Myths & Lies about Virtual Events

Virtual events lack the quality of on-site events. 

Virtual event quality depends on the execution quality of event organizers and marketers. How they’re marketing their events and what techniques they deploy to motivate their potential attendees. Not all organizers are hosting virtual events. Webinar sessions are not virtual events, virtual events are one that replicates most aspects of physical events online

The organizers who hosted virtual events are more likely to host them again for their audience.

Virtual events have almost the same quality of onsite events. It leverages freedom, flexibility, ability to attend, multi-task ability, easy process to meet each other, interactive session engagement, networking, etc.

Your virtual events are more cost-effective than physical events. It tremendously increases its reach to a wider audience across the globe. The people who can’t attend your onsite events, can easily attend and participate in your events digitally.

- Online events do not offer high event engagement and networking opportunities.

Another myth and lie that we all encounter is that online events do not offer high event engagement and networking opportunities.

But the stark reality is that virtual events present more opportunities for high attendee engagement and event networking. Virtual events are going to be the next big thing in 2020 and beyond. Because it enables people to join your events from anywhere in the world. They can save their time in meeting their fellow attendees. They are not worried about their travel, accommodation and food.

They also get the best content from the speakers as the events are highly focused on quality events — emphasizing on class educational content.

- Attendees feel isolated as they join sessions/events online from different parts of the world.

This is not true by any stretch of imagination. On the contrary, people are more aligned and linked with each other. They are on the same tool and interact with their fellow attendees.

When they are able to e-meet new people, they do not feel isolated, but enthusiastic and more engaged.

They have a better chance to attend those events due to its lower ticket price, and no travel and accommodation costs.

- High risk event operations.

Effective and timely planning can help you with making your event operations smooth.

Better allocation of your team, their responsibilities and duties help you execute it better.

You wouldn’t have to manage your onsite logistics like catering, stages, lights, mic system, event production, etc.

What you need to manage and handle is all online. Thus virtual events have lower risk event operations compared to onsite events. You can also streamline your virtual event planning and execution.

- Complicated event planning and management.  

It’s not complicated at all. What you plan and manage for your physical events, you need to do the same for your virtual events.

Moreover, you have your burden of managing different vendors for foods, venues, etc. eradicated. The full volume work shifts to your online activities management.

If you inspire your team members to do it properly and hold them accountable, your virtual event planning and event management will become a really simple process.

- Can’t provide high quality content value.

This is a big surprise that some event managers argue on the content quality of virtual.

Let’s understand that when you host online events, the event valued is more on high quality content. That’s your big win.

You can invest more in quality speakers and handling of it from your budget. You don’t have to spend a single penny on physical logistics requirements. So this has already been removed from your total budget.

- Your audience is not digital or on social media.

This is the era of internet, technologies and more importantly, social media.

Your potential attendees are online and on different social media platforms consuming their preferred content.

The onus is on you how you want to target them as part of your event marketing and networking strategies.

- Lack of seamless attendee experience

Wrong!

Online events can give you a great attendee experience if you play your cards right.

Some research on attendees’ sentiments, wants and likes will put you in a strong position to determine how to go about your event experience plans and strengthen their experience.

Human to human interactions are key to your event experience. Technology helps you fulfill that for you and your attendees.

It’s become super easy with the right virtual event technology to streamline your attendee experience.

Plan in advance. Focus your event strategy more on event experience based strategy.

Figure out what your guests want and don’t want.

And smash your events.

- Too much involvement of technologies

No doubts that when we talk about virtual events, we have to use technologies to execute and manage events.

However, using technology should ease up your work and make you faster.

Keeping this view in mind, using virtual event technologies is always a good option for you.

Your people are consuming different technologies, so they wouldn’t find it hard using them.

One good virtual event management software covering all required functionalities will be really helpful and useful in planning and executing your virtual events like a pro.

- Difficult to set realistic expectations with stakeholders.

Wrong!

This is the same as you would do for your physical events.

Get a clear outlook of virtual events and their combinations and permutations. You do not have to do anything new here. Research different events data. Understand the latest virtual event trends.

- Can not have attendee data/analytics or not tracking the right metrics is fine.

This is 100% myth.

In 2020. It is possible to get full analytics of your virtual events and your attendee engagement with easy-to-use virtual event management software.

Even you can learn more about specific trends being followed by your attendees. New sentiments they are attached to. Their constant content consumption behavior.

Track these important metrics:

Number of registrants

Attendee engagement

Attendee satisfaction

Attendee behavior

Attendance throughout the event

Attendance across sessions and days (if it’s a multi-day event)

Final word:

Virtual events are an untapped solution for most of the event marketers and organizers. However, the concept of online events is rapidly growing. It all depends on how quickly event professionals realize its value, advantages and capabilities. 2020 is the best year to implement your virtual event strategies and host them for amazing attendee and speaker experiences.