With today’s advances in technology and changes in the economic climate, webinars have made an amplified appearance in the meetings industry. So what are the main reasons why these virtual meeting spaces are so appealing?
Here’s five reasons why;
1. They are Cost Effective
For companies with tight budgets, webinars are an appealing choice. Think about it – there are no venue costs, no catering costs, no a/v costs and no travel costs! That plus the fact that there are companies offering free webinars and trial versions of their hosting software – you can basically organise the event for free.
2. Wider Reach
The recent explosion of online social media will see your webinar shared amongst a wider audience through the power of viral marketing. People can share your content through email, facebook, twitter and blog sites. Provided your content is considered ‘ever-green’, these links will be shared way after the meeting concludes. Geographical reach is also unlimited with webinar’s allowing global visitors to dial in at the same time!
3. Convenience
A big part of why webinars are so appealing is due to its convenience factor – Delegates don’t even have to leave their desk! This means they are getting more valuable time in the office. Webinars also allow delegates to pick which content they are interested in, and re-watch the webinar at any time they like.
4. Get Your Brand Out There
Rather than have one major event a year, webinars enable you to host events every month, fortnight, week…Keep your brand top of mind to your prospects/customers by inviting them to participate in regular webinars with valuable content.
5. Gather Accurate Statistics/ Databases
The data collected through webinars and virtual events could be considered more accurate than physical events as it see’s that every click and every movement is captured. At physical events this is often not possible.
On the other hand – Toga Hospitality conducted a survey that indicated 76% of business travellers think face-to face meetings are key to a successful business, and there’s no denying that virtual meetings will never be able to match that same feeling of physical human interaction that is so important in developing our business relationships.
Yet with companies expected to minimise costs…do you think physical events are necessary, or should companies be meeting virtually?
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below.
hello thanks for the blog.