What companies need to know when hosting a virtual event

In today’s digital world, it has become easier than ever to get your message out. From social media platforms to blogs and websites, everyone has a voice. Still, many of these communication mediums lack the feeling of live, in-person presence and can often feel impersonal or detached. That is where virtual events come in handy. With virtual events, you can have a group of people gather in an online location but maintain the same level of presence as an in-person meeting. It doesn’t matter if customers cannot physically be there for the event or if the company does not have an office big enough to host everyone in person. Virtual events give businesses an opportunity to connect with their audience on any level—without needing an actual physical presence. According to one study, 51% of companies doing VEs just started to do so in 2020. It’s a new trend that’s moving quickly and will continue to develop (Anyroad, 2021). When planning your next virtual event, there are several things you should keep in mind before you start hosting these events. 

While virtual events are great for their accessibility, companies should always start with market research before hosting a virtual event. How many people are they hosting? What time of year is it? Where, and on what platform are they hosting the event? All these things can help companies create a better virtual event. Companies should also take into consideration hiring the appropriate platform to host their virtual event. 

Companies should keep in mind that virtual events don’t just happen—they are a result of building a community. Before you put on your first virtual event, you will want to start building your community. This could mean joining social media groups, creating profiles for forums, and even creating a community on your website. When you start building your community, you will want to make sure you have content ready for them to consume. This could mean creating blog posts that get people excited about the event, creating highlighting videos for the event, and creating an event website for people to access the event information. You will also want to make sure that you have some other resources ready for people to access. 

One of the best things about virtual events is that they do not rely on a physical presence. This means they are free to be held at any time of the day or night and anywhere around the world. If you are planning on holding an event that has different time zones, this is something you will want to take into consideration. Before you start planning your events, you will want to take into consideration any requirements the virtual event space may have. Also, you will want to start creating a schedule for your virtual events. You will want to create a schedule for when you want to hold the virtual events, what content you want to create for the events, and what marketing campaigns you want to engage in. These are just a few things you will want to take into consideration when planning your virtual events. 

Virtual events have become a key tool for companies to communicate with their target markets and boost sales. Virtual events are real-time, remote video broadcasts that allow attendees to connect virtually with an organization’s stakeholders. They can be held via webinar, teleseminar, virtual conference call, online training program, or any other software application that supports the same format. 

4 Reasons to host a virtual event 

There's no doubt that online events are a great way to promote your business. Not only do they allow you to reach a wider audience, but they also offer some great benefits. For starters, online events can be a great way to connect with your customers. By hosting an event, you can give them the opportunity to ask questions and engage with you directly. This can lead to renewed customer loyalty and increased sales. Additionally, online events can be a great way to build your brand awareness. By hosting an event, you can show your customers that you're a credible source of information and advice. And, of course, online events offer a great way to boost your marketing strategy. By hosting an event, you can create powerful content that you can use to promote your site and reach new customers. 85% of companies said VEs are “here to stay” and more than half said they would increase their budgets for VEs next year (Anyroad, 2021).

Hosting an online event can be a great way to promote your business, build relationships with your customers, and increase brand awareness. Here are a few reasons why you should consider hosting an event: 

1. Online events are easy to set up and manage. You can easily create a registration form, create a schedule, and track attendance and participation. 

2. Online events are cost-effective. You won't have to spend money on advertising, travel expenses, or venue rental fees. 

3. Online events offer a variety of benefits, including increased brand awareness, increased traffic to your website, and increased customer loyalty. 

4. Online events can be a strategic marketing tool. By hosting an event, you can reach new customers and build relationships with your current customers. 

Benefits of virtual events

1. Creates engagement 

2. Improves brand awareness 

3. Generates product sales and direct revenue (indirect revenue, ticketing/admission, donations) 

4. Generates business data (deeper insights into your market's needs, pains, and behaviors. This information can help you better target your entire marketing strategy, from product design, brand positioning, and promotional content) 

Virtual events are an excellent way for companies to get their message out to target audiences or employees. In a world where social media has become such an important channel, virtual events have become the perfect complement. These events give your target audience the opportunity to ask questions, connect with like-minded people and learn more about you and your company. 

Summing up, virtual events have become more popular than ever in recent years. They are a great way for businesses to connect with their customers in a way that doesn’t require a physical presence. While virtual events can be beneficial, there are a few things you should keep in mind before hosting one. Make sure you research the virtual event space you want to use. This will help you make sure they can handle your event and they are available when you need them to be. You will also want to build a community before hosting a virtual event. This will help you reach out to your audience and ensure they understand what your event is about. Planning your virtual events will help you ensure they are successful. 

Sources: 

Anyroad. 2021. The state of virtual events. Global benchmark report.