Should my business hold virtual events?

In the current situation we as a globe are facing, businesses are searching for alternative methods to reach their audience. 

Virtual events have peaked the interest of many, purely for increased reach and continuing to connect and network despite the obstacles Covid-19 has placed upon the world.

But if you’re still wondering whether a virtual event is right for you, ask yourself these question below, and you’ll know the answer…

What can I do with a virtual event?

Virtual events allow us to connect with our audience without cost, time, capacity and geographical constraints of a physical event getting in the way. 

If your business is used to doing job fairs, trade shows and conferences, for example – it can all be done online! Frequently holding training or classes? Use webinars and hold them straight from your home! You can also connect with your demographic through chat tools, and digital content, backed by 24/7 support (depending on your provider)!

Is your audience across the globe?

If under the current circumstances you’re still trying to bring your network together in one place, holding a virtual event is exactly the way to do it! Virtual events are accessible from any browser, on any device and in any part of the world. 

At a time where the world is distancing itself in order to survive, virtual events are mending those distances and bringing people together in a safe, virtual space to progress with their usual activities. Universities, for example, are rapidly shifting to virtual open days to invite a globally diverse student-base to browse their campuses and academic programs. Similarly, virtual trade shows are a big hit now, as people are shifting to online solutions to their transactions. 

Are you on a budget?

Virtual events are massively cost effective, while also providing your network with a user-friendly experience. Eliminating the additional cost of a physical event, like the cost of a venue, hospitality, travel, marketing collateral etc. provides you with greater value at a much smaller cost. 

Are you pressed for time?

How long does it take to set up a virtual event? About a month. The month setup includes time taken to convey your requirements, set up a mock event, train your staff in navigating through the event, and its ultimate execution.

A physical fair, on the other hand, could take months to organise. Not to mention the marketing being a major challenge as it requires both offline and online channels! 

With a virtual fair, your stress falls on your platform provider who not only treats it as a turn-key project, but also provides reliable customer service throughout planning and hosting your event!

Do you want each visitor to have a unique experience?

Since each visitor has the option to choose the content they wish to absorb at the event, like webinars, e-books, videos and brochures, they often rate events much higher on overall engagement. With a conventional fair, your attendees would have to go through the standard schedule of seminars and presentations but the ‘on-demand‘ viewing aspect of virtual fairs enables them to handpick their material. They also have the choice to chat with reps without having to queue in a long line and having to condense their queries. 

Don’t want to waste quality content?

If your marketing team has gone to the ends of the earth to create engaging content for your events, you can re-use them to engage visitors post-event. Introductory videos can go on your company’s careers site or products page for example. Upload webinars to YouTube, and make use of the surveys and polls visitors completed for a round-up blog post! You can also use your chat interactions to get reviews, or update your FAQ section on your site.

Does your company want quantifiable results?

Events are great for any company to attend, but there is a always a big question mark on just how much business they can generate. With virtual events, you can get real results like how many people visited your booth, registered with your company, who downloaded brochures or attended your seminar, for example. This is a huge benefit of the digital space! 

• Virtual events make it easier to quantify the event’s success
• It helps you to track visitors preferences to maximise ROI of future events
• It allows you to measure your staff’s performance down to each user and booth

So ask yourself why you need to hold a virtual event, and what you’ll need. If you think a virtual event could fit with your needs right now, browse the Loop Expo platform for more information, our official distributor for virtual events.