What is a Virtual Event?
What is a Virtual Event?
There are several definitions for virtual/online events
A virtual event can be a conference, a live stream, or any type of event that takes place online. The key word is that the event is fully online.
An online or virtual event is an interactive event that occurs entirely online or on the web rather that in a physical location. Similar to live in-person events, they are very engaging and have a high level of energy.
A virtual event, also known as an online event, is an interactive gathering that happens on the internet. Unlike in-person events, virtual ones aren't restricted to a single location. A remote attendee can join and participate from anywhere in the world, given he or she has access to the web.
What’s the difference between a virtual event and a webinar?
To put it simply, a webinar is in the same name: a seminar. A virtual event is more like a conference in a virtual space. Essentially, a virtual event is a webinar on steroids.
A webinar is often a session offering educational or instructive content. Usually it is made up of a video with one or more speakers directly addressing the audience. Sometimes it features interviews or demonstrates a product. Often, it’s a mix of both.
A virtual event takes place over a series of days, gathering the best content from a host of experts. Each panelist brings their own messaging to share, though many congregate under a common theme. Like any conference, you can select the sessions that are most applicable to you.
A webinar is a simple web-based interface that allows people to listen to a presenter via webcam and interact by asking questions. It’s mainly designed for smaller groups such as internal meetings, training sessions or workshops. They usually include some form of viewer engagement, such as live chat or polls, and are often delivered Live rather than pre-recorded. Created in the early 90’s, webinars have become a superior part of the 21st century marketing mix – until now. It’s true that virtual events may include webinars as part of their schedule, however, they are so much more than a single stand-alone session. A virtual event is essentially a physical event replicated online, without the physical bottlenecks. They’re a modern solution to outdated and inflexible physical event formats where attendees can expect multiple different options in regards to how and when they want to participate; no longer being limited by unchangeable single webinar spaces.
What Makes Virtual Events So Beneficial?
There are many reasons why virtual events are valuable. First off, virtual events allow the individuals or companies hosting them to reach a wider audience. Were you to host your event in a specific city, not every person in your audience would be able to attend due to the cost of travel. With a virtual event, travel isn't an issue.
In general, virtual events are also much cheaper to put on.
Lastly, virtual events are extremely measurable. Companies can easily learn which sessions were the most popular, how many people attended, where those attendees live. Just about every attendee action can be tracked and analyzed. This information can then be used to improve event strategy.
- Global
- Easiear to make connections
- Easy to measure
- Cost Effective
- Time saver
- Wider dissemination potential
- Environmentally Friendly
- Engaging and interactive