There’s no shortage of tools when it comes to hosting an online event. But not all online event platforms deliver the same results.
It’s important to understand the differences and know what technology best aligns with your goals and desired outcomes, from virtual events and webcasts to online meetings.
Keep reading to learn how to select the online event tool that’s right for you.
The Difference Between Virtual Events, Webcasts and Online Meetings
There’s a common misconception about what makes a “virtual event.”
People are calling anything that’s an online meeting, a webcast or a 1,000 person conference a virtual event, which is not accurate.
So, what’s the difference?
- Virtual Events – Highly interactive, multi-day/multi-hour events featuring virtual programming with an immersive experience for large audiences.
- Webcasts – Designed for broadcasting one-way (one-to-many) communication from a host, or a panel of presenters, to large mostly view-only audiences.
- Online Meetings – Live two-way (many-to-many) video and audio session for small-to mid-sized groups.
This is the first step in determining what online event solution you need.
What Questions Should You Ask During Event Planning?
It will also take time to identify the key factors affecting your decision-making process.
Here are some examples of the questions you will need to answer about your online event, before choosing your technology:
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What are your goals and intent?
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What’s the size of the audience?
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How do you want to engage your audience?
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Does the event consist of one session or multiple sessions?
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What’s the session frequency?
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Are you interested in sponsorship opportunities?
As companies pivot from in-person to digital, they’re on the hunt for technology that delivers the best results. Answering these questions at the outset will point you in the right direction.
Use Our Infographic to Choose the Right Event Solution
To help make your choice, we’ve created a handy infographic to guide you through the decision-making process of how to choose the best technology.
Download and share the infographic with your teams.
Enjoy!