How to reach more customers globally with virtual events

Jun 01, 2023

In recent years, technology has made it easier than ever for businesses to connect with customers and clients all over the world. Gone are the days when companies had to rely solely on in-person events to generate interest and excitement around their products or services. Now, with virtual events, businesses can reach a global audience without spending a fortune on travel and accommodations.

What's more, online events offer opportunities for greater engagement and interaction than in-person events, making them an ideal way to create memorable experiences for your audience. And because online events can be easily shared and promoted through social media and other online channels, they offer a cost-effective way to reach a wide range of potential customers. Whether you're looking to launch a new product, build brand awareness, or generate leads, online events offer a powerful marketing solution.

Moreover, virtual events are an excellent way to reach new customers on a global scale. First, virtual events eliminate the need for travel. This means your potential customer pool is no longer limited to those who can physically attend an event. Second, with a virtual event, you have the opportunity to reach people in different time zones by recording the event and making it available on-demand. And third, you can use marketing automation tools to score and segment leads so you can follow up with the hottest prospects after the event.

In short, if you're looking for a cost-effective way to reach more customers globally and promote your business, virtual events are the way to go. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to get started.

1. Define your target audience

Determining your target audience is an essential first step in planning any online event. You need to think about; Who do you want to reach with your event? What needs do they have that your product or service can address? Keep these questions in mind as you determine your event topic and format.

In addition, remember that your target audience will also dictate what kind of marketing you'll need to do to get their attention and interest. For example, if you're targeting young professionals, you'll need to use different marketing channels than if you're targeting seniors. Equally important, you'll need to make sure your online event offers experiences that are relevant and engaging for your target audience. By taking the time to understand your target audience, you'll be able to create an online event that is successful and meets their needs.

2. Define your goals

Before you start planning your virtual event, it's important to take a step back and think about what you want to achieve. Are you looking to generate leads? Drive sales? Increase brand awareness? Once you've defined your goals, you can start planning your event accordingly.

Keep your audience's interests in mind as you create your event. What kind of experiences do they want to have? What will keep them engaged throughout the event? By putting yourself in your audience's shoes, you can create an online event that truly resonates with them. And don't forget about marketing! Be sure to promote your event online and offline to ensure maximum interest and engagement. With a little planning, you can create an online event that accomplishes all of your goals.

3. Choose the right platform

When planning an online event, it's important to select the right platform. There are many different options available, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. So, it's important to choose the platform that best meets your needs and interests. By doing so, you can ensure that your virtual event is a success.

Whether you're looking to host a live event with multiple speakers or want to create a more immersive experience for your attendees, there's a virtual event platform that's right for you. Marquet, Zoom and GoToWebinar are good options if you're interested in hosting a live event, while VR platforms like Unreal Engine or Unity can create a more immersive experience for your audience.

Consider factors like the size of your audience, your budget, and your goals for the event. It's also important to think about your audience's experience. Will they be able to easily use the platform? Will they be able to engage with the content? Keep these things in mind when making your decision. The right platform can make all the difference when it comes to hosting a successful online event.

4. Promote your event

Once you have selected a topic and platform, it's time to start promoting your event. Just because your event is online doesn't mean you shouldn't promote it. In fact, you should promote your online event just as you would an in-person event. Building online experiences for your audience doesn't stop at the event itself. By promoting your online event, you'll generate interest and engagement from your audience.

It's important to market your event so that potential attendees know what you have to offer and why they should participate. By using a variety of marketing channels, you can reach a wider audience and promote your event more effectively. Email marketing, social media, paid advertising and even print if necessary are all great tools for promoting your upcoming virtual event. Don't forget to include a clear call-to-action so people know how to sign up or participate. So don't underestimate the power of promotion when it comes to online events. It could be the difference between a successful event and one that falls flat.

5. Engage your audience

Once your online event is underway, it's important to keep your audience engaged. This can be done in a number of ways, depending on the type of event you're hosting. If you're giving a presentation, for example, make sure to use engaging visuals and clear language that everyone can understand. And if you're hosting a panel discussion or interview, encourage audience members to ask questions via the chat function.

Regardless of the format, it's important to keep your audience engaged so they walk away with positive experiences and an interest in your brand or product. By ensuring a high level of engagement, you'll create positive word-of-mouth marketing for your business.

6. Follow up with attendees post-event

Once your virtual event is over, it's important to follow up with attendees to thank them for their interest and engagement. You can do this via email or phone. This is also a great opportunity to send them additional information related to the topics covered during the event and invite them to learn more about your product or service by signing up for a free trial or demo.

By following up after your event, you'll continue to nurture relationships with your audience and further market your experiences. You'll keep your attendees engaged and show them that you value their time and feedback. What's more, you'll be able to use their feedback to improve future events. So don't forget to reach out after your next online event!

