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Physical events and conferences where people meet face-to-face and exchange pleasantries, or ideas have been the order of the day in previous years. Recent technological advancements, along with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, caused many to organise events online using this technology.
The restrictions enforced on social gatherings and meetings during the global pandemic led to the development of virtual events into forming an integral part of our daily lives. Event planners shifted from physical to digital as they saw an opportunity to overcome the challenge of keeping social distance while engaging audiences in physical settings.
Hosting a virtual event can be challenging to those who lack exposure and experience but has become an important skill to master due to its widespread use during the pandemic. Virtual events have attempted to replicate face-to-face interactions as event strategies are considered the future of the event industry.
Differences between physical and virtual events
Virtual events are on the rise, proving to be crucial to the development of digital marketing worldwide. They hold several advantages over in-person events, with differences distinguishing the two.
Physical events incur expenses in travelling, hiring staff, renting spaces, and booking live entertainment, which is fun but quite expensive. Virtual events can be done wherever the attendees are, therefore easing the burden of travelling to venues or renting spaces for meetings or events. Virtual events are also more flexible, can deliver more data to attendees, and can be done with a large audience of people from all around the world through online networking.
The Covid-19 restrictions promote virtual events as they prevent human contact and other forms of in-person communication that would contribute to spreading the disease.
Fun online events
Fun virtual events are through online video platforms such as Google Meet and Zoom and can engage the employees in interesting online activities. The activities can create bonds and build a sense of familiarity between the attendees which in turn improves communication between them and ensures work runs smoothly in an organisation.
Some online events include online game shows, online office games such as trivia and icebreakers, Internet quests, virtual jam sessions, and a remote dinner party. You can also set up social media groups on various platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to establish more virtual social connections between attendees.
Tips for organising a virtual event
Virtual events are very much like physical events when it comes to planning, and they should be handled in equal measure in terms of care and attention. It is vital to ensure that the information delivered during the event is relevant to the attendees present. The event should also be worthwhile to ensure that your attendees do not get bored quickly and leave.
You should also pick a platform that corresponds to the type of event you are holding. Various online platforms can offer the appropriate services according to your preference and the purpose of your event. You should use marketing tactics, invite special guests, diversify your event and ask for feedback when organising your event.
Challenges faced in virtual events
The lack of face-to-face interaction poses a challenge since there is poor communication and a lack of proper dialogue in virtual platforms. There is a limit to the content discussed during online events hence attendees might lack a forum to express themselves and engage in deep or personal conversations.
Building trust, creating commitment, and managing the shift from physical to digital platforms are other problems faced during a virtual event. Eventify gives a detailed explanation of other various challenges faced by people in an online event.
