Virtual Event Platform

Trends that substantiate why virtually events will remain the future of innovative interaction

Virtual events are the lifeline of businesses to connect with their stakeholders, share their vision, and launch their products and services on common ground. When the entire world shut down in lieu of the pandemic, the virtual events stood as a testimony of perseverance and let the shows go on and on. They sharpened and shaped themselves to be engaging and dynamic and bagged the advantages of accessibility, affordability, and scalability with them. The Virtual events report states that 75% of the events will continue on the virtual platform even when the in-person events return.

Virtual events trends for the year 2022:

The bar for virtual events keeps rising, and some of the best virtual event platform keep them thriving to foster connection, engagement, and participation. They diversify their portfolio to make the sessions entertaining and engaging for the audience. The trends for virtual events in the year 2022 are as follows.

1. Virtual events will remain for 2022 and beyond:

The idea of a return to normal is erupting in all sectors, and about 85% of the marketers surveyed in 2021 stated that they would expect to attend a physical event in 2022. But this is limited to local events, and people do not wish to travel internationally to participate in a conference and prefer virtual events in its place. And about 90% of the respondents felt that the virtual events remain, even if the in-person events re-emerge.

2. The shift towards hybrid events:

Hybrid events that optimize the virtual and the in-person audience will rise in 2022, creating opportunities for diverse audiences to collaborate. These events are expected to engage a more broad and diverse audience and infuse the thrill of live experience and digital engagement with the joy of attending the event in person.

3. Organizations will adopt multiple event trends:

From 2022, organizations will resort to conducting multiple micro events rather than celebrating annual extravaganzas. They will resort to running focused micro events across the year to interact with their stakeholders frequently. The best virtual event platforms like Virtex will help organizations conduct events on their preferred scale of choice, helping them network with their stakeholders better.

4. Virtual events will grow target specific:

Generally, virtual events were seen as a revenue-generating machine and were considered a significant source of sales and promotions. Now they take a new paradigm as a publicity generating avenue. We can see that instead of targeting a few attendees in gated events, the virtual events in the year 2022 will be open for more attendees and will target people on different levels of the sales funnel, thus enhancing the reach of the business.

5. Virtual events will soon be data mines:

When a virtual event platform organizes an event, it collects the complete data from its attendees in surveys and questionnaires, and it also meticulously records visitor statistics. Thus they can be excellent data mining sources and help organizations with helpful information through data analytics.

6. Expanded scope of virtual events:

The virtual events hold a strong digital focus and enhance audience interaction and engagement. It creates an immersive experience by leveraging the power of data and analytics. It was limited to sales, marketing, product launches, and conferences till 2021. From 2022, we could expect virtual events to more extensively cover multiple industries such as trade, education, human resources training, remote workforces, etc.

Bottom Line:

When things get to normal, it is assumed that virtual events will fade into traditional in-person events. Still, it is the right time to realize that embracing virtual techniques is the new normal, and the virtual event platforms like Virtex make sure that the trend thrives and helps brands achieve their objectives no matter how the world evolves.

Hosting a virtual event requires the same attention and care as an in-person event. It is important to define the event strategy, engage the audience, build interaction, promote the event, and prove its success. Here are some do’s and don’ts to transform your virtual event into an engagement-driven experience that extends well beyond the computer screen.

DO’s for effective virtual event conferences:

a. Choose the right virtual event tool:

Leveraging the virtual event conference on the right virtual event platform is the first step toward success. Ensure the platform you choose hosts the event efficiently on the D-day. It should have a strong software platform to handle the registration of attendees. Look for features like email campaign templates to market the event. You can also use it to send automated confirmation emails to registrants. Choose a tool that has an in-built event app. It will help to honor sponsors, poll attendees, and even send push notifications. The platform should accommodate a digital sponsor marketplace to help attendees find relevant services.

b. Create an agenda for the virtual event:

From preparing the attendees list to creating the event schedule, prepare the conference plan in advance. Note who the key speakers will be, how many breakout sessions you will have, and the number of content tracks in the event. Think of audience engagement tools in advance and choose an event platform that offers live chat options. Prepare questions for surveys and live polls, and plan the rewards.

c. Personalize the event experience:

Create a personalized event registration path for each type of attendee based on their personas. Personalized event invitations tailor them to suit the invitee, which in turn enhances their chances of attending the event. Virtual event platforms like Virtex, have integrated tools to created targeted invitations for audiences based on their demographics and behavior persona. The platform also delivers interactive sponsor booths and exhibitor zones to deliver personalized experiences.

d. Spread the word regarding the conference:

It is pivotal to create the buzz around the event to encourage maximum participation. Use the conference marketing strategy and multi-channel approach to reach the full audience. Don’t rely on only email invites to spread the message. Post the event details on the website, and upload event details on social channels. Get speakers and influencers to share event details on their social networks. The virtual event agency you choose should help create the buzz and amplify two-way engagement in social channels like WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.

e. Have a technical risk mitigation plan:

It is common for virtual conferences to face technical problems. It could range from a microphone going off in the middle of the speech to attendees having trouble logging in to the virtual conference. It is thus important to have a risk curbing plan in place. Have a technical expert at hand and verse yourself with the technical troubleshooting guide. Perform a demo run of the event in advance and try logging in as an attendee. This opens the scope for correcting any problem before the D-day.

Don’ts in organizing a virtual event conference:

Do not ignore the marketing channels. Use event apps, social media channels, and email marketing techniques to spread the virtual conference. Do not forget to test the virtual event platform and all the resources in advance. Test all the tech accessories that will be in use while hosting the event. Never overlook the metrics as the online event platform offers a lot of access to the audience data and lead information.

Choose an expert virtual event platform like Virtex that offers access to the audience data and lead information. These metrics are optimal ways to optimize the brand’s KPIs and KPIs. Virtex will help you organize an expo with highly interactive sponsor booths and exhibitor zones. It makes sure that your event achieves all success and opens up new business venues.  

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 platform.

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.