There are ongoing debates around the efficiency of virtual events. However, a great number of event planners are reinventing themselves and suggesting that their clients convert their conferences to an online platform.
It’s true that face to face (F2F) interactions and networking is different than a virtual experience. But many virtual events can be just as good, if not better, than being in person.
Below are top seven reasons why virtual events can be better than F2F events:
- Cost efficiency: Goodbye room rentals, catering, audio-visual services, and travel costs. The costs associated with using online event software may vary. However, most of the time they’re significantly lower.
- Time management: A traditional F2F conference can easily be converted into multiple shorter seminars or webinars. These different formats provide the opportunity to develop specific sessions for target audiences.
- On-demand playback: Most platforms offer playback options; everyone can access the information on-demand, around the clock. You can’t pause or rewind a F2F event.
- Faster planning and coordination: Depending on the scale of an event, planning a F2F event can take up to a year. Virtual events take much less up-front time.
- Greater reach without time zone barriers: Reach inter-provincial, national, or international audiences, time-zone free. It also increases the potential variety of speakers.
- Better data collection: Collect more meaningful data from the moment participants register. Beyond attendance numbers, identify issues raised through chats, breakout rooms, and polling.
- No COVID-19 risk: F2F conferences require a variety of COVID-19 protection measures. Virtual events eliminate these risks.
The traditional model of event management is now transitioning to virtual deliveries. Event planners need to continuously be conscious of the ever-changing realities of how people work and how information is exchanged.
No one has a crystal ball, but the event-planning industry can play an important role in ensuring organizations continue to stay connected to staff and clients.
Sindy Souffront, founder and chief creative officer, ECHO Events, has over 20 years experience working in communications and event planning in the private and public sector. Her experience led her to launch her own event management company, ECHO Events. Over the years, she’s worked with Google, RBC, the Federal Government, Canadian Association of Securities Lending (CASLA), and other associations and agencies.
