What is a Virtual Event?

Virtual events are conducted entirely online with event organizers, presenters, sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees exchanging information and networking from the convenience of their computers.  These events look and feel remarkably similar to their in-person counterparts while delivering the same knowledge-sharing and personal interactions at a significantly reduced cost and requiring less investment of time and staff resources.

Virtual events combine various configurations of the latest technologies in webcasting, online chats, video streaming, webinars, social media and avatar graphics to provide elements such as one-on-one interaction, speeches, Q&A, seminars, distribution of literature, interactive social ‘gatherings’ and exhibitor booths – all without ever leaving your desk or home to participate.

An additional benefit of virtual events for the hosts, sponsors and exhibitors is the rich marketing data that they deliver - far more than can be obtained at their in-person counterparts.  The anonymity of attendees participating in an in-person event evaporates; instead, hosts, sponsors and exhibitors receive detailed marketing data about attendees/participants, much better than any other marketing vehicle available today.  Further, many virtual event organizers see many more C-level executives than at a physical event, because attending a virtual event requires less of a time committment on their part.

For event participants, it's much easier to listen, take notes, gather information and interact when they choose without having to deal with someone hovering to obtain their business card.  In fact, studies show that participants/attendees are more apt to interact with a speaker, other event attendees, or an event exhibitor online than in-person.  New technologies, including the most business-applicable elements of Web 2.0 and social networking, make it extremely easy for professional networking to occur in virtual events.