual feedback is a great way to wrap things up and leave the audience reflecting on their learning.

Decide Without the Pressure

Power Polls are a must-have in your engagement toolbox. These allow you to take the pulse of your audience in real-time. For instance, if you're teaching different sales techniques, you can poll your attendees on which technique they find most challenging or effective. Another idea is to ask about their preferred method of handling customer complaints. This not only opens the floor for interactive discussion but also helps you tailor the rest of your session to address these pain points.