Connect. The Network Media Partners blog.

First person: One user’s experience at a virtual conference

Networker Bridget Feeley provides her take on attending a virtual event

It seemed like everywhere you turned in 2009, someone was talking about social media… and I decided to join in on the conversation. I created LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter accounts and recently attended my first virtual conference and tradeshow. A virtual tradeshow seems like a logical step to help association professionals communicate and gain knowledge in a social media driven world.

I had read several articles about virtual events, but I still didn’t really know what to expect before I attended. I wanted to try to evaluate the event from every perspective. From the comfort of my own office, I sat back, logged in and got started.

Similar to a physical event, there were several sessions available to attend throughout the day, an exhibit hall, chat rooms and a library where you could download articles. The sessions offered some great content, but attending all of them in one day was an information overload. (Again, not much different from a physical event.) I should mention that you could come back and attend the sessions 90 days after the event date, but I chose to knock it out in one day.

Exhibit Hall

The exhibit hall was the most interesting aspect in my opinion. Each booth was set up differently and as you entered, a representative from the company chatted to see if you had any questions. You could download brochures, see demonstrations, link to the exhibitor’s website, and chat with other attendees in the booth or with the company reps. You also had the ability to be invisible if you didn’t want to chat with anyone and just browse around the booth.

Networking

Outside of the exhibit hall, the chat rooms provided a forum to interact with other attendees and the library had some great articles available to download. After a day spent in the virtual world, I was ready for some face-to-face interaction.

Education Sessions

The sessions ran from 8:30 am – 6:00 pm and were about 45 minutes each. The keynotes were interesting because it was video feed from a live presentation, so you felt like you were actually sitting in the audience. The sessions were similar to webinars, where you viewed a slideshow presentation with audio. This could have become a bit monotonous, but the speakers were very energetic and the 45 minutes seemed to fly by.

If you are considering hosting a virtual event, there are several things to think about. Virtual events seem to attract a wider audience. Attendees who could not make the physical event can easily attend a virtual event with little to no cost (no travel, hotel or shipping fees), and they can attend in the comfort of their own home or office. As a host of a virtual event, it can be time-consuming and difficult to get internal teams and external participants on board, as well as costly, but if done correctly, this is another revenue builder and will keep you visible in your marketplace. As an exhibitor, you have access to instant leads, can measure your results, and have the ability to communicate with your audience before, during and after a physical event. One of the major negative sides of a virtual event is the lack of face-to-face interaction. I enjoy going to an event and meeting people, asking questions, and feeling the energy that a room full of people contains.

Future of virtual conferences

Can a virtual event replace an in-person event? Not likely… but a combination of the two is something everyone will be talking about in 2010. Keep your ears open about the “hybrid” event – a mix of a physical event with a virtual aspect. This not only allows for pre-conference interaction, but is also a great way for those who may not have been able to attend the physical event to get involved after an event, and to continue communication in the online world.

–Bridget Feeley, Event and Marketing Manager, Network Media Partners

Coming in April: American Society for Training & Development’s month-long virtual event.

This post is a follow-up to an article published in the quarterly Connect newsletter. Not getting the newsletter? E-mail Jen Smith to request a copy.

1 Comment April 6, 2010

Content is king for suppliers too

Associations have an opportunity to provide valuable information to members while generating revenue from industry partners

More and more, industry suppliers are looking for a place to connect with their audience in a more meaningful and useful way. The trend toward content marketing—providing in-depth and targeted content to a qualified audience—means that associations have an opportunity to provide an additional layer of information to their members. Here are a few ways you can incorporate sponsored content into your overall communication strategy.

Online

Allow online ad space to include a preview of an advertiser’s YouTube video and encourage suppliers to connect their online advertising to their YouTube channel.

Create an online marketplace library where suppliers can submit their white papers, case studies and custom content that is directly related to members’ needs.

Use your digital publication supplier to create a digital version of a supplier’s in-depth content, such as a multi-page product or service brochure.

In Print

Create dedicated space in your publication for a featured supplier’s message that fits well with an issue’s theme or focus.

Go beyond listings in a buyer’s guide or vendor directory. Allow space for company profiles or expanded product or service explanations.

In Person

Incorporate live demonstrations at your next event…and not just on the exhibit hall floor. Integrate vendor showcases into meeting events by organizing vendors by trends in technology and innovations.

Host sponsored webinars, with appearances by association staff and supplier spokespersons.
Catering to those suppliers who are looking for content marketing opportunities spells increased information for your members, as well as the potential to increase revenue that comes from those partners.

1 Comment December 10, 2009