Why Virtual Events Aren’t Restricted To Covid Times Alone
If you’re one of the many businesses that switched to hosting virtual events after the pandemic struck, we have news. Virtual events- specifically hybrid events- are here to stay. Nearly 70% of businesses have voted in favour of hosting hybrid events and have signed long-term contracts with virtual meeting platforms.
Parallelly, there is a school of thought that believes that in-person events are crucial and that nothing can replace the connection and personal touch that they provide. While we cannot disagree with that, let us also tell you that allocating a section of your event portfolio to virtual events even today can help you in many ways.
Don’t believe us? Let’s dive deeper and understand these benefits better.
1. They help widen the reach of your event
Even if you are hosting an in-person event, it is sensible to stream it and invite virtual attendees because it means you’re being inclusive of those who are unable to attend and those who are in different regions and time zones.
2. They enable you to connect with varied audiences
If you are hosting a virtual trade show, or a large-scale event, don’t make it only in-person. Having a virtual setup will enable you to connect with new groups of people who may not be all that familiar with your brand but match the definition of a user.
Similarly, if you are hosting a concert, or a live panel discussion, one of your panelists can connect virtually instead of flying down to your venue. As a host, you save money and as a speaker, your panelist gets the visibility. If he/she is famous, then your event is likely to receive more participation. So, it’s a win-win.
3. They simplify event planning
Virtual event trends for 2022 predict the continued dominance of hybrid events because of the simple fact that they simplify a lot of event-related planning. You can have a micro in-person event with a small venue and a limited budget while still being able to include participants and attendees from other parts of the world. That is a very exciting prospect for most businesses who are keen on expanding their presence whilst still delivering the personal experience to a handful of attendees.
4. They solidify your online brand presence
Most businesses tend to invest heavily in digital and social media marketing to build an online presence. However, they have another avenue through virtual events. Large corporations like Microsoft have been successfully utilizing virtual meeting platforms to improve their PR on both owned and paid media. What they charged for in 2019, they provided for free in 2020: registration for their conference. And the number of attendees went up from 6,000 in 2019 to almost 200,000 in 2020.
5. They are much more customizable
Unlike in-person events, virtual events are easy to customize. That’s because several good platforms like Virtex have robust technology that allows businesses to replicate the look and feel of their physical venue, engage with their audience, and provide helpful resources even after the event.
Today, as more businesses embrace the idea of hybrid events, they are also very watchful of the duration, and the engagement levels of these events. Micro events (which have a smaller participation) are fast catching up because they are confined to an audience who is really interested and allow for better interaction and engagement.
