Have you cancelled your event in 2020? Did you postpone it to 2021? Or did you, like many of our customers, take the natural step to a virtual event?
This year, many organisations have adapted to the new normal. The outbreak of COVID-19 forced organisers of trade shows and other events to step out of their comfort zone and use technology they had long avoided. What does it show? Virtual fairs and events function at least as well as physical ones. As we approach 2021, it is becoming increasingly clear that virtual events will not disappear overnight. Either organisations adapt to the versatility that the online platform brings or they opt for a hybrid approach. In any case, digital stock exchanges cannot be ignored in the future.
Trade fair and event organisers are already preparing their strategies for 2021 and beyond. But are you still doubting whether it is worthwhile to make the step from a physical to a digital event? We explain why it is worthwhile to organise a virtual event.
YOUR BRAND IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Being able to fully personalise their stand is of great importance to exhibitors. Standard booths with no branding at live events can make the whole experience boring for the visitors. Many exhibitors are hesitant about a customised stand at a physical event because of the additional costs. However, creating an online stand for a virtual event gives the exhibitor full control to add colour and visuals that reflect their brand, without additional expenditure. This makes the online stand more attractive to visitors.
At Fairtual Technologies we even go a step further and offer stands that are fully customised on request. As an exhibitor, you can be sure that your stand will not be missed.
A WIDER AUDIENCE
Because of the pandemic, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get in touch with people from all over the world to network. Previously, no thought was given to inviting speakers and participants from different countries. Now it is different.
Fortunately, virtual events provide flexibility. Visitors, speakers and organisers can be anywhere in the world. This means that there are more visitors, a wider range and a global audience at your disposal. More importantly, your virtual exhibition is accessible to anyone on any device, whether desktop, tablet or mobile. The public can therefore be as much at home as on the road and still be just a click away from taking part in the event.
QUALITY AT A FAIR PRICE
2020 changed the events landscape forever. As the world learns to live with COVID-19, organisations continue to struggle with reduced budgets for their events. Most event professionals believe that budgets will take a heavy hit in 2021.
In unpredictable times like these, when budgets are already being cut, virtual events offer a cost-effective solution for organisations that want to organise (job) fairs, seminars, conventions and much more.
To keep up with changing times, organisers are increasingly turning to virtual events. A virtual event allows you to adapt to a limited budget, as the costs for the location and transportation are eliminated. In addition, when organising a virtual event, you no longer have to worry about the setup, the equipment and the overhead. So you get much more value for your money.
DETAILED ANALYSES
One thing that unites all marketers is their quest for measurable success based on hard figures and data. A data-based approach to all marketing efforts is crucial for success, and online events make data collection a lot easier.
Insightful statistics such as registrations, unique logins, total number of visitors, downloaded documents, viewed videos, webinar attendance, chat logs and many more are easily accessible. This real-time data can be crucial to the success of your current and future virtual events. Moreover, the insight into the ROI and the analysis after the end of a virtual exhibition become simpler, as there is no need for additional calculations.
Numerous organisations that have organised online events can attest to these benefits. Lekkerland, for example, recently took the step of creating a virtual fair, which proved such a success that they are already planning their next virtual editions. By experimenting with a virtual exchange, they were able to fully customise their platform, analyse valuable data and offer exceptional customer service.
More and more organisations are open to integrating virtual events into their strategy. They allow you to stay within your budget and eliminate the extra hassle of setting up a physical event. Moreover, they add value to an organisation by providing clear real-time data, and even make post-event analysis effortless, while reaching a wide audience.