Virtual events are a great way to expand your customers base and reach new clients all over the world without spending a fortune on travel and accommodations costs. When planning a virtual event, it's important to define your goals ahead of time and choose the right platform based on your specific needs. You should also promote your event using all your available marketing and sales channels and follow up with attendees afterwards to thank them for their time and feedback. Consider these tips when using virtual events as part of our marketing strategy.

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In a world that's increasingly driven by technology, it's no surprise that virtual events are on the rise. With so many industries embracing the power of the internet, it's only natural that more and more events are being held online. While some industries have been slow to adopt this new trend, others have embraced it with open arms. Here are four industries that have thrived as a result of the shift to virtual events. Education The boom of online learning has led to a period of adaptation where educators have had to get creative in order to continue providing students with the same quality content they would provide in-person. Enter: virtual events. Virtual events have allowed educators to host virtual lessons where, just like in the classroom, students can listen to lectures, participate in activities, and engage with their classmates. Here are a few ways in which virtual events have benefitted the educational industry: Increased access: Online learning provides greater access to education for students who may not have access to traditional brick-and-mortar schools. This includes students who live in rural areas, students with disabilities, and students who are unable to attend traditional schools for other reasons. Flexibility: Online learning allows students to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule. This can be especially beneficial for students who have other commitments, such as work or family responsibilities. Cost savings: Online learning can be more cost-effective than traditional education for both students and schools. For students, online learning eliminates travel costs, as well as material costs for bags, or school lunches. For the school, online classes reduce the overall cost of delivering education as they save money on physical printed assets, stationery, school-provided technology and more. Increased engagement: Online learning can help to engage students who may be disengaged in a traditional classroom setting by providing a more interactive and personalized learning experience. Some students also find it easier to engage with work in the comfort of their own home where they might not feel as much pressure as in a traditional classroom. Technology The tech industry is another that has seen great success with virtual events. In fact, many tech companies were already using online platforms to hold events before the pandemic hit. From promotional events to internal organizational events, the tech industry has widely benefitted from hosting virtual events. These benefits include: Increased accessibility. Online events make it easier for people with disabilities as they can participate from the comfort of their own homes. This can help to increase diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. Virtual events also provide higher access for international or faraway event attendees who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend due to traveling time, planning or costs. Cost savings: Online events can be more cost-effective than traditional in-person events, as they eliminate the need to rent physical event space and can reduce the cost of logistics and travel for both organizers and attendees. Once again, these cost savings lead to greater event scalability and increased attendance. On the one hand, a higher number of attendees will be able to afford to attend the event. On the other hand, the company doesn’t have to worry about capping attendance based on physical space and other resource availability. Increased visibility. With increased accessibility and attendance comes increased visibility. Online events provide an opportunity for tech companies to showcase their products and services to a wider audience, often internationally to those in countries where that tech brand is still growing. This can help to increase the visibility of the company and its offerings and can also help to generate leads and drive sales. Improved engagement. Online events can be more interactive and engaging than traditional in-person events, as they often incorporate features such as live Q&A sessions and interactive polls. This can help to increase engagement and make the event more impactful for attendees. Marketing When it comes to marketing, virtual events have become a key marketing strategy for increasing brand awareness and loyalty. Here are a few ways in which virtual events have benefitted the marketing industry: Increased accessibility and visibility. We’ve covered these points in the previous industries but it’s with mentioning here too. In a profession that often places increased visibility, awareness and lead count as a key goal, virtual events have become an indispensable strategy in marketers’ toolbelts. Lower costs mean greater scalability and higher attendance capacity. Shorter event planning time. While an in-person event can take the better part of a year to plan (even just booking a venue well in advance can place your event date on the distant horizon), virtual events can take mere weeks to put together. This means marketers can create more frequent events throughout the year which increases the amount and consistency of communication they have with customers and allows them to create and put out more content that increases visibility. After all, smaller bursts of consistent engagement through the year are better than one giant event and then no engagement for the rest of the year. Event statistics and data. Virtual events offer marketers a great way to collect real-time data about their target audience before, during and after the event. By tracking attendees' behaviors such as enrolment, and attendance, as well as their engagement with event content, marketers can gain valuable insights into what type of content most resonates with their audience and make necessary adjustments on the fly or for future events. This level of data-driven decision making is invaluable for any marketing team looking to stay ahead of the competition. Hospitality The hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit by COVID-19 due to restrictions on travel and large gatherings. However, even in these difficult times, there are still opportunities for businesses in this sector to thrive—and many of them have found success by pivoting to virtual events. Turning to online learning. One benefit the hospitality sector found during lockdown was the ability to harness its services into online learning classes. From cooking to workout classes, hotels took the opportunity to show attendees how to use new skills and start new hobbies. Fostering community. Some hotel events set up activities such as games for families, or special interest groups such as cooking groups or reading clubs. Hotels benefited from creating a flowering community around their brands. As the world becomes more technology-driven, it's crucial to remember that businesses in all industries can still thrive, even during times of crisis like the current one. By embracing new trends like virtual events, businesses can stay relevant, connect with their audiences, and keep operating when traditional methods are no longer possible or viable.