Did you know that nearly ninety percent of those who plan virtual events use social media to engage participants before their events even start?
Even though face-to-face events will always be important, it is becoming more common for people to hold virtual events. The problem that many event organizers have is that there is a big difference between holding a virtual event and in-person events.
This is why it is so important to understand how to hold virtual events. To help you out, we’ve created a guide. Read on and we will tell you everything that you need to know.
What Are Virtual Events?
Any event that people hold online is a virtual event. It’s possible to organize virtual events that are invite-only as well as public live streams on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
Those who want to offer their audiences a chance to go more in-depth into a certain subject often choose to create virtual conferences and mini-retreats which last for several days.
One of the reasons that virtual events are becoming more popular is because it doesn’t cost very much to organize them. All you need to do is have a stable internet connection, a microphone, and a webcam.
But if you want to take your virtual event planning to another level, it’s also a good idea to hire a production company to help you out.
Different Kinds of Virtual Events
There are many different kinds of virtual events. Here are the most important kinds of virtual events that you should consider holding.
Webinars
Most webinars last for at least a half hour. They are a good type of event to hold if you want to bring people together from around the world to listen to presentations from respected speakers.
Many webinars are free to attend, but those which offer lots of value to participants usually cost money.
Webinars often use video conferencing software that makes it easy to hold Q&A sessions. Presenters typically present their ideas with the help of slides and pre-recorded videos.
Virtual Conferences
There are lots of similarities between virtual conferences and webinars. But a virtual conference tends to engage a virtual audience by offering agendas that are more complex.
They tend to include keynotes, interactive breakout sessions for interacting in smaller groups, and workshops.
Even though virtual conferences are not as effective as in-person events for those whose goal is to capture leads, they do make it easy for people from around the world to watch presentations and interact with one another in real-time.
If you organize a virtual conference, it is a good idea to use a Livestream studio.
Hybrid Events
There are lots of different hybrid events that you can hold. For example, if you run a business, you might consider organizing employee trainings that take place in person and online.
This is an especially good idea if your company has employees who are based in different parts of the world. You can hold an in-person event at your headquarters which you can also live stream to those who are not able to attend in person.
The Benefits of Hosting a Virtual Event
If you do not want to spend a lot of money to host an event, you should consider making it into a virtual event. By doing this, you’ll be able to generate new leads, increase revenue, and increase brand loyalty.
Another benefit of holding a virtual event is that people do not need to be in a certain geographical location in order to attend it. This means that it’s easy to host events that have large turnouts.
The Fundamentals of Planning a Virtual Event
Regardless of whether you’re going to be hosting an in-person or a virtual event, you probably want to include them as part of your integrated marketing mix.
This is why it’s important to think about how the virtual events that you’re planning on hosting will fulfill the goals of your marketing plan.
You should consider holding virtual events that offer your customers who have already attended your live events the chance to go more in-depth to explore a certain subject.
You’re also going to need to develop a great marketing plan if you want your virtual events to attract lots of attendees. Try to create content for your marketing plan that explains what your live events will be about and why they will be of value to members of your target audience.
What You’ll Need to Host a Great Virtual Event
If you want to host a great virtual event, there are several things that you need to make sure that you have in order. For starters, you need to have high-quality video production. It’s also essential that you have a fast internet connection that is capable of transmitting high-quality video.
If you do not yet have an event webpage set up, make sure that you do this. Your webpage should be attractive and easy to read. You should also make sure that it includes a call-to-action for people to register.
If you want to hold an event again in the future, it’s also a good idea to send out feedback surveys to participants after your event is over.
Start Holding Virtual Events Today
If you’ve been wondering what it takes to hold an unforgettable virtual event, it’s a good idea to know what kind of virtual event you are interested in holding. Consider organizing a virtual conference if you want to feature various speakers.
If you want to find out more about how to hold virtual events, feel free to contact us. We are here to help with anything that you might need.
