Advantages of a virtual conference platform
It would be fair to say that virtual events saved the industry during the pandemic. The technological evolution, in the periphery before the pandemic, became the mainstream solution when social distancing was the norm. That adoption was facilitated by some of the best virtual conference platforms that eased the burden for organizers and participants.
What is a Virtual Conference Platform?
A virtual conference platform enables you to host conferences and events online. The best virtual event platforms come with tools enabling you to scale the event effortlessly. They also allow you to host interactive sessions to drive audience engagement.
Virtual conference platforms can help you divide large sessions into smaller and specific groups. In most organizations, virtual event platforms are managed and monitored by their IT departments. If it’s an external meeting or a large industry-wide conference, the platform will be managed by the organizer.
Advantages of a virtual conference platform
The increasing adoption of virtual conference platforms is due to the demonstrable benefits they provide for all stakeholders involved.
It saves you time
Around 52 percent of B2B marketers state that they hold up to 30 virtual events a year. The primary reason for their confidence is that it doesn’t take a lot of time to hold an online event through a virtual conference platform.
Organizers don’t have to worry about sending out early invites, confirming participation, arranging panelists, etc. The time saved in all these transactional chores can be invested into creating interesting and engaging content.
It saves you money
Getting participants to attend a physical event is an expensive proposition. If the organization arranges for travel and accommodation, it will be a sizable expense. If the participants have to spend, it might deter many from attending.
Virtual conference platforms allow organizations to save on these needless travel, lodging, and other associated expenses. These savings will encourage event managers and companies to hold more events. No wonder then, more than 90 percent of organizers plan to invest in online events, according to a survey.
It increases engagement
Audience participation in a physical event is always along the expected lines. Other than the Q&A sessions, there’s little opportunity for the attendees to engage with the panelists. But a virtual conference platform opens up a world of possibilities.
You can hold online discussions, surveys, quizzes, and polls through the best virtual conference platforms. All these interactive elements will drive up audience engagement.
It feeds your marketing pipeline
A virtual conference platform is an excellent source for future content. Since the sessions are digital, everything will be recorded. This allows organizations to repurpose that content for audience acquisition long after the event.
Video highlights of sessions can be shared through social media platforms. Poll results can be given out through email newsletters. You can even generate content from interviews with panelists.
Types of Virtual Conferences
There are three main types of online conferences for which virtual conference platforms are used:
Webinars
These are informative in nature where one or more hosts share content with a large audience. The attendees can be from an organization or from anywhere in the world. Webinars can be free or by payment, something the best virtual conference platforms facilitate.
Virtual conferences
These include different types of content centered around one theme. There will be keynotes, discussions, specific sessions, breakouts, Q&As, and more. Virtual conference platforms can also deliver on-demand content for attendees at these events.
Internal or external hybrid events
These have both on-site attendees and virtual participants. If it’s internal, it could be an employee town hall, sales launch, or training. External events include industry-wide conferences or meetings with other firms.
In short
From companies to educational institutions to governments to event organizers, everyone now knows the advantages of virtual and hybrid events. In other words, the importance of virtual conference platforms will only grow in the coming years.
