A What is a Virtual Event?virtual event enables an audience to interact through an online platform without gathering in person. Attendees from any location can join sessions, access content, and network via a virtual event platform rather than travel to a physical location.

Virtual events can range from small group sessions to large-scale events with thousands of attendees. The term virtual event describes various online interactions such as virtual trade shows, virtual conferences, virtual user conference, and virtual career conferences.

How Does A Virtual Event Work?

Virtual event platforms provide an online environment with various rooms and spaces to connect a remote audience. Virtual events can replicate in-person experiences online.

Virtual event software has various interactive features such as networking, content access, and live sessions, Q&A, polls, and surveys. Many virtual event platforms offer customization to provide an immersive virtual experience.

Virtual event attendees register online and receive a link to use to join the event. Depending on the type of event, there can be various sessions, such as speakers and networking.

What are the Types of Virtual Events?

The most common types of virtual events include:

Virtual Conference

Virtual conferences are similar to physical conferences. They feature live or recorded sessions from organization or industry leaders and often have large audiences. They include a virtual auditorium where attendees can choose sessions to attend. Further, virtual events provide opportunities for sponsorships and engagement.

Virtual Trade Show

A virtual tradeshow is a type of virtual event hosted in an online environment. It can be considered the online equivalent of an in-person tradeshow or exhibition, but exhibitors and visitors connect with one another via text or video chat, rather than in-person

Virtual Career Fair

Virtual career fairs connect recruiters and job seekers through an online platform. They allow employers to advertise job opportunities and engage with candidates via text or video chat.

Virtual career fairs enable organizations to recruit across a larger geographic area vs. in-person job fairs. Finally, they help attract “passive” candidates who are currently employed and appreciate the ease and privacy of attending a virtual career fair.

Virtual Benefits Fair

Virtual benefits fairs are online events designed to help employers inform their employees about their benefits during open enrollment periods. Virtual Benefits Fairs are gaining popularity as employees become more geographically dispersed and benefits choices become more complex.

Staff and their spouses can view demos, pick up literature and chat with provider representatives in real time.

Virtual Sales Kick-Off

Virtual sales kick-off helps organizations to bring sales teams together. Organizers can share new sales strategies, product updates, best practices, announce awards, and more.

Benefits of Virtual Events

Some of the benefits of virtual events include:

  • Increased Reach:Virtual events help reach a wide, global audience. Virtual event organizers can attract attendees from all over the globe seamlessly.
  • Reduced Costs:Eliminate the cost of travel, food, accommodation and transportation.
  • Better Analytics: Virtual events digitally track every attendee activity producing better insights.

The Bottom Line

Virtual events are a great way for organizers to connect audiences in any location. Highly interactive sessions and content can create great attendee experiences.

Related Topics:

2023 Virtual Event Benchmark Report

How to Plan and Host a Virtual Event: A Step-By-Step Guide

We have helped clients around the world manage thousands of Virtual and Hybrid events over the past 21 years.