In today’s economy your company may be required to cut costs. Virtual events are growing in popularity and are a great opportunity to cut spending. In a survey conducted by ON24 Inc., 76 percent of 300 executives surveyed, “say their company has already begun using virtual events (53 percent) or plans to begin using them (23 percent) to supplement some of their physical events in 2009.” Below we’ll cover some of the advantages and disadvantages to virtual conferences so you can determine what’s best for your organization.
Benefits:
Travel Time and Cost
Airfare, Hotels and meals cost are eliminated.
Increased Attendance
Physical location is no longer a determining factor, since conference attendees can simply login from their homes wherever they may be.
Recording
Many virtual events offer video recording. This allows event attendees to watch presentations at their convenience.
Social Connectivity
Virtual events allow attendees to connect via social media much more efficiently than live conferences. From there, they can start online communities centered around their interests, and customize the experience to fit their needs.
Disadvantages:
Internet Connectivity
Virtual events rely on the use of internet, and connectivity is not always something you can control. Attendees may get frustrated because they are unable to connect and be discouraged to participate.
Lack of Human Interaction
Webcams and live chats closely mimic a face-to-face environment but certain ideas, and emotions can only result from interacting with individuals in-person.
So what’s right for you? If time and costs are a concern for your company, go virtual. If building close contacts and in-person relationships is more important, go live. But don’t forget – you can always attend or host a hybrid event, which combines them both. The possibilities are endless!
