We discuss four key reasons on why virtual and hybrid events are working for businesses, and why you should be investing in them now, for 2021.

Virtual and hybrid events are here to stay, at least for now. As we come to terms with the reality that nobody really knows how long it will take for it to become safe for live events to take place, there’s also the question of when people and businesses will feel comfortable with major gatherings.

We believe you need to be looking to the future to make sure you’re present as a business or brand, as well as demonstrating how adaptable you are to managing change.

Regardless of the industry or size of your organisation, virtual and hybrid events should play a vital role in all marketing, promotion and internal communications strategies. It could be anything from a company update, Q&A, team building activity or panel session, through to a sales kick-off, summit, awards or annual conference – either way, we all know communications are key to driving engagement and results.

Most would agree that the statement – ‘people do business with people’ – is true, and therefore, the ability to build lasting relationships both internally and externally is key to success. But going virtual shouldn’t stand in the way of this.

So, why should you be investing in virtual and hybrid events?

They generate brand awareness.

How can people do business with you if they don’t know you exist? The simple answer is that they can’t. By bringing your target audience together and giving them the opportunity to see your products or speak to the experts about your services, you will help them better understand what you have to offer. Once people understand what it is that you’re trying to say, they will not only be aware of your brand, but they are more likely to be motivated to share your message.

They help you engage, motivate and educate your employees.

When it comes to internal communications, virtual and hybrid events are a powerful tool. At Corporate Events we say that a story is best told through an experience and in order for people to act differently, they need to think differently. Virtual and hybrid events are an opportunity for you to continue to give your teams what they need to succeed in this (hopefully temporary) new world.

You can also get creative and engage employees in activities to help them understand a new product or service, design programmes to build relationships with peers or even bring in engaging speakers that motive your employees and increase productivity – your options are endless.

They ensure your message is communicated effectively and efficiently.

We know time is precious and realistically sending an email is a quick way of distributing a message, but it’s not necessarily the most effective. The issue is that emails get missed, messages get lost in translation and ultimately you don’t really know if anyone’s read it!

Although not initially quicker, bringing your audience and peers together to deliver a message virtually or through a hybrid programme will be far more efficient in the long run. You can deliver your message to a targeted audience, drive engagement, gauge reactions, capture data, encourage questions and guarantee that your message has been delivered to the right people in the right way.

They help you learn.

By making the decision to invest in virtual and hybrid events, you have given yourself a better opportunity to learn from your target audience. There are a number of event engagement apps and digital event technologies that help gather valuable feedback from your delegates in real-time. They allow you to communicate to your audience through live polls and question and answer sessions, giving you the insight you need to understand how your viewers, stakeholders and sponsors think, how they feel and what’s important to them.

Using this information, you can evolve and adapt your business to ensure you are meeting and then exceeding their expectations.

If you don’t already, you will soon come to realise the power of virtual and hybrid events. People do react to online experiences and to communications they can actively get involved in. It doesn’t matter how big or small an event is, the principles are the same – so make the most out of the opportunities they create.