Guest Post by Katrin Taepke: Your guide to virtual events with Converve
Virtual events are more than a temporary trend
With the extraordinary circumstances we face in the world today, quickly adapting to overcome the new challenges facing the events industry has enabled us to realize just how simple and effective online conferences can be. At this point I would like to quote Matthias Horx:
“We will be surprised how quickly cultural techniques of the digital have suddenly proven themselves in practice. Tele- and video-conferencing, which most colleagues had always resisted, turned out to be quite practical and productive. Teachers learned a lot about internet teaching. The home office became a matter of course for many – including the improvising and time juggling that goes with it.”
Of course, this will also have an impact on the event industry, whether we are organizing, hosting or attending events. Some organizers and some participants will experience for the first time how surprisingly well online events already work. After the Corona crisis, there will of course be live events again, but most likely also a significantly higher percentage of virtual events and virtual event participants.
Why you should also consider new business models
As outlined above, we are just getting to know the already existing and functioning solutions for virtual events.
This is a positive development for the future: Participants at on-site events have to think about whether they have enough time and the budget for it. Virtual events eliminates some of these obstacles. Participants save travel time and costs and can still go about their daily business on virtual event days. This means less work for them. Consequently, you reach participants who otherwise would not have been able to come.
For you as an event organizer, virtual events mean significantly lower costs for
- booking portals
- conference rooms and exhibition areas
- hotel rooms
- catering
- transport
- event technology
- branding and other decorative materials
- and more
This saving of resources is also much more environmentally friendly than the typical event. Thanks to virtual events, you save valuable resources and costs and can also generate new profits through additional participants.
However, virtual events cannot yet replace valuable networking at events. That’s where Converve’s virtual B2B matchmaking solution can help. Not only does Converve allow you to host virtual networking events all on one platform, but it also allows you utilize this functionality to supplement your on-site events.
What is virtual B2B matchmaking?
Virtual B2B matchmaking closes the gap between virtual events and on-site events.
Discourse with other participants is one of the key components of an on-site event – something that is hard to replicate online (even via solutions such as chat tools or mailing systems). The interactions don’t feel the same as in person, because the participants don’t see each other and only communicate via text (which may lead to misinterpretations!). Communication is more than that just writing text or speaking over an audio connection. Communication becomes much more engaging when you can see the other party as well via video.
On the Converve platform you can finally let your participants talk to each other 1:1 – including video chat.
How does virtual B2B matchmaking work?
Very simple. With Converve’s virtual meeting solution, your participants can start their booked appointments with just one click. All this takes place on the Converve platform on which your virtual event is already running. Your participants no longer have to register with another matchmaking tool or any other video chat service – they don’t need to leave your event platform.
If your participants come from different time zones, Converve’s virtual matchmaking solution takes this into account right from the start. A feature you need less at real events, but which is especially important in the virtual world and with participants from around the world.
There is also a helpful reminder function: Your participants are automatically informed about the (remaining) duration of their meeting. This allows them to keep track of the time and can keep to their schedule for all follow-up meetings and presentations.
What does a virtual program of presentations with Converve look like?
With Converve you can create a complete event program. Your participants can then register for the whole program as well as for single sessions, workshops, trainings or other events.
If you add the links of your webinars or livestreams to these agenda items, they are automatically released for your registered participants. Your speakers will receive the moderation rights for the respective session from you. The virtual presentation will then start at the time you have planned as a webinar or livestream. During the sessions, participants can easily ask the moderator questions from their own computer.
Your participants will also receive a personal agenda/schedule, which includes a complete overview of the virtual sessions and their individual virtual meetings in the correct time zone.
What you should consider when creating a virtual event
Virtual events can be challenging and require a different approach than the classic, on-site events we have grown accustomed to. Converve offers extensive support in facing both technological and organizational challenges. Remember that virtual events will be new to most particpants, so you have to find creative solutions in order to keep them engaged.
How long does it take you to get online?
The onboarding and setup take about 2 to 3 weeks and then you can start marketing and participant registration for your virtual event.
Conclusion
As soon as we can hold live events again, they will most likely have their comeback, because not every event can offer the same things digitally as they can on-site. However, there is a lot of potential for new “hybrid” events which have both on-site and virtual components. For this purpose, the new feature “virtual B2B matchmaking” from Converve can provide you with a solution.
Guest post (translated) by Katrin Taepke. First published here: https://www.micestens-digital.de/virtuelles-event-inklusive-b2b-matchmaking-von-converve/
