Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are attending “virtual” events than in-person ones. However, despite that fact, there was a growing shift in how people attended events, with growing numbers preferring to participate in ones via their computer screens.
You’re probably reading this because you want to soon host an event for your business or organisation. But, you’re unsure whether to hold one at a physical location where people can attend in person or if it’s better to host a virtual one over the Internet.
The following explains why virtual events are better than in-person ones:
They Are Cost-Effective
There’s no denying that in-person events can be expensive for both organisers and attendees. For example, organisers have to pay for the use of conference halls or exhibition centres, and attendees may spend a lot of money on transport costs.
Virtual events provide a more cost-effective solution for both parties. Organisers can use virtual events software to manage all aspects of such events without needing a team of people to take care of things, and attendees can attend events from home or work.
You Can Afford Top Speakers
Suppose you’re planning an event with prominent people speaking to your attendees, such as motivational coaches or notable entrepreneurs. In that case, you may have a limited budget if you organise an in-person event.
However, if you hold a virtual event, you’ll have a bigger budget to spend on getting the top speakers because you won’t need to bear many costs and overheads. That also means you could get several top-rated speakers, and it would still be a cost-effective event.
They Are Flexible
Thanks to the marvels of modern technology, virtual events are highly flexible to all concerned. For example, attendees don’t have to join the event at a specific time. Instead, they could watch pre-recorded sessions if they join late.
What’s more, they can access other resources online that relate to the event, making it the perfect solution for attendees from various parts of the world.
Attendees Are More Approachable
One of the disadvantages of hosting an in-person event is that some attendees might find people unapproachable. It might be because the people they’d like to speak with are busy chatting with others, or it could be due to a lack of time.
Attendees become more approachable when you meet them in a virtual setting. They can network with those individuals electronically, and they don’t have to waste time waiting for people or even trying to find them.
Easier To Gauge Feedback
Last but not least, virtual events make it simpler to gauge feedback from attendees. It’s possible to ask those that have attended an event what value they gained from it by asking them to fill out a short survey online, for instance.
You could even ask attendees for some brief feedback and use that as part of your metrics to determine the event’s overall success.
Final Thoughts
Virtual events offer so many advantages over traditional in-person alternatives. They’re cost-effective, flexible, and more accessible.