Over the past year, virtual events have skyrocketed in popularity. In fact, 44% of respondents in a survey by the Interactive Advertising Bureau noted that people spend more time watching live-streamed events than they do watching television. Virtual events have proven to be of great benefit and can be used to boost brand awareness by reaching a bigger audience without having to invest in costly and time-consuming marketing campaigns.
Accessibility and Inclusivity is Boosted
Virtual events boast a level of accessibility that no in-person event can compete with. An event that can be attended from the comfort of an attendee's home will appeal to a far bigger audience than a typical live event generally would. Virtual events can be attended by anyone, anywhere in the world, as long as they have a smartphone or computer with a strong internet connection. This includes individuals living with disabilities that generally hinder them from attending conferences, concerts, product launches, and other exhilarating events. When hosting an online event, a brand does not have to ensure that wheelchair ramps are installed or that the bathrooms can be navigated by someone with a disability. This will not only result in extra savings, but in boosted brand awareness and greater inclusivity as well.
Virtual Events are Highly Engaging
Depending on the nature of your virtual event, you can aim to engage anything from a handful of viewers to thousands of attendees from anywhere in the world. Regardless of how large your audience is, everyone who attends will feel like they have a front-row seat. This is hardly the case when attending a big conference or concert where attendees often have to contend with large crowds to get a good spot. When an event attendee feels like they are only an arm's length away from the speaker/performer, they become more engaged and the event is automatically rendered more memorable. When picking a virtual office or immersive video chat platform, choose one that is able to increase attendee engagement. Must-have features to look for include on-demand recordings, quizzes, and chatbots to keep the audience engaged.
The Sky Is the Limit
When hosting an online event, the sky is the limit as far as everyone from guest speakers to the entertainment are concerned. Instead of being limited to the talent in your town, you can search far and wide for the speaker, musician, magician, or fire-dancer of your choice. You can even acquire international talents for your event without having to concern yourself with travel and accommodation fees or visa applications. By finding an act that your intended audience may not have seen 'live' before, you will automatically increase the appeal of the event thereby garnering new interest in your brand and keeping current fans/clients satisfied.
Hosting virtual events can be of great benefit to a brand. Apart from increasing reach and audience engagement, the possibilities to make online event memorable are virtually countless.