In the past few weeks, virtual events have become an integral part of business and education. It’s a trend that has swept the world out of necessity, but it’s not something that will fade away any time soon. There are many benefits that come with hosting virtual events, and they’re proving themselves viable alternatives to in-person meetings and conferences.
What are virtual events, exactly?
If you’ve ever attended a webinar or worked out with an on-demand workout class online, you’ve been part of a virtual event. Any gathering or “event” that’s organized through a virtual medium can be considered a virtual event. It’s not uncommon for people to attend conferences while relaxing at the comfort of their own desks at home.
While many of these events were previously organized for convenience, they’ve now become a necessity. During this period of isolation and quarantine, people can’t really get out much, even for purposes of work. This has led to a massive increase in the number of virtual events, which now cover everything from university lectures to business meetings.
Why host a virtual event?
Hosting a meeting or gathering is one of the best ways to effectively spread your message. Events help drive leads and create revenue, while also building legitimacy for your business. It’s a lot easier to create a loyal following with a well-organized event than it is with blanket advertising and messages. However, these events and meetings don’t necessarily have to be organized in person.
There are many reasons you might want to avoid in-person gatherings for your event. Sometimes, it’s simply not convenient to call in people from around the world to meet up in one room. Other times, time constraints and personal preferences will prevent you from meeting in person.
The current situation with COVID-19 is another good reason to avoid face-to-face interactions. You don’t want to put people at risk of contracting a dangerous disease. In many places, gatherings that include a large number of individuals are forbidden, meaning that a virtual event is the only option available.
Organizing a virtual event
Before you start calling in guests for your event, you need to have a well-defined structure for it. A virtual event needs to have an agenda which will define the structure of the event, while also attracting viewers.
Start with the essentials. The event needs to have speakers and guests that will provide the content and information that interests viewers. It should feature presentations and keynote speeches to add variety and expand on covered topics. Consider creating an opening speech for the very beginning, as it would capture the interest of the viewers, while also setting the stage for what’s to come later on.
Make sure every part of the event has a set time duration so that things stay on schedule. Always add a bit of extra time for speakers to allow for more breathing room and a more relaxed presentation.
Defining your audience
Every event has a purpose, and one of them is captivating your target audience. For this to work, you need to get this audience to participate in the event right from the start.
If you already have a following for your content and events, it would be wise to sort through it and apply targeted marketing techniques to attract specific demographics to this event. Your goal is to create a following that will last through future events.
Once you’ve defined and chosen your audience, you need to fit the event’s content to match their interests.
Producing the event
Planning a virtual event is difficult enough, but making it happen is another challenge entirely. There are many logistical difficulties that you have to overcome to make a functional and effective virtual event.
There are video and audio elements that need to be set up properly in order to provide a seamless experience for viewers. This requires a level of expertise and knowledge that is best left to professionals. Event organizers should focus on promotion while leaving production and technical aspects of the event to Veritas Events.
With the help of professional event production, you can guarantee that your event will be broadcast without technical issues. This gives you time to create a strong marketing strategy that will attract viewers, without needing to stress about how to film and broadcast the event.
Setting up a landing page
Every online event or webinar needs to have a landing page. It’s where viewers will find all the information they need about the event. It should feature the event’s agenda and list the names and credentials of all the guest speakers that are featured.
A sign-up page would come in handy to collect emails and names of those who attended. This would help you market future events and promotions for your attendees.
Conclusion
The answer is yes – virtual events are a trend that is here to stay. While the current pandemic situation is prompting the need for more virtual events, they were slowly gaining traction before as well. The convenience of long-distance communication and presentation is unparalleled and businesses will quickly take note of this and apply the method for future events.
